By Liz Leamy
Sentinel Correspondent
This season the Skyliners made an indelible mark in the record books, as six of their 12 lines scored four gold U.S. National and five Eastern Sectional titles, driving home the group’s reputation as a dominant force in American and international synchronized skating.
This New York-metropolitan area-based organization is represented by a majority of Greenwich skaters, with 31 residents who were members of the 12 lines, which range from the Intro level to the Team USA junior and senior levels.
This year, virtually all of the 12 Skyliners teams not only racked up a remarkable amount of hardware, but also made history. They were the first organization ever to have scored four of five total titles (in the Juvenile, Intermediate, Novice and Junior divisions) at any one U.S. National Synchronized Skating Championship event.
Known for their speed, skills and artistry, the Skyliners skaters, along with their coaches, parents and other supporters, were thrilled about their success this season.
“This has been by far the Skyliners best season to date,” said Josh Babb, the director of the Skyliners Synchronized Skating Team and the Senior, Junior and Intermediate head coach, who is known for his fantastic programs and exceptional technique.
The coaches cited the effort and dedication of the skaters as the primary reason for the organization’s outstanding results this year.
“There was a magic and passion in the skaters,” said Sarah LeBlanc Blosat, director of the Skyliners Non-Qualifying lines and Pre-Juvenile, Preliminary, Beginner and Intro Head Coach.
A season to remember
This past season, virtually all of the Skyliners lines came out at the top at competitions that concluded with the sport’s two main annual events, the U.S. National and Eastern Sectional Championships.
The Junior line, which two weeks ago placed fourth at the 2017 Junior World Synchronized Championships in Mississauga, Canada, led the junior division here in the U.S. with its riveting long program to the “Last of the Mohicans” film score, which featured a lovely line, fast wheel and intricate lifts.
The four Greenwich residents who competed on this line included Madison deBlasi, a Greenwich High School sophomore, Whitney Elmlinger, a Greenwich Academy senior, Katherine Elmlinger, a Greenwich Academy sophomore, and Neha Reddy, a Greenwich Academy senior.
“My experience with the team this past season has definitely been the best of all my nine years of synchro,” said Reddy, 17, a Minnesota native who plans to attend Brown University next year. “I think the high stakes throughout the season really brought us closer together and allowed us to achieve our goals.”
At the same time, the senior team had a stellar year, claiming bronze at Nationals, held in Rockford, Ill., Last month. Kristen Lewis, a Greenwich High School sophomore, is a member of the line.
The Novice team did some serious competing as well, scoring gold at Nationals and Easterns.
Greenwich residents who were members of this team included Elizabeth Essaid, a King Low Heywood Thomas sophomore, Mary Ashley Mendik, a Greenwich Academy junior, and Melissa Woo, a Greenwich High School freshman.
The Intermediate line, meanwhile, clinched the National and Eastern titles in its division, with Nicole Huber, a Laurelton Hall sophomore, being the sole Greenwich resident of this team.
The Juvenile contingent claimed gold at both Nationals and Easterns with its high-energy interpretation of Belinda Carlisle’s 80’s hit “Heaven is a Place on Earth,” in which the skaters performed a terrific line, wheel, and other difficult elements.
The two Greenwich residents on this team were Sherlynn Arcuri, a Western Middle School eighth grader, and Helena Seibert.
According to the Skyliner coaches, the primary objective is for the skaters to perform their best. “Winning is skating your best,” said Pamela May, the Skyliners’ junior assistant coach and Senior, Novice and Intermediate head coach. “That is a win for me.”
At Easterns, held in January in Hershey, Penn., the Skyliners Pre-Juvenile and Preliminary teams were also first. The Pre-Preliminary line qualified for the final round in the Preliminary division at that event.
The Beginner team also had an undefeated season, placing first at various competitions throughout the New York-metropolitan region, as did the Intro line.
As a whole, most of the Skyliners spend anywhere from two to four hours, four to six days a week, training at the rink in order to build the quality and overall strength of their skating.
“We practice three times a week as a team for three to six hours at a time, and then practice individually almost every day outside of these practices,” said Whitney Elmlinger, 17. “But the level of dedication demanded by this sport creates such loyalty within the team and motivation to succeed.”
The coaches agree.
“It’s what [the skaters] have given up to be on these teams—the time, energy and other things that make it all happen,” said May, a Minnesota native and renowned coach.
For more information on the Skyliners, contact: info@skylinerssynchro.com or visit: skylinerssynchro.com. Tryouts for the Skyliners start April 1.
Greenwich has a bunch of residents on the 2016-17 Skyliners teams.
The Senior team has Kristen Lewis, while the Junior squad includes Madison deBlasi, Katherine Elmlinger, Whitney Elmlinger and Neha Reddy
On the Novice team is Elizabeth Essaid, Mary Ashley Mendik and Melissa Woo, while Nicole Huber is on the Intermediate team.
Competing with the Juvenile squad is the duo of Sherlynn Arcuri and Helena Seibert, while the Pre-Juvenile team has Greenwich resident Christine Zhang.
On the Preliminary team is Madeline Besgen, Ellie Block, Anastasia Pearson, Christina Seibert, Lily Rose Vallieres and Ziyi Yan, while the Pre-Preliminary unit includes Emily Duarte, Jenny Kessler, Nancy Kessler, Shining Sun and Ella Wyman.
When it comes to the Beginner program, Anna Dolgov, Liana Elliott, Rachel Goldenberg and Lilia Schukin make up the team, while on the Intro squad is Zoryana Chulack, Francesca Ilardi, Eva Jayaweera and Aoife O’Donnell.
