United Farmington Skaters Riding High on Repeat Titles

Senior Hannah Vertin could not have asked for a more satisfying way to conclude her high school skating career.

Vertin and the United Farmington figure skating team has returned home with championships in hand. Both the A and B teams won state titles, with C team coming in fifth.

“It’s a really nice way (to conclude my senior year),” said Vertin, the only triple gold medalist out of Farmington Ice Arena. “I couldn’t ask for anything more, literally.”

The competitions are divided into three levels. At the Feb. 16 district competition in Farmington Hills, the A, B and C teams all qualified for state competition, held March 26 and 27 at the Ice Cube Arena in Ann Arbor. At districts, team A placed second, team B took first and team C tied for second.

Coach Susan Moran is used to having success with her teams and was expecting the same as they headed to Ann Arbor.

“My expectations were to skate as consistently as possible. I’ve got a really strong team as far as consistency goes, usually what they practice they show me in competition,” Moran said. “Yes, we’ve made mistakes but usually it’s pretty much under control.”

The competition happens in three parts: jumps, moves and spins. United Farmington’s A team was tied with Bloomfield Hills United going into the spins portion of the competition. The leading teams, Dearborn Unified FSC and Northville High School, were just one point ahead, and the team trailing, Capital Area Figure Skating Team, was just one point behind. It was still anyone’s game.

“When the judge came and told me that there was a tie and pretty much any of the five schools had a chance to win, the adrenaline kicked in and the excitement,” Moran said. “My B team, I knew going into spins that we had a pretty good shot. My B team all along was pretty strong, and we were on top for most of the competition.”

The A team took to the ice for the spins, and Moran said from there, it was all in the hands of the judges. Vertin and her teammates were confident despite the close scores.

“We felt nervous, but I guess, hopeful that we could take (the state championship) for a fourth time,” Vertain said. “It was a good team effort.”

Soon after, Moran heard over the announcement that her team had been crowned state champion once again.

This is the fourth year in a row that A team has taken the state championship and the third consecutive time for B team. Moran is confident about the future of the team.

“We’re losing seven skaters so that’s a lot,” Moran said. “I still think we should have a pretty strong team.”