By Vanessa Lim
The Maryland Figure Skating Club showcased its technical skill and artistry at a mock competition on Feb. 21, demonstrating the strong community that defines its team.
Held at Herbert Wells Ice Rink in College Park, the team hosted the competition to give skaters the chance to run through their programs and team maneuvers in front of an audience of teammates, family and friends as they anticipate upcoming intercollegiate competitions.
As the Winter Olympics renewed national attention for figure skating, events like this highlight that the sport extends beyond national competitions and skaters are equally as dedicated at the collegiate level.
The mock competition allowed skaters to experience the structure of a formal event without the added pressure of official scoring and judges.
“The hard part is getting out there,” said junior accounting major Vlad Volkov, the team’s treasurer.
Volkov’s first time competing in a year and a half will be at the upcoming Spartan Classic held at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio, from Feb. 27 through March 1.
Some skaters, like sophomore management and marketing major Jenna Hauer, shared similar feelings before stepping onto the ice, but agreed that the team’s encouragement helped dissipate that fear.
“I was feeling terrible before I came here, but once I saw everyone, I was like, I’m ready to go,” said Hauer, who is the team’s vice president of freestyle.
Grace Wartmann and Joey Lin hold up the UMD flag as Ella Chen holds up the club mascot “Timmy the Turtle” from behind and Tracy Ly takes a photo. Photo by Vanessa Lim. 
Joey Lin, Grace Wartmann, Jenna Hauer and Allen Yuan film a celebratory TikTok video after concluding the mock competition. Photo by Vanessa Lim. 
Jenna Hauer smiles at the audience as she poses during her program. Photo by Vanessa Lim. 
UMD skater Alexandra Crimy poses at the end of her performance. Photo by Vanessa Lim. 
Mark Crimy, Alexandra Crimy, and other audience members clap in support for the UMD skaters. Photo by Vanessa Lim. 
Grace Wartmann, Ella Chen, Joey Lin and Jenna Hauer pose for a TikTok video after concluding the mock competition. Photo by Vanessa Lim. 
Joey Lin and Grace Wartmann embrace each other in celebration after finishing the mock competition. Photo by Vanessa Lim.
Hauer added that seeing her teammates made her even more excited to perform, knowing that they were all there to support her.
“Cheering on my teammates is my favorite part,” said sophomore public health science major Joey Lin, the team’s secretary. “It’s such a reward for all of us to see each other’s hard work and see it pay off, knowing that we did it all together. We practiced all together, and we cheered each other on along the way.”
Throughout each skater’s program, teammates lined the boards, clapping, cheering and calling out words of encouragement.
After the final skater finished, the team gathered at the center of the ice, took a bow and stayed on the ice to celebrate together with TikTok dances, hugs, improvising routines and group pictures.
As the team looks ahead to upcoming competitions, the skaters know that, regardless of scores or placements, their teammates will continue to show up and cheer for them.
“Finding your people with such a niche sport is so special,” Lin said. “Being able to skate with people that love skating just feels like family.”
Featured Image: Skaters Alexandra Crimy, Mark Crimy, Vlad Volkov, Ella Chen, Jenna Hauer, Hitaf Alsaffar, Grace Wartmann, Joey Lin, and Allen Yuan gather at the center of the rink together to take a bow on Feb. 21. Photo by Vanessa Lim.