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NEWS & NOTESSolano Stars
Solano Stars
Vacaville Ice Sports
Vacaville, Calif.
About: Solano Stars offers year-round teams for skaters of every age and level. Their youngest participant is 4 years old and their “most experienced at life” skater is 69 years old. Teams practice a minimum of one hour weekly on ice, with additional off-ice practice. They compete in at least four local competitions each year and often times more, plus perform in many exhibition events. They love to travel and make new skating friends wherever they go. One of their proudest accomplishments as a group is winning the overall team trophy at the annual Skate at the Lake competition in Lake Tahoe in both 2014 and 2015.
Overall Team Coach: Donnarae Tulsky
Team Colors: Royal blue, gold and black
Team Slogan: “Every day is a great day to skate!”
Current Membership: 82
Website: solanostars.com
Facebook Page: facebook.com/solanostars
ISI National Competitions: 2016 World Team Recreational Championships, 2016 Adult Championships
Tot Formation
Age: 4 – 9
Levels: Pre-Alpha to Beta
Coach: Amber Turner
Theme: Techno Swing
Highlights: First place at Shamrock Skate in San Francisco
Junior Youth
Age: 8-10
Coach: Shannon LaPoint
Levels: Delta to Freestyle 4
Theme: 60s Dance
Highlights: Undefeated the last two seasons, the team is a very tight group. Most of these girls have been skating together for three years and enjoy many activities together outside of skating.
Youth
Age: 8-14
Coach: William Wong & DeDe Messner
Levels: Freestyle 1 – 5
Theme: Patriotic
Highlights: First place at District 14 Skate at the Lake Championships
three years in a row. The team competes two different programs, synchro skating and advanced formation.
Senior Youth
Age: 8-17
Levels: Gamma to Freestyle 4
Coach: Whitney Westbrook
Theme: Jazz Hits
Highlights: The newest team, consisting primarily of skaters new to synchronized skating. It is a challenge to compete with such a diversity of ages and levels, but this team makes it work and is undefeated this season!
Masters
Age: 34-69
Coach: Amber Turner & DeDe Messner
Levels: Delta – Freestyle 4
Programs: As many as they can possibly remember!
Goals: Win the team award at ISI Adult Championships
Funny Note: One year, six of nine skaters (and a coach) had a first
name beginning with the letter D. Talk about confusing!
Highlights: “Staying Alive” program from 2013-14. “Be Our Guest” in 2007 — they liked it so much they revived it for this year.
Theater On Ice
Age: 7-14
Coach: Crystal Miller
Levels: Pre-Alpha – Freestyle 5
Theme: Space
Highlights: The Theatre on Ice team provides a great program for synchronized skaters to get experience in performance skills. It is Solano Stars’ biggest group and they have been extremely successful, placing first at every competition they’ve entered this year.
