Collegiate Synchro: Western Michigan University

by Kenzie Brouk

This week we are highlighting Western Michigan Synchronized Skating Teams, which fields both an open collegiate and collegiate team. The open collegiate team is the reigning Midwestern & Pacific Coast Sectional pewter medalist (2020). The collegiate team placed second at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in 2019 during an incredible season for the team and is eager to get back on the podium for the 2021-2022 season. 

What is your favorite thing about the team?

“My favorite thing about Bronco Skating is probably our relationships with one another. I really feel like I am part of a family here with each individual skater’s positive attitudes and respect towards one another”, says Dana Kozlowksi, a current freshman on the team. Katie Fiore, a senior, adds, “Our skaters and coaching staff are outstanding, and there’s a really important legacy to uphold each day. Something unique is that Bronco Skating is a club sport at WMU, so that creates leadership opportunities for athletes to get involved at the ground level and gain experience with decision making and club management.” 

What has been your favorite memory with the team so far?

Fiore highlights that “placing second at the U.S. National Championships at the Collegiate level was an incredible experience and such a testament to the work ethic and grit of the team that year.” Although this past season was unpredictable with COVID, Kozlowski speaks on how the team was still able to feel connected; “for our team workouts, as freshmen living in the dorms we would bring our yoga mats outside to our dorms courtyard and do these workouts while it was still dark out and our coaches could barely see us. I just overall enjoyed it. We still were able to have a lot of fun this season, considering the circumstances.”

If you had one piece of advice for high school students looking to skate in college, what would it be?

Kozlowksi says, “As someone who was just in that position, I honestly debated for a while if I was going to skate in college or not. My advice is to just do it! Try it out and see how it goes and am so happy I made the decision to skate and I don’t regret it at all. Skating for Western was the best decision for me and I couldn’t be more happy here at the school and skating for the team.” In addition, Fiore states that, “It is so important to keep your options open and learn as much as you can. However, make your final decision based on the skaters and campus that give you that “home” gut feeling.”

How do you balance being a student-athlete?

“I think all student athletes can relate to feeling like they have no time for anything, and I think just scheduling and also making sure you make time for your breaks and ‘me time’ stuff that releases that stress,” says Kozlowski. “For me, as a freshman this year, being away from home for the first time my breaks were honestly just calling my mom, my dad, or my sister because talking to my family is personally my outlet when I’m overwhelmed or stressed.”

Does the team have any traditions?

“We typically do our ‘Bronco Blades’ chant in the locker room before we compete, and we huddle to give pep talks before each run-through. We also match first-year and returning skaters in our ‘mentor-mentee’ program, which is a great way to build bonds between graduating classes”, says Fiore.

Goals for next season?

Kozlowski is taking a step forward as the Club’s President for next season, and states, “[Our main goal is] keeping up the overall same work ethic and positive attitudes the team had this season, and I’m hoping as long as things in regard to covid get better we will get to compete and have more of a normal season.”

Katie, as you reflect on your time at WMU as a senior and choosing to continue to skate, what has that meant to you?

Fiore gives us what the past four years at Western has meant to her and says, “I always knew I wanted to skate in college, but WMU was actually a last-minute decision for me. Regardless of the spontaneity, Bronco Skating and attending WMU was the best thing that’s ever happened to me. The experience has been so transformative as an athlete, leader, and person. This club has given me my best friends, mentors, and teammates for life. I could not recommend our University and skating teams more.”

Additional Info:The team website is https://www.wmusynchro.com/ where you can find information about the team and a prospective skater form. The team also has a summer camp occurring on June 12th. You can email any questions you have to danakoz01@comcast.net .The program also offers an intercollegiate team, where skaters who want to continue their passion for individual skating have the ability to do so.