The skating prodigy
Phoebe Wang, senior, is a nationally ranked ice skater and is a member of the Team USA synchro team.
The sun was barely breaking into dawn when 19 girls embraced the morning chill of Anaheim Ice. One of them, Phoebe Wang, senior, leisurely put on her skates, still too lethargic to feel the early morning buzz. A teammate, already gliding in slow circles on the rink, called out for Wang to skate over. Wang quickly laced up her white skates and rushed to join her family on the glistening ice.
Wang’s interest in the sport was piqued when she was three years old from watching her older sister, Lydia Wang (‘12), who is now the captain of the Team USA synchronized skating team, compete on the rink.
“When I was younger, skating appealed to me because it was so graceful and pretty. The mix of both athleticism and elegance made skating seem like a dance on ice. So that’s why I thought skating would be a cool sport to try out,” Wang said.
Instead of competing in the more high profile singles figure skating, Wang decided to primarily focus on synchronized skating. Synchronized skating, originally known as precision skating and commonly referred to as synchro, is a team sport that consists of eight to 16 skaters moving as one unit at high speeds while completing difficult footwork.
The idea of competing on the ice with a team appealed to Wang more than skating by herself because it “[seemed] much more fun and less nerve wracking.” This led her to join Anaheim’s Ice’Kateers when she was seven years old.
Wang was one of the youngest athletes on the team, which was comprised mostly of 20 year olds. Skating with girls who were older and much more experienced proved to be a challenge. But with the help of her coaches and teammates who continually encouraged Wang to work harder and always try her best, this struggle was like a blade’s brush of the ice — quick and light.
Growing from this experience helped her fully enjoy the triumphs that followed with the Ice’Kateers who she now describes as “one big family” and “a huge part of her life.”
These achievements include a repeat Pacific Coast Champion title in 2012 and 2013 and a fifth place finish at National Championships in 2014.
In addition, just last month, the Ice’Kateers seized the Team USA synchronized skating title, which makes Wang an honorary member of Team USA. The Team USA representative is determined through an International Selection Pool (ISP). The ISP for the Senior level consists of eight teams, the Ice’Kateers being one of them. These eight teams are chosen by their rankings at nationals from previous years. The Synchronized Management Subcommittee (SMS) then monitors each Senior team and using their results, picks out the best synchro team to represent the United States. The Ice’Kateers, after being monitored last month, were chosen as Team USA’s synchronized skating representative.
“After making Team USA, I felt accomplished and really excited. It is an honor to be able to represent my country with the sport that I love,” Wang said.
The first national scale competition that they will participate in as Team USA is Trophy D’Ecosse at Scotland in February.
However, to reach this level of skill, much dedication and time is required. Wang practices at 4:30 a.m. at Anaheim Ice four times a week. On the days when there is no scheduled practice, she practices individually.
“Being a Team USA skater is a dream and goal for most synchronized skaters, but not one they can all achieve. Phoebe has worked hard to achieve this goal. Over time, she has changed a lot as a skater as she has grown and matured, so has her skating. She is much more aggressive and more focused on what her goals are and wants to put in the time and effort it will take to achieve her goals,” Kathi Pargee, Ice’Kateers head coach, said.
Aside from her success with synchro, Wang has also established herself as a formidable singles skater. In June, won a gold medal at Moves-In-The-Field, one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on a figure skater.
Ice skating has not only added awards to her growing collection but it has also helped her develop emotionally.
“Phoebe has become more focused and motivated from skating. While growing in her skills as a skater, she has also grown as an individual. In the future, I expect her to do something she loves, even if it is ice skating or it is not,” Luth Wang, Wang’s mother, said.
Yet in spite of her success in both singles and synchro, Wang currently has no plans to follow in her sister’s footsteps as Team USA synchronized skating team captain or even continue to compete with the Ice’Kateers. She has ultimately chosen to stop ice skating professionally altogether after high school in order to focus on her college education at, she hopes, Biola University in La Mirada.
“There are some schools who have synchro teams, but I feel like Team USA was my goal and I made it. Once it is college, it will be a new chapter for my life, but skating will always be with me,” Wang said.
