Results - Figure Skating

March 14-16, 2008

The Notre Dame Figure Skating Team turned in an exciting finish to their individual season this weekend at the Skate State Competition at Michigan State University. The team placed third, getting edged out of second by the University of Michigan by one single ordinal. Senior Captain Sara Medek commented on the outing, "I am extremely proud of the team and our performance at the competition. These girls have put in so much time and effort over the past year and it really showed today."

Medek and freshman Chelsey Kelso competed at the prestigious Senior level, one not reached by many skaters. Both skated clean programs, earning high marks from the judges and placing 5th and 7th respectively in a strong group of 13 skaters representing 6 colleges from the Midwestern Region.

Fellow Captain Annie Davis competed as well, skating dramatically to a medley from "Pirates of the Caribbean". Her stellar performance earned her a 4th place finish among Intermediate Ladies. Also a senior, Davis reflected on her four years with the team, "It was a good way to end a fantastic four years with the team. We've never had this many women skate at an individual collegiate competition, so it was a great opportunity to get the Notre Dame name out to the figure skating world. I only wish I would be here to see four more years with these great women."

Freshman Maura Sullivan brought home the Bronze medal in the Novice Ladies Freeskating event, tackling a challenging program while nursing tendonitis in her foot. While Sophomore Kate Ortigara earned a third place medal at the Preliminary level in her first competition. Also competing was Anna Katter, a freshman whose skate earned rave reviews by both judges and fans and helped propel the team to their third place finish.  

February 2-4, 2007

Notre Dame’s figure skating club completed its competitive season this weekend with a near flawless performance at the Fraizier ,MI. that earned the club silver medals. The ten Irish skaters finished just behind Northwestern, a twenty member team.

The Irish skated to music from “Phantom of the Opera”, the Addams Family theme song, and a musical score from “Edward Scissorhands” The club’s program contained the highest permitted level of difficulty and elements which were not attempted by their competitors.

This season featured a pair of silver medalist finishes and a first place at the Dr. Porter competition in December. The club will conclude their performances with a February 25th exhibition, “Ice Ice Baby”, at the Joyce Center.  

December 1-3, 2006

“Ladies, will you please stop skating,” blared over the loud speakers in Ann Arbor, MI this weekend as the University of Notre Dame Figure Skating Team attempted to finish their program at the Dr. Richard Porter Skating Competition. The determined women were resilient, and were forced to finish out a three minute synchronized program without music due to a technical glitch as they performed in front of a large crowd Sunday morning.

After several set backs this season, the ND Skating Team had its heart set on a flawless performance this past Sunday to boost morale and put its name back among the best of the synchronized skating world. But with an entire minute skipped in the music, that flawless performance seemed beyond reach.

However, the young women stood with smiles on their faces in front of a bewildered crowd, wondering what their fate would be in the minutes that stood ahead. Out of breath and tired after going through the entire program at full speed, the women wondered if they would again have to attempt the program right away.

After a silent direction from their coach, ND alum and former team member, Tracey Mulherin, the team skated to one end of the ice to pick up where the technical difficulty had thrown them off. Without a word, the team connected back together, kept smiles on their faces, and finished off the haunted themed musical program.

They stepped off the ice, satisfied with their performance, but worried that the technical glitch would set the team back in the ordinals. Fourteen colleges were represented this weekend at the competition, and ND wanted to be ranked as one of the best. With encouraging words from Mulherin and fans, the team proceeded to wait among the other colleges for the results.

When the ordinals were placed on the wall, the University of Notre Dame came out on top. Five of the seven judges had placed them first, and the other two had put them at a close second place.

Even with technical difficulties and set backs, the ND skating team was determined to prove themselves this season. After a few years of disappointing losses and just missed trips to Nationals, the ND Synchronized Skating Team is back with a vengeance, and is beginning to prove themselves to their fierce competitors.

Next semester the club will compete in three more competitions, including the Midwesterns, The club is determined to continue its successful ways.  

November 10-12, 2006

The 2006 Indiana University Hoosier Challenge Intercollegiate Competition was held on Saturday, November 11. at IU’s Bloomington campus. Skating for the Irish was Lisa Horstman, who competed in Senior Ladies Freeskate. The Irish star placed first with all first place ordinals, earning the Notre Dame intercollegiate skating team 5 points. She skated against the other top eight skaters in the Region from universities in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois.  

February 10-12, 2006

Captain Bridget Purcell and her fellow seniors, Gretchen Chriszt and Miia Rasinen, completed their competitive careers this weekend at the Tri-States in Dearborn, MI. The finale proved to be memorable as the Notre Dame / Saint Mary’s women excelled in their program. The Irish finished a very close runner-up to Michigan State. Bowling Green was third to lead the rest of the pack.

The precision skaters will perform one last exhibition on the Joyce Center ice, Feb. 25th, during intermission of the men’s ice hockey game.  

January 27-29, 2006

Notre Dame’s figure skating club placed eighth among eleven closely bunched teams at this weekend’s Midwestern Sectionals in Fraser, MI. Captain Bridget Purcell’s squad narrowly missed a sixth place finish that would have qualified the club for nationals. The skaters will next compete on February 11th.  

February 11-13, 2005

Just wanted to let you know how the competition at bowling green went. travel was fine. The competition went smoothly. we ended up having bad ice to contend with, but overall we skated well. had we not had the one fall, i feel we would have ended up 3rd out of 4 teams instead of 4th. The teams that attended were Bowling Green, Michigan State, and Miami of Ohio (the last 2 are 2 of the top teams in the country). we feel we held our own. thanks again for all your help.

March 8-14, 2004

The ND synchronized skating team competed at the 2004 U.S. National Synchronized Skating Championships  on March 6, 2004 in San Diego. The Irish placed 12th out of 18 teams.  Team MVP was Stephanie Pelligra. Western Michigan won the event, followed by Delaware, Michigan State, Illinois, Wisconsin, Bowling Green, Michigan, New Hampshire, Boston College, Boston U., Notre Dame, SUNY Potsdam, Syracuse, Columbia, UC Davis, Pentagon Intercollegiate team, and Northern Michigan.

January 30 - February 1, 2004

The ND Figure Skating team competed in the US Figure Skating Association's Midwestern Sectional this weekend.  The Irish placed fifth among five schools.  Two varsity powers, Michigan and Michigan State claimed the top two positions, followed by Illinois and Wisconsin in a very strong field.

Despite the ranking, the Irish had a strong skate, and recorded a personal best for the team.   Bridget Purcell and Kristi Allmandinger were selected at team MVP's for the competition.

The Irish will next compete in a field of eighteen schools at the National championships in San Diego.

January 16-18, 2004

Notre Dame's figure skating club finished fourth among seven teams at the Mid-American Synchronized Figure Skating Championships this weekend.  The event was held at the Fraser Figure Skating Club, just outside Detroit, MI.

Western Michigan captured first, followed by two varsity teams, Michigan State and Michigan.  The Irish placed ahead of Northern Michigan, Ohio State, and Grand Valley State.

November 15-16, 2003

The Notre Dame figure skating club will compete in its first event of the season this weekend at the Kick-Off Classic in Kalamazoo, MI. Led by Monica Hritz and Saint Mary's Bridget Purcell, the Irish hope to contend for national honors and another top ten ranking this year.

October 16-18, 2003

Lisa Horstman represented Notre Dame at the 2004 Upper Great Lakes Regional Championships in Figure Skating October 16 -18 in Bloomington, MN. After qualifying during the first day of competition, Horstman placed fifth in the short program on Thursday, and finished sixth in the free skate on Friday, for an overall sixth place showing.