Figure skating places first in synchronized event

All you really need is a little help. Outstanding performances across the board doesn't hurt either.Brock's women's figure skating team took a two day trek to the University of Waterloo to compete against a host of other Ontario University Athletics (OUA) schools. The event, which was actually labelled the Laurier Invitational, was won by Queen's University, who skated away with first place.

Brock's team remained in the top five during the entire two day event, but crept up to second after a second place showing in the short program. The team retained its silver medal position until the penultimate event. After skating in the Bronze Rhythm Dance, the team was situated in third place. Up until that point, points were awarded to each school based on artistic and technical merit and allotted from 10 to zero points per event. Points are awarded for the top five finishers: 10 points are awarded for first place, seven for second, five for third, three for fourth, and two or one for fifth.

Brock captured second place in the Junior Silver Freeskate on Friday, second in the Senior Similar Pairs and were tied for second in the Senior Silver Freeskate. Each second placing was good for seven valuable points.

Laura Baker, a senior member on the team, competed in the Senior Silver Solo Dance on Saturday. She said that she sometimes gets butterflies before her performance.

"Once I get nervous, it's over, because I can't feel my legs when I'm on the ice," Baker said. "My main preparation is to keep my heart rate down."

Krista Wright, who sat out the final event because she had already competed in three events, skated the Senior Silver Freeskate.

"'East of Eden' was the program, and it's better than the skate I did at Queen's," Wright said. "I'm still catching my breath right now. [Near the end] I was running out of steam."

The competition's final event was the synchronized skating event, where most, if not all of the team's members would be involved.

Megan Franklin, who created and choreographed the program, describes the routine as a hip hop medley, with the included block (four lines altogether lined up in a square), and straight line (every skater across from one another) elements.

"In the past years, they haven't liked [our program] so much," Franklin said. "We chose a crowd favourite, and had something fun to skate with and had lots of fun."

The team's 16 members, having been helped out by Brock's hip hop club, pleased the crowd with their show stopping routine. Full marks were given out to the Badgers' squad, as the team placed first and vaulted into second place. The placing was the highest ever in team history.

"It was an unbelievable ending to a great competitive weekend," Brock head coach Melissa Murphy-St. Onge said. "This is the best finish Brock has ever had ... I am very proud of my girls, they did great."

Of note also was the tremendous consistency Brock displayed throughout the meet. The team picked up points in every event, save one, a feat that not many of the other teams could boast about.

Next up for the team are the OUA Championships on March 3-4. They will be held in London at Western.