Team USA brought home four medals – one gold, two silvers and a bronze – after competing at the 2023 Mozart Cup. The Haydenettes won silver in the senior event, while the Skyliners junior team topped the podium in the junior competition. Hayden Select and the Crystallettes secured silver and bronze respectively in the senior elite 12 division.
In the senior competition the five-time World Synchronized Championships bronze medalists, the Haydenettes, opened the short program with an artistic circle and no hold element with Level 4 steps. They concluded with their highest scoring element, a Level 4 twizzle element earning them a score of 71.57 and a second-place finish heading into the free skate.
Their free skate program to "Quest for Souls" by David Marsden earned a score of 146.24 thanks to a Level 4 intersection with a Level 4 point of intersection. The 29-time U.S. Champions ended with a total score of 217.81 earning them a silver medal at their first event of the 2022-23 season.
Three-time U.S. champions, Miami University skated their short program to "Dream On" and successfully executed a Level 4 twizzle element and Level 3 move element. They earned a short program score of 65.43.
Going into the free skate in fifth place, Miami University was able to maintain its position in the standings opening with a Level 4 pivoting block and executing a Level 3 intersection with a Level 4 point of intersection. The team finished fifth overall, their highest finish at a Challenger Series competition to date.
Team Nexxice of Canada earned gold with 222.23 points, and Team Dream Edges Senior of Finland secured bronze with a score of 217.00.
The Skyliners junior team opened the competition with a strong start in the short program. The team based out of Stamford, Connecticut earned a Level 4 distinction for their twizzle element and executed a Level 3 intersection with a Level 4 point of intersection. The team earned a short program score of 69.53.
Finishing the short program in first place, the Skyliners looked confident going into the free skate. Their free skate earned 116.60 points which were enough for them to maintain their top spot and take home the gold. Their legends-themed free skate featured a Level 4 synchronized spin, Level 4 move element and Level 4 intersection with a Level 4 point of intersection for an overall score of 186.11.
Also competing in the juniors competition were the Lexettes. The team skated their short program to the upbeat "Rhythm Nation" by Janet Jackson and completed a Level 3 intersection with a Level 4 point of intersection followed by a Level 4 twizzle element. Their performance earned a score of 63.38.
Finishing the short program in fourth place, the Lexettes kept their momentum going into the free skate. The team earned positive grades of execution in all elements and earned their highest points with a Level 4 synchronized spin, Level 4 intersection with a Level 4 point of intersection and Level 4 move element.
The team earned a score of 117.83 to win the free skate portion of the competition. They earned a total score of 181.21 and a fourth-place finish.
Team Musketeers Junior of Finland scored 183.67 points and secured the silver medal while Team Mystique Junior also of Finland won bronze with a score of 183.30.
Rounding out the competition for Team USA was the senior elite 12 competition. The 2022-23 season marks the first official season for the senior elite 12 division. At this competition, senior elite 12 was part of the 2023 Amade Cup, as it is not an official Challenger Series discipline at this time.
Hayden Synchro's newest team, Hayden Select, had a strong first competition with a second place finish overall. In their short program to "Out of Sight" by Yello, the team earned a Level 4 distinction for their pivoting lines as well as a Level 3 intersection with a Level 4 point of intersection. They finished in first place after the conclusion of the short program, scoring 60.69 points.
In the free skate, they opened with a Level 4 circle and concluded with a Level 4 move element, earning a score of 124.54. Their program also featured a Level 3 intersection with a Level 4 point of intersection as well as a Level 4 pair element, both of which were the team's highest-scoring elements. Hayden Select earned their first podium finish as a senior elite 12 team and took home the silver medal with 185.23 points.
In their first international competition as a senior elite 12 team, the Crystallettes finished with a bronze medal. Skating to "Never Tear Us Apart" by Bishop Briggs in the short program, they performed a Level 3 intersection with a Level 4 intersection and a Level 3 traveling element. They earned a short program score of 53.54.
The Crystallettes maintained their spot in third place after the free skate thanks to a Level 3 intersection with a Level 4 point of intersection, Level 4 move element and Level 4 synchronized spin. The team finished with an overall score of 173.10.
Team Lumineers of Finland clinched the gold medal with a score of 187.89.
Team USA is on the road again next weekend for the Leon Lurje Trophy in Gothenburg, Sweden from Jan. 27-29.
