Jan. 26, 2005

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Senior Synchronized Skating Team Competes at Midwest Championships: Miami's senior synchronized skating team travels to Frisco, Texas, for the Midwestern Synchronized Championships on Friday and Saturday. It is the last competition before the team visits Italy Feb. 11-13 for the Spring Cup. Miami is scheduled to compete in the senior short program competition on Friday evening and the senior free skating/long program competition on Saturday evening.

Collegiate Team Wins Bronco Challenge Cup: Though it came in second in the team competition to host Western Michigan, outstanding performances in individual events propelled the RedHawks to a points victory over WMU and teams from the University of Michigan, Michigan State, Bowling Green, Grand Valley State and Illinois.

Miami's Short and Long Programs: The RedHawks designed their short program to a scene from the movie The Italian Job called "The Chopper Chase." It lasts two-and-a-half minutes. The long program was designed by choreographer Sarah Kawahara and is called "A Venetian Fantasy." It lasts four-and-a-half minutes.

Last Year's Midwestern Championships: Miami came in first of four teams at last year's Midwestern Synchronized Championships, placing ahead of Western Michigan's team as well as the Twin City Synergy and Illinois Valley Revolution skating clubs. The team swept all nine first-place ordinals for the long program. The meet was closer to home last year, held in Chicago.

Storylines:
1. The Midwestern Championships is the second in a string of championship events for Miami's senior squad. After the Spring Cup in Milan, Italy is the U.S. Senior Nationals, at which the team can qualify for the ISU World Championship in Sweden in April.

2. Miami's collegiate team has a month off between competitions after its first-place finish at the Bronco Challenge Cup. It has two meets left, including the U.S. Senior Nationals with the senior team and its home meet, the National Intercollegiate Championship in April at the Goggin Ice Arena.