The Boston University Women’s Figure Skating Team just came off their 2nd consecutive, and 4th overall National Intercollegiate Title. The team has attended the event consistently for the last 10 years in a row by qualifying in the three regional competitions leading up to the tournament. Anyone can join this inclusive club and partake in any of their four weekly skates in Walter Brown Arena, but only some members are selected to compete in competitions.
With four weekly practices plus a conditioning session, not to mention all the success the team has achieved over the past decade, you may be wondering why the squad isn’t competing at the varsity level. Well, thats because the National Figure Skating League took over college figure skating from the NCAA, so almost all teams nationwide are now considered club sports. BU’s team receives funding through Boston University Club Sports as well as by paying semesterly dues to be a member. The team is always looking ahead, and they even recruit for the competitive team by inviting high school seniors to come to practice and meet with their coach in order to see if they can crack a roster spot.
Elise Borkan is a Junior on the team and has attended Nationals all three of her years here at BU. Borkan helped her team to the national title claiming a gold medal in her personal event this year. Borkan says the team is already planning for next season and she says, “winning Nationals again, if we could do it for the third year in a row, that would be pretty amazing. We definitely have that in the back of our minds already.”