2 Minnetonka Students on Championship Synchronized Skating Team

Team Braemar's junior synchronized skating team successfully defended its national title this week, winning the gold yet again at the 2013 U.S. Synchronized Skating National Championships in Plymouth, MI.

The group was in first place following the short program Thursday evening, after skating to music from Bonnie & Clyde. The girls posted their best score of the season, with a 58.57. Friday night saw the free skate portion of the competition, where Team Braemar hit the ice to Cleopatra. The highest combined score of the two events determined the national champion. 

The win comes just one month after Team Braemar failed to qualify for the World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships in Finland, with the Twin Cities skaters ironically besting both teams who previously defeated them to head to the world competition. The Edina club finished with a total of 173.26 points, enough points to place them ahead of the NY-based Skyliners and the Chicago Jazz.

Head Coach Pam May told Ice Network she and the team felt like they "had nothing to lose."

"I feel they pulled from within and really gave it their all," May said. "They really came through when it counted and got it done."

The Twin Cities skaters aren't a stranger to national titles, having won the championship in 2012, 2010 and 2009. In 2011, the team took the silver medal. They have also represented the U.S. Figure Skating Association for seven consecutive years now, taking part in international competitions as Team USA. 

Team Braemar Junior consists of 20 female skaters from various high schools throughout the Twin Cities metro area, including two with Minnetonka ties: Katherine Ellison and Sage Kelner, both who attend Minnetonka High School.

Team Braemar is part of the Edina-based Braemar-City of Lakes Figure Skating Club and practices at Braemar Ice Arena in southwest Edina.

For the unfamiliar, synchronized team skating typically sees between eight and 20 skaters on the ice, performing a routine together. It uses the same judging system as other figure skating disciplines, with teams performing a free skate routine as well as a short program consisting of required elements. 

Team Braemar was the only synchronized skating team from Minnesota to qualify for the National Championships this year.

Additional information on the team can be found at www.braemarfsc.org.