Chelmsford Teen Qualifies For U.S. Synchronized Skating Champion

CHELMSFORD, MA —Chelmsford High School student Genevieve Gerenz recently qualified to compete at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships, which is set to take place next month.

Genevieve skates as part of Boston-based Team Excel Junior.

Team Excel Junior took second place at the Eastern Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships earlier in January, earning them a bid to compete on the national stage. In addition to its Junior Team, Team Excel Juvenile, Collegiate, and Adult have also qualified to compete at the U.S. Championships.

"I would like to commend Genevieve and all our Team Excel skaters for their accomplishments," said Team Excel Director of Synchronized Skating Merita Mullen in a statement. "This year marks the first time that our organization will send four teams to the U.S. Championships and the first time in Team Excel’s history that our Juvenile Team has qualified to compete at nationals. These achievements are a true testament to the effort and dedication of our skaters, as well as the commitment and support of our entire Team Excel family—coaches, parents, and volunteers alike. We are incredibly proud of their success."

Synchronized skating is a discipline of figure skating in which teams of eight to 20 skaters perform a program together, blending elements of singles skating, pairs skating and ice dance.

Programs are characterized by teamwork, speed, intricate formations and challenging step sequences.

Athletes in this sport work and train diligently year-round, according to Team Excel, which practices 11 months a year, for 12 hours a week, on and off the ice.