Dartmouth will host for the first time since 2007, with 130 figure skaters competing from nine schools, including the University of Delaware, Boston University, the University of Denver, the University of California, Berkeley, Miami University of Ohio, the University of Michigan, the University of California, Los Angeles and Adrian College.
If Dartmouth wins this weekend, it will mark the team's seventh national title.
"It's been really fun to compete all year against Delaware and Boston University, but being able to see everyone from across the nation compete is an awesome experience," Caroline Knoop '15 said.
The opening ceremony starts at 6 p.m. tonight in Thompson, with a performance from members of the Dartmouth figure skating team and children from the Upper Valley.
Afterward, each participating team and their captains will be recognized, followed by a special shout-out for Dartmouth seniors.
After organizing the competition's logistics for an entire year, team members look forward to the championships.
"Excited is a little bit of an understatement, because we've worked so hard between getting the volunteers and the alums and sponsorships and working with athletics, and making sure the week is the way it's supposed to be so that we can accommodate all of our competitiors as well," co-captain Joseph Miller '14 said. "It's been a behemoth of a project."
Since the summer, the team has coordinated the budget, volunteer assignments and advertising campaigns, solicited sponsorships and organized judges, officials and food vendors for the weekend.
"I'm thrilled," Isabel Hines '13 said. "It's my senior year, and just being captain and being able to host this event is going to be one of the more exciting events that's happened in my figure skating career."
Coach Jacki Smith has been with the team since 2008, and will host her first championship at the College.
"There's been a lot of time and effort put into organizing this," Smith said. "It's been a little bit stressful, but we've been lucky that we've had so much help, not only from Dartmouth but the team and the alums. Just being at home and having that feeling of energy and enthusiasm in the community is going to be super exciting."
Dartmouth operates under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Figure Skating collegiate program committee, which divides intercollegiate figure skating teams into three regional sections: Eastern, Midwestern and Pacific Coast. Once the regular season concludes, the top three teams from each section will compete for the national title.
Dartmouth enters the competition as the top-ranked Eastern section team, after having won its first competition at Liberty University in October and then placing second at the University of Delaware in March.
Many of Dartmouth's figure skaters began skating at a young age, making this weekend's high level of competition even more meaningful.
"Being able to skate in college has been an amazing experience, because a lot of schools don't have skating, and being able to continue on past high school has been incredible and emotional for me," Hines said. "Being able to host nationals this year for my last year of competition, I can't think of another wonderful way to end my skating career."
Smith echoes her skaters' enthusiasm.
"I hope that people are able to come out and support us," she said. "I think our skaters are in a great position to defend the national title, and they are looking forward to this weekend just as much as I am."
Competition skating will begin at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday with the intermediate ladies' short program and will continue throught the weeknd, ending with the senior ladies' free skate on Sunday afternoon.
