University of Delaware Figure Skating Club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Location: | Newark, Delaware | |
| Home Rink: | Fred Rust Ice Arena | |
| President: | Jerry Santoferrara | |
| Established: | 1986 | |
| Website: | http://www.udel.edu/udfsc/ | |
The University of Delaware Figure Skating Club (UDFSC) was chartered in January 1986.
Contents |
[edit] Facility
The University of Delaware is home to the Blue (Fred Rust Arena) and Gold arenas which serve as the home of the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club and the Delaware Ice Skating Science Development Center (ISSDC). The University of Delaware Ice Skating Science Development Center (ISSDC) is a year-round training facility designed to meet the needs of figure skaters, first-time competitors and Olympians. The ISSDC is directed by Ronald Ludington, who has coached skaters in 9 consecutive Olympics and 36 World Championships. His personal credentials include several skating titles: U.S. Pair Champion (1956-60), U.S. Silver Dance Champion (1958), World Bronze Medalist (1959), Olympic Bronze Medalist (1960), and World Invitational Dance Champion (1965).
[edit] Coaching Staff
The University of Delaware FSC is home to many top level National and International coaches. This is one of the main draws to the skating club. Among others, top coaches include:
- Pamela Gregory
- Ron Luddington
- Jeffrey DiGregorio
- Yovanny Durango
- Priscilla Hill
- Tracey Poletis
- Karl Kurtz
- Tiffany Scott
- Philip Dulebohn
[edit] Athletes
The following are athletes who have represented the club in competition or have trained at the club.
- Brent Bommentre
- Melissa Bulanhagui
- John Coughlin
- Albena Denkova
- Melissa Gregory
- Akiyuki Kido
- Anjelika Krylova
- Tara Lipinski
- Kimmie Meissner
- Jordan Miller
- Bridget Namiotka
- Kimberly Navarro
- Oleg Ovsiannikov
- Ami Parekh
- Denis Petukhov
- Craig Ratterree
- Shaun Rogers
- Maxim Staviski
- Geoffry Varner
- Nozomi Watanabe
- Joel Watson
- Johnny Weir
- Megan Williams-Stewart
- Christine Zukowski
In 2006, the University of Delaware sent 31 figure skaters to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, more than any other figure skating club in the United States.[citation needed]
[edit] Collegiate Results
The University of Delaware has a record of strong performances in collegiate figure skating. The University has been represented at every US National Intercollegiate Figure Skating Championships ever since its inception in 1999 in Ohio. The University of Delaware Figure Skating Team has never placed lower than 3rd at the National Championships. Further, individual collegiate skaters who have placed at the US Collegiate National Championships include Melissa Parker (1999, 2002 - Senior Ladies), Mark Butt (2000 - Junior Men), Laura Stefanik (2006, 2007 - Junior Ladies), Jazmyn Manzouri (2006, 2007 - Junior Ladies) and Taylor Toth (2007 - Junior Men). The nationally ranked team is currently coached by 2002 Olympian Tiffany Scott.
| University of Delaware Collegiate Figure Skating Results | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Eastern Championships | U.S. National Championships, location |
| 2000 | 1st | 3rd, Oxford (OH) |
| 2001 | 1st | 2nd, Boston (MA) |
| 2002 | 1st | 1st, Ann Arbor (MI) |
| 2003 | 2nd | 2nd, Denver (CO) |
| 2004 | 2nd | 2nd, Amherst (MA) |
| 2005 | 2nd | 2nd, Oxford (OH) |
| 2006 | 2nd | 3rd, San Jose (CA) |
| 2007 | 2nd | 2nd, Hanover (NH) |
| 2008 | 2nd | 3rd, Ann Arbor (MI) |
[edit] Research & Development
 |
This section does not cite any references or sources. (December 2007) Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
Researchers at the University of Delaware have designed the new figure skating boot with an ankle hinge intended to reduce injuries by allowing a skater to land jumps with their heel higher in the air, reducing the stress on the hips, knees, and spine. Researchers at the University of Delaware have redesigned the traditional figure skate, with the goal of reducing the joint injuries that plague many competitive skaters.
