Teammates Sarah Fletcher and Sarah Noonan had vastly different skating careers before Miami University. Fletcher grew up competing freestyle, while Noonan — a Teams Elite and Starlights alumna — knew she wanted to be a RedHawk at age 9 (for years, she had a note that read, "Make Miami Senior" taped to her bedroom wall).
Every year, talented skaters like Fletcher and Noonan move across the country to train in Oxford, Ohio — some for the athletic rigor, others for a chance at international recognition. But any current team member or alumni will tell you the best part of the RedHawk legacy revolves around the student-athlete experience.
"A normal day is doing everything together — on the ice, working out, in class," Fletcher, a junior, said. "I'm not afraid to share my hardships with my teammates because we share similar experiences."
Noonan agreed. "The first time I watched senior skate, I was drawn in by the power and strength that the individual women had," said Noonan, who is also a junior. "Now it's our turn to embody and foster confidence for future classes."
Being a leader on Miami University's Senior Varsity Synchronized Skating Team (Miami University) consists of efforts off the ice, too. Pre-COVID, it meant grabbing a designated "skater table" in the Armstrong Student Center or coordinating spirit days. A wave of social-distancing restrictions, however, brought forth new traditions.
"Oxford has had a city ordinance stating you cannot have groups larger than 10 together right now," assistant coach Lee Ann Shoker said. "Team practices are exempt, but there's a wide array of challenges that stem from not spending time together."
The highly competitive team elected not to perform for a panel of judges this year. Instead, the coaches and athletes dedicated the beginning of the season to inducting the freshmen class into its culture.
"When everything came to an abrupt halt, we resorted to video conferencing," Shoker said, noting the team virtually connected whenever they could. Sometimes it was for taco Tuesdays, other times it was to discuss the upheaval brought on by demands for social justice. "I think it gave first-year students a window into our community."
The addition of these Zoom town halls, however, did not replace their daily practice with bonding time. The 20 athletes maintained their disciplined on-ice, conditioning and ballet regimen — but with a committee-style approach. The intention is to give members more opportunities to gain leadership experience.
"Every Wednesday, we practice drills in different lines and one spot is designated to count off to the music," Noonan explained. "The lines change every time we go down the ice so everyone —especially those not yet comfortable speaking in practice — has a chance to use their voice."
Shoker knows team dynamic perhaps better than anyone. She's a 1996 university and team alumna who has worked with the team for over a decade alongside head coach Carla DeGirolamo. Together, they invest in the individuals off the ice through one-on-one and class-by-class meetings, which have continued throughout the pandemic.
"We will have a lot of athletes continue on to be officials, coaches or will continue to skate other places, but 99% of them are going into a professional in life outside of synchro," she said. "We try to prepare them to be authentic human beings that will achieve success wherever they go."
During Miami University's tenure and especially in the last year, the coaching staff — which also includes Kelley Morris-Adair — has encouraged their athletes to see on-campus psychologists, nutritionists and athletic trainers.
"With our sport, we know that perfectionism is woven in with every skate lace," Shoker said. "So we try to provide them with the resources that will help them thrive, instead of battling darkness alone."
In recent years, Miami University's entire athletic department has also "reorganized from a human performance to a wellness model," according Shoker. This transition has been crucial for the collegiate athletes in a season — or two — of uncertainty.
But the program's focused adaptions have not paved over its long-treasured rituals. For instance: senior pass-downs at the end of every year.
"Because our team has so many spirit days, you're left with about 200 leotards when you graduate," Fletcher said. "So, the seniors give their old uniforms away, and the freshmen have the opportunity to get some vintage Miami gear."
"One of my wrap skirts says Sarah Arnold on the tag. She now works for U.S. Figure Skating, so it's a really unique way to keep the tradition going," Noonan added. "Photos will be posted on social media for alumni, who are always like, 'I can't believe skirt and leo are still in play!'"
The RedHawk's method for goal setting didn't change this season, either. They always set direct and concrete team objectives together, but the skaters are encouraged to create individual targets for themselves (Noonan, for example, still sticks notes to her bedroom walls).
But regardless of what stays consistent and what changes, Miami University intends to end up back where they belong: on the world stage surrounded by a sea of fans, clad in red.
"Every student-athlete gets a red letterman jacket and it ties us to all of the other Miami athletes, too," Noonan said. "When we step on the ice at nationals (U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships) and see those jackets and hear our section screaming, we know we're apart of keeping that legacy alive."
