Synchroettes (synchronized skating teams)

The U.S. Figure Skating Association has chosen the Synchroettes Junior team to represent the country at the international competitions during the seasons of 2012-2013, 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, recognizing it as one of the most successful synchronized skating teams in U.S. history. As the Junior Team USA, the Synchroettes went to earn silver medals in 2014 and bronze medals in 2013 at the highly regarded Leon Lurje Trophy international competition in Sweden.[1][2][3]

In the season of 2016-2017, most of the Synchroettes teams have 16 members. In addition to that, each of the teams has up to four reserve skaters who practice with their teams and perform at competitions in case main skaters become injured or unavailable to skate due to any other reason. Reserves skaters are called “spot sharers” in the sport.

The Synchroettes teams of the season 2016-2017 include teams of the following levels:

• Junior (Skaters are at least 13 years old and under 19, they all have passed at least the Intermediate Moves in the Field test)
• Novice (Most of the team members are under 16 and have passed at least the Juvenile Moves in the Field test, this is a cross-skater team)
• Intermediate (Skaters are under 18 and all of them have passed the Pre-Juvenile Moves in the Field test, the team was cut as of the 2017-18 season)
• Juvenile (skaters are under 13, all of the team's members have passed the Preliminary Moves in the Field test, however, to skate at competitions, skaters must have passed the pre-juvenile moves in the field test, abbreviation “Juv”)
• Pre-juvenile (the majority of the team are under 12 years old, abbreviation “Pre-Juv”)
• Preliminary (skaters are under 12 years old, with the majority of the team under 10, abbreviation “Prelim”)
• Beginner-1, Beginner-2 are the two teams for young skaters, who have not yet passes any USFSA ice skating tests.

In the season of 2016-2017 the Synchroetts debuted the Unified team, giving an opportunity for kids and adults with special needs to skate on the same team with competitive skaters.

The Synchroettes teams won in many regional competitions and competed in national competitions for many years. They also performed in many public appearances and participated in community service skating events such as Toys for Tots and a show to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.[4] In 2010, its Juvenile team won the gold medal of the 2010 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[5] The success of the Essex Skating Club's synchronized skating teams was recognized by the U.S. Figure Skating in its publication, Guide to Basic Skills and Beginner Synchronized Skating, as one of the two featured clubs to inspire skating clubs around the U.S. to start a basic skills/beginner synchronized skating program.[6]

In 2012, the Junior-level team of Synchroettes was selected by the U.S. Figure Skating to be part of the Team USA for 2012-13 season to compete in Leon Lurje Trophy international competition in Sweden.[7] The team won a bronze medal in the competition.[8]

All of the Synchroettes teams typically hold their tryout sessions for skaters seeking to join the teams for next season during March and April. The skates are strongly encouraged to practice several times a week on ice and off ice, including instructions with private coaches. Members of the teams competing on the national level are expected to demonstrate advanced figure skating skills and pass special tests approved by the U.S. Figure Skating Association, such as a set of tests called Moves in the Field, ice dance and freestyle ice skating tests.

The Synchroettes’ home rink is Codey Arena in West Orange, New Jersey, the teams also practice at Clary Andresen Arena in Montclair, New Jersey.

GERI LYNCH TOMICH is the founder and the head coach of the Synchroettes synchronized skating teams, a not for profit organization that spans 10 teams and includes about 200 figure skaters. USFSA Gold Medalist in Freestyle ice skating, USFSA Gold Medalist in Figures skating. She is a member of USFSA, Ice Skating Institute, or ISI, and Professional Skaters Association, or PSA.

• KALEIGH CORBETT works with the Synchroettes teams competing at the national and international levels, including Junior, Intermediate, Novice and Juvenile.[9][10] She is also a pastor at the Frankford Plains United Methodist Church in Augusta, NJ, and writes for her blog. Coach Corbett is a member of USFSA, Ice Skating Institute, or ISI[11] and Professional Skaters Association, which is known as PSA[12]
• BOBETTE GUERRIERI has been skating at Codey Arena, the Synchroettes home rink, since it first opened in 1958. She has been working as an ice skating coach since 1970 and with the Sycnhroettes – since 2003. Coach Guerrieri holds USFSA Gold Dance Level and teaches power skating.
• RANDI KAUFMANN, who has been teaching ice skating since 1990, works mostly with Pre-Juvenile and Open Juvenile at the Synchroettes. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York in Binghamton and master's degree in Social Work from the Rutgers University. She is a member of USFSA, ISI and PSA.[13]

The Synchroettes coaches Geri Lynch Tomich, Kaleigh Corbett and Bobette Guerrieri were recognized by the U.S. Professional Skaters Association among best coaches in the nation and included in the Honor Roll of Synchro Coaches in 2012 and 2013.[9][10]

Charity is a significant part of life at the Synchroettes. The teams hold an annual performance to support U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots initiative designed to give a holiday gift to poor children.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20] The Synchroettes head coach Geri Lynch Tomich leads the teams in their consistent and devoted support of Walk for Wishes - a family-friendly nationwide fundraising event.[21][22]

• NYT Photo gallery
• Vimeo videos of the team

• Website
• in Facebook
• in instagram
• A Move to the Front of the Line//The New York Times, Feb.28, 2013