This weekend four girls from the Notre Dame Figure Skating Team competed at the Maize and Blue Matchup in Ann Arbor, MI. Two sophomores, Anna Katter and Maura Sullivan competed in the Novice Short competition. In a flight of tenskaters, both skaters turned in very competitive programs,placing third and seventh, respectively. Competing Preliminary Freestyle, junior Kate Ortigara was happy with her fifth place performance. Sophomore Chelsey Kelso finished the day with a beautifully choreographed program at the prestitgious Senior level. She dazzled the judges and earned a second place finish out of ten. The Irish ladies were pleased with their showing and representation at the club's final competition of the year.

By Maura K. Sullivan

      The Notre Dame Figure Skating Team capped off their most successful season yet with their best performance of the year, taking first place at the Tri-State Championships in Dearborn, MI last weekend.

      With only two weeks to prepare for the event, the Irish upped the difficulty level in their program to challenge rival Central Michigan University. Coach Tracey Mulherin added a backwards entrance to the box intersection and a twizzle at the end of the block and the skaters executed the changes flawlessly. The ND team's presentation and high energy set them apart from the field once again and the crowd went wild as the team completed their final intersection. The team received first place marks from every judge en route to the gold medal.

      The team dedicated their performance to Tracey, her husband Matt, and "Baby Mulherin," who will arrive any day now, as well as the graduating skaters, Suzanne Gallo and Angela Comana.

      The Notre Dame Figure Skating Team continued their stellar season with a bronze medal at the Midwestern Sectional Synchronized Skating Championships in Broomfield, CO on January 30.

      The Irish skaters traveled to Colorado just nine days after their silver medal performance at the Mid-America Championships and made visible improvements between the two events, despite the brief turnaround time. The team's footwork was fast and precise and the girls lit up the Broomfield Event Center with their smiles and infectious energy. Notre Dame's Marilyn Monroe-themed program was a clear crowd favorite in the Open Collegiate division. The altitude in this suburb of the Mile-High City did not affect the well-trained Irish skaters.

      The Notre Dame Figure Skating team wraps up their synchronized skating season on February 14, 2009 at the Tri-State Championships in Dearborn, MI. The team's singles skating season begins in March at the University of Michigan Intercollegiate Skating Competition.