Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 11-18-20

16 I SPORTS I
November 18, 2020
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE
@MIDRIVERSNEWS
MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
Synchronized skaters poised to
represent Team USA
Dr. Christopher Normile
Dr. Wendy Meyr-Cherry
St. Charles Complete Care
1551 Wall Street, Suite 400
St. Charles, MO 63303
(636) 669-7006
Dr. Meyr-Cherry and Dr. Normile are both
board certified in Family Medicine with over
45 years’ combined experience. Both Dr. Meyr-
Cherry and Dr. Normile have been recognized
by the National Committee of Quality Assurance
and American Diabetes Association for patient
care in diabetes.
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St. Louis Synergy Synchronized Skating Junior Team reacts to its score at the 2020 Nationals.
(Photo courtesy of the team)
By DEANNE LEBLANC
The St. Louis Synergy Synchronized
Skating Junior Team has been named to
the International Selection Pool (ISP) for
the 2020-2021 season.
Being part of the ISP means that the
team has the potential to be chosen to skate
internationally as Team USA. Only teams
in the ISP can be considered for international
competition.
In order to be included, teams have to
achieve a qualifying score. Last year, the
team hit its highest score of the season
(144.58 points) and surpassed the required
score for ISP inclusion.
The team is one of only nine junior teams
in the country to receive the honor. It was
last named to Team USA in 2014. During
that time, the team represented the nation
during a competition in Salzburg, Austria.
St. Louis Synergy is part of the Metro
Edge Figure Skating Club based in Webster
Groves. The club is home to six teams
ranging from beginner to junior – the
second highest level in international competition.
Formed in 1956, synchronized skating
offers athletes the chance to compete on
a team of eight to 20 skaters and perform
challenging formations and step sequences
in unison. Competitions use the same judging
system as figure skating singles, pairs,
and ice dancing.
Team coach Charity Hendrickson, of St.
Charles, is excited about the ISP opportunity.
Throughout her 16-year career at Synergy
she has coached every team level and
is now the coach of the junior team.
“When I got the call that we were selected
for the ISP, it was such a bright light in
the darkness of everything going on,”
Hendrickson said. “We were facing rink
closures, restrictions practicing as a team,
the prospect of canceled competitions, a
canceled season and who knew what else.
“The skaters were uncertain of what type
of experience this season would bring.
Telling them that they accomplished their
goal and would be an ISP team regardless
of what the season looked like helped
boost the morale of the team and gave us
more purpose to continue training, despite
the unknown.”
The ISP includes junior and senior level
teams approved by the U.S. Figure Skating
International Committee.
“United States Figure Skating has a
responsibility to put out the best teams
as Team USA and it does not make those
decisions lightly. Being selected is a huge
honor that comes with great responsibility.
As a coach, it has been so rewarding to
watch these young women put the work in
and accomplish the goal that they set their
sights on,” Hendrickson said.
Natalie Bruno, a senior at Fort Zumwalt
East, has been figure skating for 14
years. Before joining St. Louis Synergy,
she skated for Synchro St. Louis at the St.
Peters Rec-Plex. She has been on the Synergy
junior team for the last three years.
“Synchronized skating isn’t a well known
sport, and I think all the girls on a team
coming together for one goal is so unique
that the world should know more about it,”
Bruno said.
She said her favorite thing about skating
is the friends she has made.
“Last season, we all worked so hard on
and off the ice, putting as much time as we
could into practices and even getting extra
ice time when we got the chance. We have
been working just as hard this year, even
through these trying times,” Bruno said.
“The team is so excited and honored to be in
the ISP, no matter how the season plays out.”
Bruno plans to attend Adrian College in
Michigan next fall and hopes to skate for
their senior level synchronized skating team.