Hockettes Win Gold at Cup of Berlin

The Hockettes won gold at the Cup of the Berlin. Photo by Kurt Meyer

(1/26/05) — U.S. synchronized skating teams kicked off their international season Jan. 20-22 with the Cup of Berlin, the first ISU synchronized skating competition held in Germany. The United States was represented by Team Elan at the senior level and the Hockettes at the junior level.

The Hockettes showed why they deserve to be part of the 2005 World Challenge Cup for Juniors by winning the gold medal in Berlin. The team drew first to skate in the short program, and a few minor mistakes left them in third place behind Team Mystique of Finland and Convivium of Sweden. The team pulled out all the stops in the free skate and vaulted above both the Finns and Swedes to capture first place overall. Team Mystique is the 2004 World Junior silver medalist, and a U.S. team finishing above them is a huge accomplishment.

“During the free skate, the team's confidence and momentum built as each element was accomplished,” said coach Erin Donovan. “By the end of the program, the skaters were having such a good time that their energy was infectious with both the audience and judges. When it turned out that we had won the entire competition and had beaten the World Junior silver medalists, we were ecstatic. The team was proud to stand on the podium as the U.S. flag was raised and the national anthem played. It was a moment the skaters will never forget.”

Skating against some of the top senior teams in the world, reigning U.S. bronze medalists Team Elan finished fifth in both the short program and free skate. Although the team did experience some execution problems in some of their elements, both programs were well received by the international audience.