The three-time defending National Champion Dartmouth figure skating team looks to defend its crown this weekend, as it hosts the 2007 U.S. Intercollegiate Team Skating Championships at Thompson Arena on April 14 and 15.
Nine teams qualified for the Championships, with the Eastern, Midwestern, and Pacific Coast Conferences, each sending three representatives.
The qualifications were based on results in two regional competitions. This year's field is the same as last year's. Along with the Big Green, the University of Delaware and Boston University will represent the Eastern Conference. Indiana University, Miami University of Ohio and Michigan State University qualified from the Midwestern Conference. Finally, the University of Denver, the University of California-Berkeley and last year's host, San Jose State University, won bids from the Pacific Coast Conference.
Coming off wins in its two qualifying competitions at Boston University and the University of Delaware, the team is confident that competing for the first time at home will give them the edge over its competition.
Skaters will compete in various disciplines this weekend. Each skater will compete individually in categories like ice dance and freestyle. The top five finishers score points for their team. A maximum of five points is given for first place and accordingly goes down by one point for each subsequent place, descending to one point for fifth place. Despite varying levels of competition, each category is weighted equally in terms of score. Finally, there is also a team maneuver component, where skaters are prompted to perform any one element and judged on that element alone. The final tally of these scores will determine the national champion.
The path to Nationals for Dartmouth has been a smooth one. At Boston University in February, Dartmouth held off its competitors, winning the competition over Delaware 105-95.5. Co-captain Katherine Kalaris '07
