Photo credit Cynthia Slawter Photography/U.S. Figure Skating
By Troy Schwindt
Teams Elite repeated as junior champions on day two of the 2025 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Skyliners junior secured their second straight silver while the Lexettes and Team Image earned the bronze and pewter, respectively.
DC EDGE captured the adult and masters titles.
Teams Elite Does It Again
Teams Elite earned its second consecutive junior title with a sterling performance to music from the Black Swan soundtrack.
The team from Northbrook, Illinois, posted an event-best free skate score of 128.98 and an overall total of 205.16, breaking the 200-point mark for the first time at the U.S. Championships.
They claimed Level 4 designations on five elements with their intersection garnering them a program-high 10.00 points with a 3.00 GOE.
Repeating as champions means a lot, one of its most veteran members said.
“It’s a big accomplishment for us,” Quintin McCormick, whose been with the team for eight seasons, said. “We’ve put in so much work and effort, so I’m glad it paid off.”
Second-year member Lyric O’Neal added, “It makes me feel so proud, because we work hard and we have such a bond.”
Teams Elite will join the Skyliners next week at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2025 in Sweden.
The Skyliners, the 2024 U.S. junior silver medalists who have stood on the podium every year since 2015, continued to improve this season, securing the silver medal with season’s best scores in the free skate (127.36) and overall (200.58).
The team from Fairfield, Connecticut, was awarded mor than 10 points for both of its Level 4 intersections with Level 4 points of intersection. Overall, they dazzled the crowd with their northern lights-themed free skate.
“We made some improvements and brought the energy; we hope the audience felt that tonight,” Skyliner Isabelle Gao said.
The “Northern Lights” theme, Gao said, is “all about cohesively always trying to uplift each other.”
The Lexettes finished with the bronze medal, placing third in the free skate with a season’s best score of 123.21 and a season’s best overall score of 192.89. This marks the fifth straight year the Lexettes have finished on the podium.
The team from Norwood, Massachusetts, performed to "What Was I Made For?" by Billie Eilish. They generated Level 4 marks on five elements, including both their intersections and their move element.
The program hit home for the entire team, veteran Samantha Shick said.
“It’s about overcoming adversity and it’s personal for every individual on the team,” Shick said. “We all have our own story and own struggles and it’s sharing that struggle and that feeling with the audience.”
Team Image secured the pewter medal with a season’s best overall score of 188.58. They tallied a score of 121.07 for their free skate that tells the story of the battle between good and evil. Their performance solidified in the free skate to solidify their fourth podium finish at the event.
DC EDGE Calls ‘Checkmate’ to Claim Adult Title
DC EDGE secured its sixth adult title by a razor-thin margin.
The team, from the D.C. metro area, called checkmate at the end of their chess-themed program en route to a score of 63.53 points, .20 points more than the silver medalist Crystallettes.
DC EDGE donned black costumes and an equal number of white tops and black dresses to create the look of a chess game.
“This season’s goal was to put together a program that was innovative and memorable,” coach Jennifer Bacon said. “Our team is incredibly close, and everyone bought into the concept and the idea.
“We have skaters who grew up in our program now skating with their former coaches, and skaters who have been on adult for almost two decades. It’s a unique bond. So while today wasn’t our best skate, there aren’t words to express how special it is to win with this program and this team.”
The Crystallettes arrived in Colorado Springs with the top sectional score. Skating to music from the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack, the team from Dearborn, Michigan, received all positive grades of execution and a Level 4 for their traveling element.
The Crystallettes finished as silver medalists for the third consecutive year and have finished in the top three at the U.S. Championships every year the event has been held since 2017.
Esprit de Corps, from Hayden Synchro in Boston, claimed the bronze medal with 61.93 points, finishing on the podium for the second straight year. The perennial power in the adult division performed to an illumination theme. Their traveling element and rotating circle received Level 4s.
Team Delaware claimed their first medal at a U.S. Championships since 2016, clinching the pewter medal with 59.18 points.
DC EDGE Takes Charge, Wins Masters Crown
DC EDGE showed who’s in charge with its boss lady-themed program, grabbing the master’s title with a score of 50.24.
The victory marked the sixth time, and second in the last three years, that the D.C.-area team has claimed the gold medal.
“This year has been one of adversity and perseverance, unity and joy,” coach Elizabeth Rhoades said. “We’ve smashed our goals and embraced our boss lady theme. It’s been such a fun program to watch progress this season.
“Though there were personal trials to navigate, skating has been an escape and place of exuberance and camaraderie for all of our team members.”
Skating to women empowerment selections such as “She Works Hard for the Money,” by Donna Summer, DC EDGE sold their program with energy and precision. Its artistic line element generated a program-high 4.63 points.
The Starlights, which hail from the Chicago area, took home the silver medal with 49.94 points. They performed to a “Be Italian” theme, demonstrating Italian pride in a fun and energetic routine.
Their artistic circle and intersection were program highlights.
The Starlights last finished on the podium in 2023, earning bronze in Peoria, Illinois, and tied their best result with the silver, which they last earned in 2022.
KC Momentum, performing to a pirates theme, collected the bronze medal and their best result in the masters division at the U.S. Championships with 49.18 points.
Their opening mixed element earned the team its highest score of 4.69 and GOE of .069.
The Colonials secured the pewter medal with 48.28 points.
Competition continues Friday with the juvenile event, as well as the senior short program and collegiate free skate.
Follow the action by visiting ussynchrochampionships.com.
