Photo credit Cynthia Slawter Photography/U.S. Figure Skating
By Kristen Henneman
The Haydenettes are halfway to their 32nd U.S. title, building a lead of more than eight points in the senior combined short program on the penultimate day of the 2025 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
In the collegiate event, Miami University – the most successful collegiate team in U.S. Figure Skating history – claimed their 23rd U.S. Championships gold. The Northernettes and Trine University earned their best-ever results at a U.S. Championships, finishing with silver and bronze, respectively. Western Michigan University rounded out the podium with pewter.
In the juvenile event, Teams Elite won gold for the second straight year.
Haydenettes Soar to Short Program Lead
The winningest synchronized skating team in U.S. Figure Skating history continued its dominance in the senior competition with a season’s best score of 78.77 in the short program.
With their eyes on their 15th-straight U.S. championship, the Haydenettes were the only team to receive a GOE of 2.00 or higher on more than one element, and did it on each of their five elements.
The reigning World silver medalists’ performance to "Lim Fantasy of Companionship for Piano and Orchestra" by Barua Joi, Martin Manuel Denis and Cody Fry was awarded Level 4 marks on four of the five elements. They started with a Level 4 move element worth 9.19 points and followed it with a Level 4 intersection with a Level 4 point of intersection that scored 10.18 points – the highest-scoring element of the event.
“We really wanted to embrace our emotion and our skating skills,” said third-year Haydenette Rosa Hahn. “The story behind the program is how companionship and love can take all different forms. I think this year we’re really embracing the friendship, teammates and also how we can stay connected in our world and embrace the connections we have with each other.”
Miami University placed second in the short program thanks to a new season’s best by nearly 12 points.
Skating to “Move" by St. Motel and "Whole Lotta Love" by Ike & Tina Turner, the RedHawks gave a performance that was both light-hearted and high-energy to get the crowd energized and moving with them.
They secured Level 4s on their first three elements – their synchronized spin, intersection and traveling element – leading to a segment score of 70.04.
Miami University has finished in the top three the last three years.
“We’ve been training this program super hard all year,” Miami University senior Katie McDonnell said. “We’ve put in the work. We’ve been having clean runs at practice. To have our first clean run of the short program happen at the national championship is an insane feeling and I couldn’t be more proud of my team.”
Hayden Select claimed the third position in the standings with a mark of 68.67. Two-time champions in the senior elite 12 division, this is the first year of the senior combined event, which includes both senior and senior elite 12 teams.
“I think it definitely encourages us and [makes us want] to push further because of being one of the elite 12 teams in the U.S. and having the most amount of elite 12 teams out of all the countries that compete,” said Jessica Jasie, who is in her second year with Hayden Select. “There’s definitely a little bit of pressure just because things look a little bit different for the [elite] 12 teams versus the 16 but I think it’s really exciting, and the fact that we get to be acknowledged the same way.”
The team from Norwood took advantage of their opportunity, clinching a new season’s best for their short program with the theme of “there will be time.” They tallied Level 4 designations on four elements with the highlight being a Level 4 intersection with a Level 3 point of intersection that generated 8.50 points.
The Skyliners, the reigning U.S. silver medalists, trail Hayden Select by just 0.26 with a score of 68.48, also a new season’s best.
Miami University Continues Winning Ways in Collegiate Division
Miami University might have a new head coach, but their result at the U.S. Synchronized Championships remained the same: gold.
Winning their fourth straight and 23rd total gold at the U.S. Championships, Miami University has medaled every year the event has been held, further cementing themselves as the most successful collegiate team in U.S. Figure Skating history.
The RedHawks were the only team to break the 100-point mark, achieving 107.16 points.
While their technical score was the highest in the competition with four Level 4 elements, including an intersection that was the highest-scoring element of the competition at 9.32 points, it was their components score that made the most impact in the result.
Performing to a medley of songs by The Who, Miami University scored nearly eight points more in the components score than any other team.
“It felt great. We’ve been working all season to really improve, and I think that we laid it all out there tonight and that was our goal,” senior Caroline Yaeger said. “We’ve worked really hard. It’s taken grit, determination and a lot of hard work, and I think we really achieved what we set out to do this season.”
Both the Northernettes and Trine University claimed their best-ever result at the U.S. Championships with silver and bronze, respectively.
Just their second year in the collegiate division, the Northernettes medaled for the second straight year after taking bronze in 2024.
Their skate to an Elton John medley included three Level 4 elements, including a Level 4 intersection with a Level 4 point of intersection worth 8.46 points. They secured 99.32 points overall.
“It felt like what we’ve been working for, honestly,” first-year Northernette Isabelle Jordan said. “I feel like we’re all on the same page and worked well and it was so fun.”
With a theme of Miami heat, Trine University earned Level 4s on four elements with the performance featuring a strong traveling element and intersection. They finished the day with 98.29 points.
This marks the third straight year that Trine University has stood on the podium at the U.S. Championships.
“It means a lot because we’ve had this legacy to continue from the past two years and we had some difficulties in the weeks leading up, so it was nice that we came together in the moment that was important,” graduate student Kaitlin Gunter said.
Western Michigan University placed fourth to clinch the pewter medal with a score of 95.56. The team from Kalamazoo, Michigan, has stood on the podium four straight years.
There’s No Place Like the Top of the Podium for Teams Elite
Since 2020, it’s been nearly impossible to beat Teams Elite in the juvenile division.
The team from Northbrook, Illinois, won its fourth gold medal in the last five years the event has been held.
Skating to a Wizard of Oz theme, Teams Elite looked at home on the ice, earning Level 4 designations on two elements, including their move element, which was awarded 7.89 points – the highest-scoring element of the event.
They totaled a segment score of 61.60 and continued their medal streak as they have stood on the podium every year since 2016.
“There are so many fun arms and facials we have in this program,” said first-year Teams Elite member Ellen Flatt. The music is so fun and high-energy, so I loved skating to [this theme].”
Boston Fusion secured the silver, their best-ever result at the U.S. Championships. Set to music from The Mighty Ducks, the team which was founded in 2023 came out with a strong Level 3 move element. Their strongest element was their Level 2 intersection with a Level 3 point of intersection that generated 6.74 points.
Taking home their first medal since 2022, Mini Mates claimed bronze with a score of 55.17. Highlighted by their Level 4 no hold element and Level 2 intersection with a Level 3 point of intersection, Mini Mates skated to a soul theme, telling the story of the meaning of life through music.
The Skyliners finished on the podium for the third straight year, clinching the pewter with a score of 54.31.
Competition concludes Saturday with the novice and intermediate events, as well as the senior free skate. Following the senior combined event, the World Championships team will be named.
For full results, news and more, visit the 2025 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships Competition Central.
