Snychronized Skaters Excel

Members of the St. Clair Shores Figure Skating Club Shoreline Blaze synchronized skating team may have extra confidence Saturday when they compete in the Ohio Tri-State competition after their recent success at a regional competition.

The Shoreline Blaze qualified for their first-ever final round of competition during the Midwestern Sectional Championships in Rochester, MN.

The team, which is comprised of 12 skaters between 11 and 17 years old on the ice at once, competed in the open juvenile level.

"This was our first time we ever qualified for the final round and this is only our third year competing," said coach Erica Abke of the competition held Feb. 3-5. "It was pretty exciting for our club."

The Blaze placed third in the first round at the competition, which qualified the team for the final round. In that round, the team finished ninth out of 32 teams.

"It was a good accomplishment," said Abke, who skated for 18 years before becoming a coach.

"Our entire program is so very proud of our team of skaters, their coaches and their parents," said Patrick O'Neil, director of skating. "Hours of hard work and dedication have gone into their successful year."