Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Submitted photos Members of the UW-Eau Claire Goldenettes - the synchronized figure skating team - won the Swan Synch Skating Competition in Beaver Dam Feb. 11.

Take 21 talented athletes used to a very individualized sport, add a dance line's style, some glitter, an ice rink and a trio of motivated young captains and coach, and you get one of UW-Eau Claire's most unique club sports - synchronized figure skating.

The Goldenettes formed just three years ago, but the sport has exploded in popularity among female skaters around the state. On Sunday at 10 a.m., the team will perform to "Harem" by Sarah Brightman at Hobbs Ice Arena as part of the Eau Claire Synchronized Skating Competition. The skaters have also performed at ice shows around the state and between periods of Blugold hockey games.

Mary Summers, a 2001 Eau Claire graduate, volunteered to coach the team about halfway through its first season. Now in its third year, Summers said the team has grown immensely.

"We have a lot of strong talent on our team," Summers said. "(Synchro) is something people haven't ever seen before."

Fancy footwork is the focus of a synchro routine, Summers said. A routine also includes kick lines, spins and handholds, as well as line passes intended to look risky.

"It's the only aspect of figure skating that is team-related," Summers said.

Since its inception, the Blugold team went from six members in its figure skating club to 21 members, though only 16 can take the ice at once. Many female figure skaters look for a college that offers this program - including many on the Eau Claire team.

Senior and captain Analiese Tushaus said the sport is a combination of a dance line and synchronized swimming, but on ice skates. She said the obscure sport is definitely growing in popularity, listing schools such as UW-Madison, UW-Stout, Gustavus Adolophus (Minn.), University of Minnesota and several Michigan schools that offer synchro.

"It's really picking up," she said. "I think more people from high school are graduating and moving into college, (but) they want to continue the love of figure skating."

Senior Sarah Hoepner, the other team captain, is another founding member of the Goldenettes. She said three years ago, several members of the university's figure skating club looked into synchro as an opportunity to make their activity more team-oriented.

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