There was little out of the ordinary for the skaters of the UCLA figure skating club as they coasted smoothly around the ice rink during team warm ups of the 2013 US National Championships.
Then, somewhat unexpectedly, the team broke out into an 8-clap, ringing Bruin pride for all in attendance to hear.
“It was really exciting. I loved it,” said Maddison Bullock, a fourth-year history student who has been skating with the club since its founding in 2010. “That’s one of my favorite college memories … and I just know with a bigger team this year, it’s
going to be even more fun.”
This weekend, the UCLA figure skating club will attempt to showcase even more Bruin pride at its second-ever nationals appearance. The competition will take place at Adrian College in Michigan.
“We have a really strong team this year,” said Evan Bender, a second-year psychobiology student and president of the figure skating club. “We have double the amount of skaters we had last year pretty much. … So our prospects are really good for nationals. I think we have a good chance of medaling.”
The Bruins will be one of nine schools – three from each region: West, Midwest and East – to participate in nationals. The team’s No. 1 goal though is to beat out its section’s schools in UC Berkeley and the University of Denver, as the hopes of winning it all are a realistically far-off possibility, Bullock said.
Thus far, the circumstances haven’t set the Bruins up for much success, but the team has managed well.
Unlike many other teams at nationals, UCLA lacks a home ice arena, losing the convenience and additional practice opportunities that come with such. Instead, the Bruins are left to carpool to ice rinks in the greater Los Angeles area, which the members of the team gladly do many times a week.
The team has also done without a coach, relying on each other for guidance and support.
“It’s a lot about us helping each other because we’re our own coaches,” Bullock said. “We have to get each other to the rink, we have to motivate each other to drive to the rink.”
And unlike some other schools attending nationals, the Bruins are left to raise much of their own funds through fundraisers and personal contributions. The financial obligations, along with a rash of injuries, have kept the team from sending even more members to the season’s final competition.
Through it all, the team has developed a special identity of its own.
“We’re a really unique team and it’s a testament to how well we work together,” Bullock said.
No matter the results, veteran members and newcomers alike are excited for the weekend.
“Mainly I’m just looking to have some fun, first of all,” said Jillian Campbell, a first year physiological science student. “But I’m really excited.”
And maybe they’ll even throw in an 8-clap or two along the way.