Team USA’s Junior and Senior Synchro Teams Gear Up to Compete Against the World’s Elite in Norwood

Photo credit: Cynthia Slawter Photography
By Kristen Henneman

This weekend, Team USA is excited to compete in the final Challenger Series Synchronized Skating event of the season, hosted at The Skating Club of Boston in Norwood, Massachusetts, from February 6-8. It’s a special occasion, as it’s the first time since 2019 that our teams will skate on home ice.

Three senior teams will represent the USA: the Haydenettes, Skyliners, and Miami University. In addition, four junior teams that shined at last year’s U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships will compete: Teams Elite, Skyliners junior, Team Image, and the Lexettes.

The Haydenettes are a highlight of the senior competition. They are the reigning World silver medalists and have won the U.S. Championships 31 times. They secured bronze at their first Challenger Series event this season, the Dresden Cup, and have a strong track record in the series.

The Skyliners, who are the reigning U.S. silver medalists and part of the 2024 World Team, also have a history of success in the Challenger Series, winning medals for the past three seasons. This season, they began with a bronze at the Santa Claus Cup and are looking for more after finishing just off the podium in fourth place at the Mozart Cup.

Miami University, the U.S. bronze medalists, came close to the podium with a fifth-place finish at the Mozart Cup. They are a strong team to watch this weekend.

In the junior division, Teams Elite is aiming for their fourth consecutive gold in the Challenger Series. They had an impressive season last year, winning gold in both their events. So far this season, they earned silver at the Santa Claus Cup and then gold at the Dresden Cup.

The Skyliners junior team, bronze medalists at the World Junior Championships, has consistently medaled since 2018. Despite a rough start this season, finishing fifth at their first Challenger Series event, they did secure a bronze at the Santa Claus Cup.

Team Image is looking to build on their momentum after winning bronze at the Britannia Cup earlier this month. They just missed the podium at the Mozart Cup, finishing fourth.

Finally, the Lexettes are back on familiar ice, representing The Skating Club of Boston. They’ve had a great start to their season with gold at the Britannia Cup, although they finished fifth at their first Challenger Series event.

This event marks an important return of the Challenger Series to the U.S. since 2019, when California hosted the inaugural series. It’s exciting to see top teams from around the world, including medalists from the ISU World Championships, come together to compete.

Fans can watch all the action live on Peacock. Competition kicks off Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET with the junior and senior short programs, leading to medal awards on Saturday following the free skates starting at 5 p.m. ET.

The Challenger Series connects several international competitions, allowing teams to gain valuable experience and points for the ISU World Championships. It’s a crucial opportunity for growth in synchronized skating.