Team Maneuvers figure skating quartets take second virtually
March 30, 2021 | Lynchburg, Va.
A dozen members of Liberty University's figure skating team competed in a virtual Southeast Sectional Intercollegiate Team Maneuvers event in late February. Its three four-skater team entries (Low, Intermediate, and High) were each judged on seven different elements and all three earned runner-up finishes out of eight teams in results announced last week.
The Lady Flames' High team of senior Carley Bryant, sophomore Claire Rivas, and freshmen Jamie Gordon and Sophie Flatt posted a team-high 24 points to clinch second place.
 |
| Liberty's Intermediate Team Maneuvers quartet of Bosher, sophomore Olivia Ford, junior Abbie Steelman, and senior Emily Wilson placed second. |
Liberty's Intermediate team of seniors Angela Bosher and Emily Wilson, junior Abbie Steelman, and sophomore Olivia Ford earned second place with 20 points and its Low team of sophomores Marissa Harter and Sarah Hicks and freshmen Kristine Neumeyer and Emma Marnik were runners-up with 19 points.
"We were pleasantly surprised with the outcome for all three teams," Head Coach Dawn Harter said, noting that a modified International Judging System (IJS) was used for scoring, rather than the standard 6.0 for collegiate events. "(Former Head Coach and current Club Sports Associate Athletic Director) Tatiana (Payne's) experience with the IJS scoring was a benefit to us. She was able to guide us in the right direction for each team."
The Lady Flames' three Team Maneuvers quartets will be moving on to the Intercollegiate Finals set for April 2-12, when they will compete virtually against the top four teams from all four sections (16 in all), with results posted by April 27.
Liberty's Low team will compete against Adrian, Boston, California-Berkeley, California-Irvine, Cornell, Delaware, Denver, Marquette, Merrimack, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Northeastern, Trine, UCLA, and Virginia. The Lady Flames' Intermediate team will skate against Adrian, Boston, California-Berkeley, California-Irvine, Cornell, Delaware, Denver, Miami (Ohio), Michigan, Northeastern, Oakland (Mich.), Pennsylvania, Sacred Heart, South Florida, and Trine. Their High team will be in the same grouping as Adrian, Boston, California-Berkeley, California-Irvine, Cornell, Delaware, Denver, Michigan, Michigan State, NC State, Northeastern, Oakland, Pennsylvania, Sacred Heart, and UCLA.
Before then, Liberty will host an "Exhibition of Hope" ice show at the LaHaye Ice Center on April 24 from 6-8 p.m., featuring 18 individual performances as well as an extended routine by the Lady Flames' synchronized skating program.
"Each one will be skating to music of their choice that gives them hope," Harter said.
The show will be limited to 250 spectators with tickets distributed by the skaters.
