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The University of Delaware Figure Skating Club and the Ice Skating Science Development Center will host the National Collegiate Figure Skating Championships Aug. 14-17 in the Rust Ice Arena, Route 896, Newark. This is the first time the event has been moved from Colorado Springs, headquarters of the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA).
The center, directed by world and Olympic coach Ron Ludington, is one of the premier centers in the world and is known for its internationally renowned programs in singles, pairs and ice dancing. It also is home to an extensive collegiate figure skating program. More than 50 college students skate in the program in individual events or as part of UD’s synchronized skating team.
More than 50 universities and colleges will send skaters to compete in the three-day event that brings together the top junior and senior college figure skaters in the nation. Skaters will compete in the ladies and men’s singles and figures. The competitions, free and open to the public, are sanctioned by the United States Figure Skating Association.
Former national collegiate competitors include Olympians Calla Urbanski, who trained at UD, Nancy Kerrigan, Elizabeth Punsalan and Jerod Swallow and Rachel Meyer and Peter Breen.
John J. O’Neill, assistant professor of health and exercise science, said the University is extremely pleased to be hosting the collegiate competition.
“When the USFSA came to us asking if we would like to host the event we were thrilled,” O’Neill said. “Collegiate skating is one of the fastest growing areas of figure skating in the U.S.” He added that UD’s relationship with the USFSA is strong and that several UD alumni have obtained staff positions with the organization.
“UD was favored for this competition because there are so many collegiate competitors on the East Coast. We are very excited about showcasing our training facility and UD to the skaters and judges who will be at this event,” Alice Rakowski, president of the UD Figure Skating Club, said.
This year six Olympic teams that train at UD are heading for the 2002 Winter Olympics at Salt Lake City. Throughout the entire world there are only 24 ice dance teams competing in Winter Olympics and five of those 24 train at UD with former Olympic Gold Medalists Natalia Linitchouk and Guennadi Karponossov. The teams represent Russia, the Ukraine, Switzerland, Korea and Israel.
Additionally, U.S. Silver Medalists Tiffany Scott and Philip Dulebohn, who will represent the U.S. in pairs skating at the Olympics, train at UD with coach Karl Kurtz, a former novice national champion, international pairs champion and U.S. junior pairs silver medalist.
Feb. 20, 2002
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