ANGOLA, Ind. – Trine University's inaugural Senior Synchronized Skating team made their debut this fall. These 16 competitive athletes opened two new programs at events in Dearborn, Mich., Irvine, Calif. and Boston, Mass.
 
The Trine University Varsity Skating team is proud to begin competition at the senior level. The senior team is a culmination of the hard work of their talented student-athletes and a labor of love for Head Coach, Rachel Franchock. This level is the highest caliber of competition available in synchronized skating and the Thunder will compete against internationally ranked teams, including the world silver medalists from last season. These skaters are hardworking, driven, and ready to begin a new era for Trine Skating.
 
After returning to campus early this fall and training incredibly hard throughout September, the senior team competed for the first time at the Chuck Cope Classic on October 19th in Dearborn, Mich. They debuted their short program, a fierce Rihanna medley, and their 'Mirage' free skate, inspired by the desert dunes and music of the middle east.  The team earned 48.73 points in the short program and 78.21 points in the free skate for a total competition score of 126.94. The short program had positive grades for execution, while in the free skate they lost points due to a few errors.
 
Their next event took our skaters all the way to California to compete at the 2024 Synchro Fall Classic in Irvine which ran from Friday, November 8 through Saturday, November 9. This competition was the first of two mandatory competitions for senior level teams, so all seven of the United States' Senior teams were in attendance. It was a major learning experience for the young team. In the short program, nerves were a factor, with an unusual fall in their moves element. Despite improving on the rest of the program from their first competition, the error reflected in their score of 41.06. The team rallied during the second of the competition, their free skate score with a unified and controlled performance. They were rewarded with an improved execution score which helped them earn 86.67 points in the free skate and a total score of 117.58 for the event. They ended the competition in 6th place, just above Adrian College and behind Hayden Select, a club team.
 
For their last competition of the semester, the team took a trip east to Boston, Mass. The Thunder spent a week and a half on intense training to prepare for the Boston Synchronized Skating Classic beginning on Saturday, November 23. Despite the two falls during their short program performance, the team made great strides in their components score, which evaluates performance, skill, and choreography. They improved by just under two points, raising it from 20.68 in California to 22.54 in Boston, an impressive feat during the quick turnaround between events. Their short program total score was 44.46. The team also made impressive improvements in the free skate on Sunday. They raised their score from an 86.67 to 98.08 points. The change was based on an eight-point improvement in their technical score and a five-point improvement to their components score.
 
After the success of the fall the Thunder are excited to continue to improve during the new year. They next take to the ice at the 2025 Midwestern Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships in Kalamazoo, Mich. which runs from Thursday, January 30 to Saturday, February 1.
 

2024 Synchro Fall Classic - Senior Division Standings
Place	Team Name	Total Score
1.	Haydenettes	186.89
2.	Teams Elite	174.98
3.	Skyliners	174.76
4.	Miami University	168.39
5.	Hayden Select	159.32
6.	Trine University	127.73
7.	Adrian College	117.58
2024 Boston Synchronized Skating Classic - Senior Division Standings
Place	Team Name	Total Score
1.	Haydenettes	194.22
2.	Skyliners	192.66
3.	Teams Elite	188.71
4.	Hayden Select	184.36
5.	Miami University	170.52
6.	Trine University	142.54
7.	Adrian College	114.98