University of Delaware Figure Skating Club

University of Delaware Figure Skating Club
Formation 1986 (1986)
Headquarters Fred Rust Ice Arena
Location
President
 Jerry Santoferrara
Website www.udel.edu/udfsc
Kimmie Meissner, 2006 World Champion

The University of Delaware Figure Skating Club (UDFSC) was chartered in January 1986. The University of Delaware is home to the Blue (Fred Rust Arena) and Gold arenas which serve as the home of the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club and the Delaware Ice Skating Science Development Center (ISSDC). The University of Delaware Ice Skating Science Development Center (ISSDC) is a year-round training facility designed to meet the needs of figure skaters, first-time competitors and Olympians. The ISSDC is directed by Ronald Ludington, who has coached skaters in 9 consecutive Olympics and 36 World Championships. His personal credentials include several skating titles: U.S. Pair Champion (1956–60), U.S. Silver Dance Champion (1958), World Bronze Medalist (1959), Olympic Bronze Medalist (1960), and World Invitational Dance Champion (1965).

Coaching staff

The University of Delaware FSC is home to many top level National and International coaches. This is one of the main draws to the skating club. Among others, top coaches include:

Athletes

The following are athletes who have represented the club in competition or have trained at the club.

In 2006, the University of Delaware sent 31 figure skaters to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, more than any other figure skating club in the United States. Additionally, in 2011 thirty-two skaters from UD qualified for senior and junior national teams after the Eastern sectional championships.[1]

Collegiate Results

The University of Delaware has a record of strong performances in collegiate figure skating and is one of the top teams in the country as per national rankings. They compete out of the Eastern Conference. The University has been represented at every US National Intercollegiate Figure Skating Championships ever since its inception.[2] Teams qualify for the National Championship by competing in three conference competitions. At the conclusion of each event, skaters and university teams are awarded points in each of the three conferences: Eastern, Midwestern and Pacific Coast. The top three teams from each conference qualify for the National Championship. Every year, approximately 40 teams enter into the conference competitions and nine qualify for Nationals. The team has won the National Championships five times, first in 2002 and most recently in 2015, both in Berkeley, California. [3]

The University of Delaware Figure Skating Team has never placed lower than 3rd at the National Championships and never lower than second in their conference.[2] Further, individual collegiate skaters who have placed in the top 3 at the US National Collegiate Figure Skating Championships include Melissa Parker (1999, 2002 - Senior Ladies), Mark Butt (2000 - Junior Men), Laura Stefanik (2006, 2007 - Junior Ladies), Jazmyn Manzouri (2006, 2007 - Junior Ladies) and Taylor Toth (2007 - Junior Men).[4][5][6]

University of Delaware Collegiate Figure Skating Results
Year Eastern Championships U.S. National Championships, location
2000 1st 3rd, Oxford (OH)
2001 1st 2nd, Boston (MA)
2002 1st 1st, Ann Arbor (MI)
2003 2nd 2nd, Denver (CO)
2004 2nd 2nd, Amherst (MA)
2005 2nd 2nd, Oxford (OH)
2006 2nd 3rd, San Jose (CA)
2007 2nd 2nd, Hanover (NH)
2008 2nd 3rd, Ann Arbor (MI)
2009 2nd 2nd, Colorado Springs (CO)
2010 1st 3rd, Newark (DE)
2011 1st 1st, Ann Arbor (MI)
2012 1st 2nd, Colorado (CO)
2013 1st 1st, Hanover (NH)
2014 1st 1st, Ann Arbor (MI)
2015 1st 1st, Berkeley (CA)

Research & Development

Researchers at the University of Delaware have designed the new figure skating boot with an ankle hinge intended to reduce injuries by allowing a skater to land jumps with their heel higher in the air, reducing the stress on the hips, knees, and spine. Researchers at the University of Delaware have redesigned the traditional figure skate, with the goal of reducing the joint injuries that plague many competitive skaters.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2011/dec/National-SendOff121010.html
  2. 1 2 http://udel.edu/stu-org/UDCFSC/
  3. ↑ http://www.usfsa.org/Programs.asp?id=89. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ http://www.usfsa.org/event_related_details.asp?ri=content/events/199900/ncc/seniorladies-final.htm
  5. ↑ http://www.usfsa.org/event_related_details.asp?ri=content/events/200001/ncc/juniormen-free.htm
  6. ↑ http://www.usfsa.org/event_related_details.asp?ri=content/events/200506/uscc/juniorladies-free.htm

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, April 13, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.