For the first time in history, a Cardinal club team stepped onto the ice at a national championship.

Stanford sent three of its seven competitive figure skaters to the University of Denver, the host of the 2003 National Intercollegiate Team Championships March 28 to 30. Senior Cindy Keeler and juniors Jackie Wong and Jenny Chen represented the Cardinal as part of a team that has only been in existence since spring 2001.

Co-captain Wong said that he was thrilled that the team had qualified for nationals in only its first year of intercollegiate competition. He was especially pleased to watch the team “establish a presence on the West Coast”.

The team established more than just a presence this year, entering Nationals as the top Pacific Conference team, a feat largely due to huge performances in the 2003 Spartan Skate and the 2003 Stanford Invitational, in which the team placed second and first, respectively.

The Card met up with 10 other teams in Denver for the championships, including the second- and third-place Pacific teams, Cal Tech and San Jose State.

After three days of competition, Stanford ended just one point shy of seventh place.

Keeler competed for the Cardinal in the Intermediate Ladies’ long program, in which she finished seventh.

Chen, the team’s second captain, captured two bronze medals for the team in the Novice Ladies’ short program and the Pre-Intermediate Solo Dance. Both performances were exceptional, and the only flaw in Chen’s short program was a two-foot landing on a lutz.

Unfortunately, her dash for medals was cut short by stress put on a back injury during the short program. The injury forced her to withdraw from the long program and compulsory moves.

Wong skated to a fourth-place finish in his Pre-Intermediate Solo Dance and participated in the exhibition for Men’s compulsory moves.

In the end, Cornell University emerged as the national champion, followed by the University of Delaware and Miami University of Ohio.

“Although we did not finish at the top at Nationals, I was very satisfied with the hard work, teamwork and enthusiasm that the competitive and club skaters put forth throughout the season,” Wong said.

Chen regards the competition as a learning experience for the captains. “Going to Nationals really gave [us] an idea of what it takes to develop a cohesive team that emphasizes not only top finishes, but also bonds of friendship through athletic development.”

The team will continue to offer lessons to both beginner and advanced skaters at Belmont Iceland. As important as competition is, the teaching aspect of the team is considered by its members to be an integral part of the program.

“Every quarter, our competitive skaters teach a dozen or more beginner skaters the basics of skating,” said Chen, “Through these sessions, we hope to spread the love of figure skating throughout campus and the hockey-dominated Bay Area.”