ND Synchronized Skating | Video

| 2/3/2012

There`s a saying: "If figure skating were easy, it would be called hockey." After watching these girls on ice you`ll figure out why.

One Bismarck native is part of the best team in the U.S. and it all started here in North Dakota. The Haydenettes are the best synchronized skating team in the nation. And one of their newest members is from North Dakota.

"It was an amazing feeling," says Jenna Goecke, Haydenette skater. "It was unbelievable that all the hard work finally paid off working with the Chips and my own individual skills. It`s just an unreal experience."

The Haydenettes have won more than 30 competitions and have performed in various ice shows and events around the country.

Most recently, they appeared on the Today Show skating at the famous Rockefeller Centre ice rink.

"It was just an amazing experience," Jenna Goecke. "One of my dreams has always been to skate on Rockefeller Center. Knowing that we`re on the Today show and promoting synchronized skating is a great feeling."

Jenna first became interested in synchronized skating after seeing the Haydenettes perform in 2003. A year later, the Capital Ice Chips were formed in Bismarck, and Jenna joined the team at the intermediate level.

"Jenna was always hard working and very goal oriented. And no matter what it took, she was going to achieve those goals. She puts a lot of time into her skating and is very passionate about it," Becky Gallion, Chips coach.

Her former teammates said they weren`t surprised Jenna was picked up by the Haydenettes.

"She`s a really strong skater," says Karly Knudson, Chips skater. "She was a good role-model and really helpful. You could always ask her questions and she`d help you out.

Jenna`s not the only one putting North Dakota on the map."

Two former Chips skaters also skate at the senior level for other teams.

"We believe in what we`re producing over here," says Becky Gallion. "But to know the the coaches at higher levels can see what we`re producing at this club is really good. It says a lot about Jenna and the program and all the work the girls put into it."

The Chips are now gearing up the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championship in Boston early next month.

"Last year we had a lot of seniors leave so we were really nervous," says Selena Morris, Chips skater. "We didn`t know what to expect this year. But all the new girls really stepped it up and we`re really proud of them. And we were really excited to find out we were able to go."

They plan on seeing Jenna at the Nationals which proves that when it comes to synchronized skating, breaking up is hard to do.

They Haydenettes are traveling to Switzerland in a couple of days to compete in the International Championship and they will return to Boston for the Nationals.

If they win, they will go on to compete in the World Championship in Sweden.

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