For skaters, it's precision that counts

	Connecticut College's Synchronized Skating Club practices in Dayton Arena.

How do you describe synchronized skating?

"Synchronized swimming on frozen water," says Jen Dillon '07, co-captain of the Connecticut College Synchronized Skating Club. Nicknamed "CC Synchro," the two year-old team competed for the first time this year at the Connecticut Synchronized Skating Classic at Wesleyan University in February—and finished third.

The team also placed first and earned a gold medal at the Cape Cod Synchronized Skating Classic in December, and earned a ninth place finish at its first-ever appearance at the U.S. Figure Skating Eastern Sectional Synchronized Skating Championships.

The club was formed by longtime synchronized skaters Dillon and Chloe O'Connell '06, who met long before their CC days through teams in Connecticut. While in high school they discussed the prospect of forming a synchronized skating team if they both attended CC.

Dillon, a Torrington, Conn. native majoring in international relations, is also the president of the CC Democrats. Her role on the 11-member team, along with O'Connell, is that of a coach, choreographer and teammate.

Most of the presentation and artistry is done off the ice. "It's about being precise. Everyone has to be doing the same movement at exactly the same time," Dillon said. Practices on the ice are held on Thursday evenings from 9:30 – 11 p.m. in Dayton Arena and some Sunday evenings.

Many of the freshmen who joined the team this year were on synchronized teams prior to attending CC. Dillon and O'Connell regularly receive e-mails from prospective students asking about the team. One of the freshmen on this year's team actually corresponded with Dillon last year.

"It's a great asset for the school," Dillon said. "Not many liberal arts schools have this program." Her dream is to have the NCAA recognize synchronized skating as team sport.

"Each team member could not be more excited about how this season turned out. Coming from a small school, it is not easy task to field a team, but we have grown immensely over the last two and a half years and Connecticut College is now a force in the collegiate synchronized skating arena," Dillon said. Connecticut College is the only school within the NESCAC to support a competitive synchronized skating team.