Bound together by a common appetite for competition, one by one the team members headed into the locker room and suited up for the event.

And after several rounds of bench banter, rump slapping and appendage taping, they tied up their laces and formed a ritualistic pre-game huddle.

‘All for one, one for all, together we rise, together we fall!’ they screamed.

The energetic team of 19 women – also known as Orange Experience – performed Friday night at Tennity Ice Pavilion during the Winter Carnival Event. The synchronized skating troupe provided the Syracuse University community with a glimpse of the routine it’s set to perform at nationals in Lowell, Mass. later this week.

Before the entire group headed out onto the ice, sophomore architecture major Lauren Hackett and freshman biology major Rosanna Ryskasen each skated singles. Waiting in the ranks, freshman health and exercise science major Amy Luckenbaugh mentally prepared herself for what was to come.

‘I’m kind of excited and not really that nervous yet,’ said the sprite-like performer, known best to her teammates as ‘Cindy Loo Hoo.’ ‘I might be later at nationals though.’

As the soundtrack music to ‘Requiem for a Dream’ played over the sound system, Luckenbaugh and the rest of the women filed onto the ice with long strides and upraised arms, embracing the power of the moment.

The clean, frosty luminescence of the rink was reflected in the blades of their skates and the smiles on their faces. Sounds of their blades scathing the ice in unison could be heard above the blare of music and endless screams of adoring fans. The troupe proceeded to execute synchronized blocks, circles, pin wheels, spoke wheels and split jumps interfused with a wide range of arm grabbing techniques.

The ability to maintain their emotional intensity during these movements was put to the test by several minor glitches in the program.

Problems first arose when the fast-paced, drum inspired portion of the music continued to skip and forced the troupe to restart its performance. About three skaters also fell onto the ice during other parts of the music, including one who was wheeled away by the paramedics after injuring her wrist.

‘We were kind of excited and over-anxious,’ said Luckenbaugh, who fell during the program but did not sustain any serious injuries. ‘Hopefully for nationals we will be able to pull it all together.’

Rachel Kuhn, a second year graduate student and member of the team, said that the environment and a lack of focus may have been issues that led to errors in the skating number.

‘That was a shaky performance but it’s a completely different atmosphere here tonight,’ Kuhn said. ‘Usually we practice on the rink the day before, but everyone came here rushed from work and class … during nationals there will be a much more competitive atmosphere.’

Despite setbacks in the performance, skaters were able to quickly adjust to minor changes in their arrangement on the ice, sustain a positive attitude and rouse the emotions of audience members.

‘It was kind of short, but I think it’s so impressive that so many girls can do something like that,’ said Jessie Kershaw, a junior broadcast journalism major. ‘I really liked when they were coming toward us like they were going to hit the glass, and then spun off at the last second.’

An audience member completely new to the sport, sophomore magazine major Carly Migliori, was particularly impressed by the level of talent the young performers displayed in a five minute time span.

‘I was impressed by all their tricks,’ Migliori said. ‘I am impressed that someone our age can do something like that and doesn’t study skating all the time.’

Anticipating her 13th year at nationals, Kuhn says the close bonds between the performers as well as the high level of individual proficiency will be valuable assets to the team during trials.

‘Compared to other teams, this one is a lot closer, and at least half of the team have passed senior moves in the field,’ Kuhn said. ‘We don’t have the pressure that teams competing nationally have because we do this to have fun.’

Published on February 20, 2005 at 12:00 pm