Icing Up The Competition: Liberty’s Synchronized Skating Team Returns To Competing In-Person
After competing virtually for nearly two years, the Lady Flames synchronized skating team finally returns to in-person competitions.
The Lady Flames kicked off their season at the Dr. Richard Porter Classic in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Dec. 6. The competition draws over 1,000 skaters and is one of the largest synchronized skating competitions of the year.
Overall, the team expressed excitement to debut its program in front of judges and an audience. Sophomore Rebekah McBrayer said that she is thrilled about competing again.
“It’s exciting to be in front of judges,” McBrayer said. “I can’t wait to see what we can do and grow upon.”
The synchronized skating team is off to a later start than expected after having to withdraw from the Kalamazoo Kick Off Classic in November due to non-Covid-related illness in the team. However, the setback has not stopped the Lady Flames from working hard.
“When selecting the music for this season, I wanted to choose something empowering that would help spark strength and confidence in our team,” Hughes said. “I wanted to the team to remember why they started skating in the first place and to skate for the pure passion for the sport, not solely to win.”
“We did a really good (job) of handling the situation after having to withdraw,” McBrayer said. “Now, we are really motived to skate our best at the Porter Classic.”
The synchronized skating team was first founded in 2009 and has competed at the collegiate and the open collegiate level. After competing at the open collegiate level last year, the team moved up to the collegiate level for this season.
This season’s synchronized skating roster is young, consisting of nine underclassmen and no seniors. Four of the nine underclassmen are freshman.
Freshman McKenna Powers, who skated with the National Blades before she came to Liberty, has enjoyed her debut season with the new team.
“Overall, it has been great,” Powers said. “The team has been super welcoming.”
The Lady Flames skate to a medley of “Bird Set Free” by Sia and “Battle Scars” by Guy Sebastian and Lupe Fiasco. Head Coach Emily Hughes said that she chose the music because of its inspiring message.
“When selecting the music for this season, I wanted to choose something empowering that would help spark strength and confidence in our team,” Hughes said. “I wanted to the team to remember why they started skating in the first place and to skate for the pure passion for the sport, not solely to win.”
The team has found strength in Hugh’s choice of music and use it as motivation.
“It’s very empowering,” McBrayer said. “It reminds us to keep pushing through as a team.”
Last season, the Lady Flames were not only competing at a lower level than the previous year but also were forced to compete virtually due to COVID-19. In one of the virtual competitions, the Lady Flames placed first, earning nearly two points higher than Trine University. Hughes said that the Lady Flames are eager to compete in front of a live audience.
“Regardless of an in-person or virtual competition, I still want the team to prepare to the best of their ability,” Hughes said. “All that to say, the team is very excited to be preforming in front of a live audience again this season.”
Liberty finished 11th at the Dr. Richard Porter Classic, scoring 40.13 points.
The team will travel to Norwood, Massachusetts, Jan. 26–30 for the Eastern Sectional Championship and then to the National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado, March 2–5.
Hagar is a sports reporter. Follow her on Twitter