February 27, 2002

Staying in synch rewarding experience for ice skaters

Traverse City Northern Lights team medals at every competition so far this season

By LISA PERKINS
Herald staff writer
       Salt Lake City isn't the only place to see dedicated skaters perform on the ice. Traverse City's Northern Lights synchronized skating team, the only junior classic division team in the state of Michigan, is a talented group of young ladies with the medals to prove it.
      The Northern Lights, made up of 19 area teens, is on a winning streak, having medaled at every competition that they have performed in this season.
      The team took silver medals in the Skate for the Cure competition in December and the Mid-America Synchronized Championships, where dozens of teams from Massachusetts to North Dakota and Texas took the ice. A bronze medal was awarded to the Northern Lights at the Midwestern Sectional Championships earlier this month.
      The most recent competition, the Tri States Synchronized Skating Championships, was their best showing yet. The skaters took the gold medal skating against teams from Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.
      Synchronized skating involves eight or more skaters performing various maneuvers and formations to a musical program. Intricate footwork is incorporated into expression and interpretation of the music. The fast paced programs are apparently as much fun to perform as they are to watch.
      Fourteen-year-old Laura Andrews, who has been with the Northern Lights for two years, saw the Northern Lights perform and knew she had to join the fun.
      "It looked like so much fun when I saw them, it's really great. The competitions are a lot of fun and you make a lot of friends," Andrews said.
      Twelve-year-old Thea Prust considers the Northern Lights a great chance to skate with her friends, too.
      "It's hard work but it is a lot of fun. I like being able to skate with my friends," she said.
      The Northern Lights, now in their fifth year of performing, practice, compete and perform from September through March, ending their season with a performance at the Twin Bays Skating Club's annual ice show. This year the show is slated for March 14 through the 16 at Centre Ice.
      Members of the Northern Lights include local skaters Laura Andrews, Whitney Ayers, Wynne Calcutt, Julie Christopherson, Samantha Darrow, Lauren Griggs, Casandra Grimm, Sarah Jackson, Melissa Kilbourn, Rachel Neithercut, Thea Prust, Katie Sanderson, Millicent Schratz, Emily Stuart, Ashley Topash, Kristen Ulrich, Laura Walker, Lisa Walker and Camille Zanette. They are coached by former Detroit Team Elan member Stephanie Miller.
      Tickets for the Twin Bays Skating Club's annual ice show are now on sale. For more information, call 947-2267.