On March 16, 2002 in Ann Arbor, Mich., the Dartmouth Figure Skating Team took third place in Collegiate Nationals. The University of Delaware and University of Michigan took first and second place, respectively.
This was also the first time the Pacific coast was represented in the meet, as San Jose State University joined the field of competition, along with Denver University.
With just 11 skaters, Dartmouth scored an impressive 76 points. But it wasn't just the team's success on the ice that made this event special.
As Victoria Lee '05 said, "Nationals were thrilling in many respects. We managed to hold on to our competitive edge all throughout the season and did very well. I think the Dartmouth Figure Skating Team is making a name for itself in collegiate skating with our continuous victories and humble mentalities. We're hopefully gaining the respect of the Dartmouth community. It's been an englightening and very fun year."
Unlike the United States Figure Skating Association's qualifying competitions, collegiate skating provides team comraderie -- college is where many skaters find a renewed love for the sport.
Jeanne Franzone '05 discussed the strong team mentality on this year's Big Green squad.
"Everyone on the team supported each other well and had fun cheering everyone on. We were thrilled to compete so well as a team and finish off a great season with a strong showing at Nationals."
Emily Schaller '02 gave one of the most notable performances, finishing second in the Senior Ladies long program with solid jumps and spins that displayed her flexibility.
Another remarkable showing came from Ariel Stern '05, who skated away with first place in both the Junior Short and Long programs.
Lauren Brown '05 took gold in both Pre-Intermediate B Long and Compulsory Moves, while Paola Peacock '03 skated two flawless programs to take silver in both intermediate events, and Victoria Lee won the Pre-Intermediate C long program.
Kelly Morr '05 took fourth in Pre-Intermediate A dance with a "seductive" rhythm blues which made even the judges chuckle.
Other strong performances were turned in by Meg Thering '05, who came out with a third- place finish in Pre-Intermediate B long program, Tricia Shalka '05, who placed fourth in Pre-Intermediate A Long, and Bruccoleri, finishing third in the first Novice Dance. Franzone took fourth in Intermediate Short Program and Liz Colangelo, a graduate biology student, skated a solid Pre-Intermediate C Compulsory Moves and helped the Dartmouth Intermediate team to place second. The all-freshmen Pre-Intermediate B team with Shalka, Thering and Brown made Dartmouth skating history by taking first place.
Michael McGean '49 and Loren McGean '92 coach the Dartmouth Figure Skating Team. Amy Stetson-DeJesus, the founder of the team, also came to Nationals and maintains Dartmouth Figure Skating's website.
"The team did a tremendous job out there and I couldn't be more pleased for the team and the college," said McGean, looking back fondly on the past year of competition.
Rebecca Bruccoleri is a member of the Dartmouth Figure Skating Team.
