ABOUT US
Adrian College Varsity Skating
Founded in 2007, Adrian College Varsity Skating has been home to student-athletes for over a decade. Our program is comprised of full-time students across 4 teams: Senior, Collegiate, Open Collegiate, and Intercollegiate Figure Skating. Student-athletes at Adrian live on campus (or close by), attend classes together, and practice at our on campus athletic facilities - Arrington Ice Arena and Merillat Sport and Fitness Center. See below for more details and FAQ. Go Bulldogs!
FAQ
What teams do you offer at Adrian College?
Adrian College Varsity Skating proudly offers three synchronized skating teams and intercollegiate figure skating. Our synchronized skating teams compete in the senior, collegiate, and open collegiate divisions.
Senior - Represented Team USA since 2015, 2022 US Synchronized Skating Championships Pewter Medalists
Collegiate - 3x US Synchronized Skating Championships Silver Medalists, 2019 Pewter Medalists
Open Collegiate - Midwestern Champions: 2019, 2020, 2022
Intercollegiate - 9x Midwestern Conference Champions, 4X National Bronze Medalists: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
Many of our synchronized skating athletes also compete on our intercollegiate team.
Our intercollegiate team consists of skaters at all levels of freestyle, solo compulsory dance, free dance, and team maneuvers.
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What are the academic and USFS testing requirements to skate at AC?
All team members must be full-time students at Adrian College. Undergraduate students must maintain at least 12 credit hours per semester. Fifth-year undergraduate, graduate level, and transfer students are also eligible to skate on our teams while maintaining full-time student status.
As of the 2022-2023 season, US Figure Skating requires all senior synchronized skating athletes to have passed senior Moves in the Field. Athletes must have passed juvenile moves in the field to skate on a collegiate-level synchronized skating team. Open collegiate synchronized skating does not have a testing requirement, but many of our athletes have tested their novice or higher moves in the field.
First-year students interested in our intercollegiate team are required to try synchronized skating for at least one year as the team atmosphere is such an important part of our organization’s culture. There are no testing requirements for our intercollegiate team. We have athletes that compete in no test-senior freeskate, preliminary-international solo compulsory dance, juvenile-senior free dance, and low/intermediate/high team maneuvers.
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When do you host tryouts?
Tryouts for each season are held in the spring, typically the end of March or early April. Tryouts for our figure skating team and synchronized skating teams take place the same weekend during our annual overnight recruitment and tryout event. All prospective and returning student-athletes must try out each season and only admitted/current students are allowed to participate in tryouts.
We currently have a few positions open on our 2022-2023 teams. If you are interested in joining us this season, please reach out to our Director Dana Hall at danahall@adrian.edu
How much does it cost to skate on the team?
While synchronized skating and intercollegiate figure skating are considered varsity sports and vastly funded by the college, athletes are required to pay a one-time dues fee each season outlined in the yearly contract prior to commitment. This money goes toward extra food, extra hotel nights if needed, off campus team bonding activities, guest coaches, and extra travel expenses. Dues range from $250-$1,250 each season depending on the synchro team. Payment plans are available as needed.
Private lessons from the full-time Adrian College Skating coaching staff members at Arrington Ice Arena are free of charge for our varsity athletes. Our coaches offer lessons for skating skills, freestyle, synchro, solo dance, free dance, and moves in the field. All Ice time at Arrington Ice Arena is free to all athletes on the teams.
Skaters are responsible for purchasing their Collegiate Skating Membership that will last 4 years. Additionally, skaters will be responsible for their own skates, blades and team practice apparel. A pair of laces, tights, tape, team backpack, and team travel jacket will be provided for them. Skaters on the intercollegiate figure skating team will also need to provide their own individual competition dresses.
Skaters on our senior and collegiate teams are also responsible for their team official practice dress that is theirs to keep. Skaters on open collegiate have an official team practice dress provided for them.
No additional money will be required from athletes each season.
Team members participate in an annual raffle and on-campus fundraising initiatives.
What makes Adrian College Skating special?
100% our team culture. At Adrian College, student-athletes live together on campus, attend classes together, and form life-long friendships. Adrian College can provide an extensive range of opportunities for our student-athletes while giving our skaters a chance to continue their athletic goals while seeking their degrees.
At Adrian, we are proud of the unique team culture we have formed and are focused on upholding our teams' values and traditions. For Bulldogs, skating is about personal discovery through learning life skills, collaborating as a team, overcoming challenges, developing grit, giving back to the community, and leaving an impactful legacy.
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How often are practices?
Senior: On ice approx. 10 hours/week, 3x week strength/conditioning/stretching, 2-3x week floor
Collegiate: On ice approx. 6.5 hours/week, 2x week strength/conditioning, 1x week floor
Open Collegiate: On ice approx. 3.5 hours/week, 1-2x week strength/conditioning, 1x week floor
Figure Skating: Sessions are available 6-7 days/week on ice (approx. 8-9 hours per week)
Synchro practices are scheduled around class times and may be adjusted from season to season, based on team level and ice availability.
All team members are highly encouraged to practice individual skills outside of team practices.
Do you offer campus visits or recruitment events?
We do! Prospective student-athletes can visit our campus any time of the year. We offer personalized tours complete with an admissions and financial aid visit, a meal in the dining hall, and the opportunity to observe an academic class. Prospective student-athletes also have the opportunity to skate with the team on intercollegiate ice and/or observe synchro practices during their visit (if available).
We also offer annual summer camps. For information about our camps this year, please click here.
Can I join other clubs or a sorority?
Will I have time outside of skating?
Yes! We encourage student-athletes to embrace the full college experience. Many of our student-athletes are in sororities, student government, academic clubs, choir and band, campus employment, internships, and study abroad.
If you have questions that have not been answered here,
please contact Dana Hall, Director of Skating, at danahall@adrian.edu
