Last spring, I decided to follow my vision of a synchronized-skating focused organization that would combine synchronized-skating experienced coaches, trainers and supportive volunteers with developing skaters and teams in a nurturing training environment as the goal. It is my dream to be able to make detailed and specific decisions for my synchronized skating teams – in order to provide them every advantage to perform successfully and to the best of their ability. To realize that dream – I needed equally strong support both off and on the ice. To that end, Team Excel was created with a singularly focused Board of Directors and Steering Committee to help me make organizational decisions based on the well being of synchronized skaters and teams. On the ice, we benefit from having older accomplished skaters mentoring and nurturing younger skaters, inspiring them with personal passion and excitement for our sport. Volunteerism is what supports a synchronized skating organization and I feel strongly that this philosophy should apply to the skaters as well. The competitive synchronized skaters of today, are the technical specialists, judges and coaches of tomorrow.
A devoted, smart, supportive and large group of volunteers donated their personal talents to help me realize my vision. We were prepared to be an individual member club but were generously approached by an established and well-respected club to join and represent them. We were able to affiliate in a manner that allowed for the support of a generous skating organization, while enabling the synchronized skating teams to have their own voice. The vision was coming to life.
Tryouts blew me away. Over one hundred skaters auditioned for my new organization Team Excel, representing The Skating Club of Boston. I was overwhelmed with the response. Numerous graduated skaters and family members came to assist in that process. My vision was validated and I was touched to my very soul.
We work very hard! The Preliminary and Beginner teams learn teamwork and developmental-level yet quality synchronized skating elements and transitions. The Juvenile, Novice and Junior teams are being challenged with difficult IJS programs. (Yes, even Juvenile as they must be prepared to be Novices and Intermediates.) I have many supportive senior skating mentors: Lee Ann Filosa, Nikki Sullivan, Ally Bejma, Domenica Fuller, and Melissa Delano. I do not ask – they simply appear at practice to work with the teams at all levels. What a gift to the skaters of Team Excel! My own daughter Katherine volunteers as off ice-dance choreographer for Juvenile and Novice. Many people contribute in many ways.
Team Excel had our First Monitoring and Competition this past weekend. I had butterflies. It was our debut! Junior Monitoring was very satisfying. Not much work to do! Megan and I were relieved.
Then at the Thanksgiving Classic, hearing "and now, representing the Skating Club of Boston, Team EXCEL" as my Juvenile team took the ice absolutely gave me goose bumps. It gave life and breath to all of the support, the hard work, and to my vision. We won our first 2 Team Excel medals in the Juvenile and Beginner divisions. I was approached by so many coaches and synchronized-skating friends who wished me and my new organization the very best. I was touched by their kindness and consideration. Synchronized skating really is a community and I love my community.
Reflecting on the competition, I thought to myself: "OK, here we go." We have much work yet to do, but who doesn't at this time of year? We are on our way, and eagerly working toward whatever comes. Megan, Kristin and Krista, I am proud to have you on my Coaching Team; we keep each other going and laughing. Skaters of Team Excel: Great job, first time out. Let’s get to work!