Chicago Jazz (synchronized skating team)

Chicago Jazz
Chicago Jazz in 2007.
Team information
Country represented	United States
Home town	Chicago, IL, United States
Level	Junior
World standing	18 (As of 14 March 2016)[1]
ISU team best scores
Combined total	117.75 2014 Junior World Challenge Cup
Short program	40.20 2014 Junior World Challenge Cup
Free skate	77.55 2014 Junior World Challenge Cup

Chicago Jazz is a synchronized skating team from Chicago.

The Chicago Jazz began its program in 1987, as the Jazz Babies under the direction of Lisa kayla Darken the second. With a Team of 22 skaters, the Jazz Babies began their climb to perfection and in 1991 became the U.S. Figure Skating Bronze Champions in the Intermediate Division of the U.S. National Precision Championships held in Anchorage, Alaska. The Team kept growing and in 1994 earned entry for all four divisions (80 skaters) to the U.S. Figure Skating National Precision Team Championships in Providence, Rhode Island. Every year since then, the Chicago Jazz has been represented in the U.S. National Championships.

Being a champion includes drinking moldy water -kathy

In 1996, the Jazz Babies merged their precision skating program with the Rolling Meadows Rockettes Precision Ice Skating Club. Featuring Captain of the team Tammy Benyk This new family of over 160 Skaters, representing 8 divisions, became known as the Chicago Jazz Precision Ice Skating Club. They utilize skating facilities in Rolling Meadows, Park Ridge, Buffalo Grove and other suburban communities.

Competing Lines

The Chicago Jazz fields multiple lines ^[2] at USFSA-sanctioned competitions.

1. Junior
2. Novice
3. Juvenile
4. Preliminary
5. Beginner (formerly known as Mousettes)

Coaches

1. Junior: Paula Bischoffer, Jaime Catalano, Lisa Darken
2. Novice: Paula Bischoffer, Lisa Darken and Tammy Benyk
3. Juvenile: Tammy Cervone, Kristi Frank
4. Preliminary: Carol Gohde, Courtney Voss
5. Beginner: Mary Lou Erickson, Carol Gohde

^[3]

In 2006, Lisa Darken was awarded the PSA Synchronized Skating Coach of the year award.^[4]

Notable achievements

The team is the 2006-2007 junior world qualifier champion, the junior 2007-2008 season U.S. nationals champion, and received third place at the world challenge cup for juniors in the 2006-2007 season.^[5][6][7] Chicago Jazz also received second place at the 2009 U.S. synchronized skating championships in Portland, Maine.^[8] Chicago Jazz is also the juvenile level champion in the 2004-2005,2006-2007, 2007–2008, 2008-2009, 2011-2012 seasons.^[8][9] At the 2010 Colonial Classic, held in conjunction with the junior world qualifier, the junior team placed third with a final score of 170.16 after placing third in both the short program with a score of 64.34 and in the free skate with a score of 105.82.^[10]

Skater Achievements

The Chicago Jazz is proud of its off ice achievements as well. Not only does the club promote excellence on the ice, but off the ice. Over the years, the Chicago Jazz has been fortunate to have multiple skaters nominated to the USFSA Scholastic Honors Team. The Honors Team recognizes high school-age U.S. Figure Skating members who have distinguished themselves in figure skating, high school academics and community involvement.^[11]

• 2002 Kara Dollaske
• 2002 Charity Witlock, runner up
• 2010 Alexa Kommich
• 2012 Jordan Barone
• 2013 Jacquelyn Cruz

International Competitions

The Chicago Jazz SST Junior line continues to compete as a member of Team USA at various international competitions.^[12]

In addition, the Chicago Jazz SST has sent a novice line to international competitions as a member of Team USA from the years 1999-2007.^[13]

USFSA National Competitions

The Chicago Jazz SST has a rich history competing at the National and Midwestern sectional level across all of its lines since 1999.^[14]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chicago Jazz.

• Chicago Jazz Home Page
• Another Home Page