Competing at our First Intercollegiate Final

The University of South Florida Figure Skating Club has continued to make history in our second season! This spring, USF qualified for the National Intercollegiate Final being held at UCLA, becoming the first team from Florida to qualify for the event!
 
As some background, our team has doubled in size since last season, growing from a team of six skaters to 15. So qualifying for the Final was a very rewarding experience. Because we are a smaller team, in order for us to earn enough points to qualify, the majority of our skaters were competing in at least two events, with some skaters competing in three or four. Accomplishing our season's goal of qualifying definitely made all of the practice and hard work worth it!
 
Having the opportunity to travel all the way across the country to compete against the best collegiate skaters in the country was an unforgettable experience and a dream come true. The level of talent and skating ability at the Final was incredible. I was able to witness some of the best skating performances that I have ever seen. It is amazing to see that skaters are so dedicated to their training while also being full-time college students.
 
The collegiate skating environment is unique because you have your whole team there to support you, and you get to support them! I loved the adrenaline rush from running back and forth from rink to rink to watch my teammates and help put them on the ice. While you are out on the ice, you can skate by and see your teammates and best friends alike waving your team flag and cheering you on! When I'm skating, I love seeing the USF green and gold up in the stands. Each team is like a family, and they are there for you no matter what! At the same time, skaters have lots of competitive drive. This creates a perfect balance between having a good time a competition and pressure to perform well, making collegiate skating the best of both worlds.
 
My favorite moments from the competition were the opening and closing ceremonies. The opening ceremony was especially memorable because it was the first time USF was on the ice as national competitors! It was surreal to finally go out on the ice after dreaming of qualifying all season, all while representing our school and the state of Florida. The closing ceremony was special because all the skaters from each of the 16 teams took the ice one last time. The energy and sense of accomplishment in the rink was incredible! I loved watching all the teams huddle together and cheer when their team placement was announced.
 
For most of our teammates, it was their first time in California, so we had to make the most of our trip and do some sightseeing! We got to see Santa Monica pier, have dinner at Din Tai Fung and spend a day at Disneyland!
 
Looking back, it has been amazing to see what we have been able to accomplish in just two short years. We are incredibly grateful to have had to opportunity to compete at the National Intercollegiate Final and we hope to do it again!