Team USA Collects Two Medals at Neuchatel Trophy

Team USA claimed two of the three spots on the junior podium at the Neuchatel Trophy in Neuchatel, Switzerland as the Northernettes earned the silver and the Starlights secured the bronze.

The event, which took place from Feb. 11-12, marked the international debut for both teams.

Skating on the international stage for the first time in the team's history, the Northernettes brought home the silver thanks to their 116.40-point free skate, which ranked second among all teams. The routine included a well-executed Level 4 move element with Level 3 moves in the field as well as a Level 4 traveling circle and a Level 3 intersection with a level 3 point of intersection to give the Minnesota-based team a total score of 173.30.

The previous day in the free skate, the Northernettes performed a Level 3 intersection with a Level 2 point of intersection, a Level 3 twizzle element, and a Level 3 move element with Level 3 moves in the field to take third in the short program with a score of 56.90.

Also standing on the podium was the Starlights. After a fourth-place finish in its short program to "Horns" by Bryce Fox that scored 53.29 points, the 2020 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championship bronze medalists made their move for the podium in the free skate, earning all positive grades of execution to score 105.54 points – good for third in the free skate rankings.

"The Kids are Coming" themed free skate included a Level 4 traveling circle and a Level 4 move element with Level 2 moves in the field to give the Starlights 158.83 points overall.

The third U.S. junior team competing at the Neuchatel Trophy, DC EDGE, finished fourth.

The team from Arlington, Virginia came out strong on Friday in the short program. Set to "Ready or Not" by Mischa "Book" Chillak feat. Esthero, DC EDGE earned positive grades of execution on every element with highest scoring element of the routine being a Level 3 intersection with a Level 2 point of intersection to take second in the short program with 58.75 points.

However, despite a Level 4 move element with Level 2 moves in the field and a Level 3 no-hold element with Level 3 steps, a 90.89-point free skate dropped DC EDGE into fourth as they totaled 149.64 points over the two days.

The Musketeers from Finland won gold with a total score of 201.82.

In the senior competition, Adrian College represented Team USA, finishing fifth.

The senior team from Michigan totaled 53.09 points in the short program with its highest scoring element in their short program being a Level 3 move element with Level 3 moves in the field.

The following day, Adrian College's free skate performance, which has a theme of "The Butterfly Effect," started off with a Level 4 twizzle element and went on to score 117.54 points for a 170.63-point total.

Paradise from Russia clinched the gold with 234.42 points while Finland's two teams, Marigold IceUnity and Team Unique, claimed silver and bronze with 230.54 and 225.06 points, respectively.