Many skaters from Milford, Lakeland, InternationalAcademy, and Hartland

“From being on multiple skating teams, I have met the most wonderful girls who are more than just my friends, they have become my family,” said skater Maddie Franchock, a Milford High Senior. Most of the skaters on the high school team also skate on another skating team. Some compete on a synchronized team while others compete on a theater team. As well as coming from different schools, the girls that are on synchronized skating teams are also on different synchronized skating teams completely. So they forget about the school and synchronized skating rivalries to come together as one for a well-oiled high school competing team. “You would never think that we are all from different schools and synchro or theater teams,” said skater Kathleen Jackson, a Lakeland High Sophomore. “It’s amazing actually, and I’m glad I get to be a part of this.” Being a skater, whether it is a synchro, freestyle, or theater skater, is not all about the glitter and dresses. There is a lot of hard work that they all put into this demanding sport. The girl’s practice 6-7 days a week, from after school until about 10 p.m. And some skaters even go in and practice in the morning before school and on weekend mornings. Due to everyone coming from different schools and teams, they also skate at different rinks. So they are always rink bouncing which takes even more time out of their days.  So after all these hours in the cold rink, working on skills and endurance off the ice as well as competitions and running around to different rinks, how do they have time for homework and even sleep? “Well actually I don’t have time for homework, I always end up doing it in the car or I end up staying up extremely late trying to finish it. So then that leads to no sleep.” Explained skater Allison Phillips, a Hartland High Freshman. “It’s extremely exhausting but totally worth it in the end. I’d rather skate until 10:30 at night then get sleep.”  Due to all the competitions, the skaters end up missing some school. Although the very intelligent skaters in advance get their work that they will miss and manage to stay caught up. But most of them  are still stressed, with no sleep about their academics.  “The trick is to just breathe and get it done,” explained skater Sydney McDavid, a Milford High Sophomore. Remind yourself why you’re doing this sport and why you committed to a sport this late and far away. Remind yourself that it will be worth it in the end when you are competing internationally and when you get to stand on the podium at competitions.” Figure skating is a very rewarding sport. More than half of the girls on the Hartland United Skating Team are also skating for TeamUSA for synchro and theater.  Not many high schoolers get the opportunity compete internationally. “It’s a lot of hard demanding work, but it is totally worth it and I wouldn’t change it for the world,”, said Franchock. Due to being with each other every day they have all become very close. “We aren’t just friends, we are a very close family and I am so grateful to have them in my life,” said Jackson.  To get to this point, many girls had to begin skating at a young age, as early as from ages 3-5! Although it is a lot of hard work, most skaters feel it is still fun. “My favorite part about skating is the friends and memories you make,  says Phillips. “You could never buy these friends, memories, or moments you make.” There are many things about skating that people may not know. And skaters may not be getting the credit they deserve. “The school never knows that we even have a skating team, and know one would ever think or know that there are skaters in the school,” explains Franchock, “It would be a great feeling to get our name out there and get the name of skating out. Let everyone know all the hard work and time we put in. Because figure skating is one of the most fun, demanding, and memorable sports out there.”