A skater since age 4, Jenna Longo ’13 is member of the Lexington, Mass.-based Haydenettes. In March, the Accountancy major and her teammates glided to victory at the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, clinching a record 19th national title in synchronized skating. Then it was onto Finland for the World Championships, where the team earned a bronze medal. Synchro (in the parlance of the rink) is the fastest growing division of competitive skating.

What is synchronized skating?
Synchronized skating involves a group of 16 to 20 athletes combining ice dance, pairs and freestyle techniques. It’s recognized by U.S. Figure Skating and international skating organizations, but not yet recognized as an Olympic sport. There are a lot of rules and regulations involved in becoming an Olympic sport. Right now we’re working to bring more teams up to the level of international competition.

How does synchro differ from other types of competitive skating?
The team aspect is the main difference. It’s hard — emotionally — to be on your own competing. When we compete, 16 girls are on the ice and four are alternates. If someone isn’t up to competing, we rotate in the alternates. You feel like 20 best friends are supporting each other.

When did you put on your first pair of skates?
I started skating when I was 4 and started synchronized skating when I was 7. There were programs for both at the rink in my hometown [Farmington, Conn.].

When did you become a Haydenette?
I was 14 when I became eligible to try out for the team, which was the 15-time national synchronized skating champions. We are America’s top team; we have qualified for each of the 11 ISU World Championships and are owners of 19 national titles.

Where have you traveled to compete?
All over the United States, along with the Czech Republic, Canada, Germany, Hungary, France, Croatia, Austria and Finland.

How does the team develop its music and choreography?
Our coach, Saga Krantz, who is brilliant with music, selects the music and does all the choreography. This is unique to the Haydenettes. Most of the top-level team coaches bring in choreographers to help develop the programs.

What’s your favorite element of a synchro program?
The No Hold Step Sequence. To do it right, we are skating without holding onto each other, but must execute the same step sequence in perfect unison, with the same speed and directions to keep the lines straight. Saga choreographs incredible No Hold Step Sequences that are intricate and dynamic.

What is your practice schedule like?
The team practices four times a week, for three to four hours each time. We are also required to skate by ourselves every other day, usually for one to two hours. Most of us also coach the girls on the lower-level teams. On practice days, I’m at the rink by 7:00 in the morning and my first class is at 10.

Do you like coaching other skaters?
It’s incredibly satisfying to see the joy of younger skaters struggling and then mastering a skill. As much as I enjoy sleeping in, nothing beats stepping on the ice, either by myself or to coach, before the sun rises. Honestly, it’s a sanctuary.

Tell us about competing in the World Championships.
It was almost indescribable. There were 8,000 people in the arena and the crowd was booming with support. Since we already had a world medal in hand from last year, I was able to have fun and enjoy the experience. A world medal and national medal are things we don’t take for granted. They are steps in our success and push us to achieve even more in the future.

Do you see an endpoint to your own competitive skating?
By senior year, my school workload will be more intense, so I may need to take the year off. I’m definitely going to skate for at least one more year with the team. I’ll also continue to coach and skate on my own. I know that is something I will never give up. I want to build my ice dancing skills as well.

What are your post-Bentley career plans?
I’m an accounting major. My dad was an accounting major at Bentley, too. I want to follow my father and hopefully work as a public accountant at one of the big firms. Skating and accounting both require consistency and discipline – so I’m hoping what I’ve learned in skating will help with my professional future.