Czech Them Out! Starlights Skaters are Heading Back to Europe

For the second consecutive year, the synchronized skaters of the Starlights Senior Team have earned the opportunity to compete against the best synchronized teams in the world.

Following a 4th place finish at the 2010 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in Minneapolis last March, the Senior team recently received an invitation from the U.S. Figure Skating Association, (USFSA), to skate for the U.S. at the Prague Cup. Senior team skaters will pack their bags and travel to the Czech Republic's capitol city early next year for the international competition on January 28 – 29.

For many Starlights senior skaters, it will be their second time competing overseas in the last 12 months. Back in February, the team traveled to Rouen, France and finished 9th at the French Cup. It was the highest placement for an American senior team in the competition that featured teams from Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland.

“It's truly an honor to be recognized as one of the top senior synchronized skating teams in the nation,” said Chris Heiser, Starlights team director. “Coach Heather Paige has done an outstanding job preparing the Senior Team to perform at high levels that have earned top placements and invitations to skate internationally. Skaters on all our teams have worked really hard over the summer and fall months to get ready for the upcoming season.”

Thanks to heavy interest during spring tryouts, a total of five Starlights teams featuring more than 100 skaters will compete in the upcoming 2010-11 season. For the first time, the Starlights will feature an Adult team along with a new Preliminary team of younger skaters (U12). They'll compete alongside the Starlights Juvenile Team (U13), Novice Team (U17) and Senior Team. The Starlights are affiliated with the Skokie Valley Skating Club and all teams are based at Twin Rinks Ice Pavilion in Buffalo Grove. For more information please visit: www.starlights.us or www.usfsa.org.