Chicago Jazz (synchronized skating team)


Chicago Jazz was a synchronized skating team from Rolling Meadows, IL, a northwest suburb of Chicago.
The Chicago Jazz began in 1987, as the Jazz Babies under the direction of Coach Lisa Darken. With a team of 22 skaters, the Jazz Babies began their climb in 1991 and became the U.S. Figure Skating Bronze Medalists in the Intermediate Division at the U.S. National Precision Skating Championships held in Anchorage, Alaska. The team continued to grow and in 1994 earned entry for all four divisions with a total of 80 skaters in the U.S. Figure Skating National Precision Team Championships in Providence, Rhode Island. Every year from 1994-2019, the Chicago Jazz was represented in the U.S. National Championships.
In 1996, the Jazz Babies merged their precision skating program with the Rolling Meadows Rockettes Precision Ice Skating Club. This new family of over 160 Skaters, representing 8 divisions, became known as the Chicago Jazz Precision Ice Skating Club. Utilizing skating facilities in Rolling Meadows, Park Ridge, Buffalo Grove, and Glenview, Chicago Jazz represented the Chicago area both nationally and internationally.

Competing Lines

The Chicago Jazz fielded multiple lines at USFSA-sanctioned competitions including:
  1. Junior
  2. Juvenile
  3. Pre-Juvenile
  4. Synchro Skills 2
  5. Synchro Skills 1

    Coaches

  6. Junior: Paula Bischoffer, Lisa Darken
  7. Intermediate: none at this time
  8. Juvenile: Tammy Cervone, Kristi Frank
  9. Pre-Juvenile: Mary Lou Erickson and Amanda Tucker
  10. Synchro skills 1 and 2: Mary Lou Erickson and Amanda Tucker
In 2006, Lisa Darken was awarded the PSA Synchronized Skating Coach of the year award.

Notable achievements

The team is the 2006-2007 junior world qualifier champion, the junior 2007-2008 season U.S. nationals champion, and received third place at the world challenge cup for juniors in the 2006-2007 season. Chicago Jazz also received second place at the 2009 U.S. synchronized skating championships in Portland, Maine. Chicago Jazz is also the juvenile level champion in the 2004-2005,2006-2007, 2007–2008, 2008-2009, 2011-2012 seasons. At the 2010 Colonial Classic, held in conjunction with the junior world qualifier, the junior team placed third with a final score of 170.16 after placing third in both the short program with a score of 64.34 and in the free skate with a score of 105.82.

Skater Achievements

The Chicago Jazz is proud of its off-ice achievements as well. Not only does the club promote excellence on the ice, but off the ice. Over the years, the Chicago Jazz has been fortunate to have multiple skaters nominated to the USFSA Scholastic Honors Team. The Honors Team recognizes high school-age U.S. Figure Skating members who have distinguished themselves in figure skating, high school academics and community involvement.
The Chicago Jazz SST Junior line continues to compete as a member of Team USA at various international competitions.
YearCompetitionCityPlacement-
2019Spring CupMilan, Italy4th Place
2018Leon Lurje TrophyGothenburg, Sweden5th Place-
2018Trophy d'EcosseDumfries, ScotlandGold Medalist-
2017French CupRouen, France5th Place-
2017Mozart CupSalzburg, AustriaPewter Medalist-
2016Spring CupMilan, ItalyGold Medalist-
2016Neuchatel CupNeuchatel, SwitzerlandGold Medalist-
2015Cup of BerlinBerlin, Germany8th Place-
2014Junior World Challenge CupNeuchatel, Switzerland10th Place-
2014French CupRouen, France11th Place-
2013Spring CupMilan, Italy8th Place-
2012Neuchatel TrophyNeuchatel, SwitzerlandGold Medalist-
2011Berlin CupBerlin, GermanyPewter Medalist-
2010French CupRouen, France5th Place-
2009World Challenge Cup for JuniorsNeuchatel, Switzerland6th Place-
2009French CupRouen, FranceBronze Medalist-
2008World Challenge Cup for JuniorsRouen, FrancePewter Medalist-
2008Spring CupMilan, ItalyGold Medalist-
2007World Challenge Cup for JuniorsNottingham, EnglandBronze Medalist-
2007Czech OpenPardubice, Czech RepublicBronze Medalist-
2006World Challenge Cup for JuniorsHelsinki, FinlandBronze Medalist-
2006Czech OpenPardubice, Czech RepublicGold Medalist-
2005World Challenge Cup for JuniorsNeuchatel, Switzerland8th Place-
2005Gold MedallionSarina, CanadaSilver Medalist-
2005French CupRouen, France5th Place-
2004World Challenge Cup for JuniorsMilan, Italy9th Place-
2004Spring CupMilan, ItalySilver Medalist-
2004WinterfestMississauga, CanadaBronze/Pewter Medalist-
2003World Challenge Cup for JuniorsKungsbacka, Sweden6th Place-
2003French CupRouen, FranceGold Medalist-
2002World Challenge Cup for Juniors-
2002Finlandia CupHelsinki, Finland7th Place-
2002North American InternationalFraser, Michigan, USA5th Place-
2001North American International-
2000Neuchatel TrophyNeuchatel, Switzerland-
1999Snowflake International-

In addition, the Chicago Jazz has sent a novice line to international competitions as a member of Team USA from the years 1999-2007.
YearCompetitionCityPlacement
2007Leon Lurje TrophyGothenburg, Sweden8th Place
2006Czech OpenPardubice, Czech RepublicGold Medalist
2005Gold MedallionSarina, CanadaGold Medalist
2005French CupRouen, FranceSilver Medalist
2004Spring CupMilan, ItalyGold Medalist
2004WinterfestMississauga, CanadaGold Medalist
2002French CupRouen, FranceGold Medalist
1999French CupRouen, FranceGold Medalist

USFSA National Competitions

The Chicago Jazz SST has a rich history competing at the National and Midwestern sectional level across all of its lines since 1999.
USFSA CompetitionJuniorNoviceIntermediateJuvenilePreliminary
2018 National ChampionshipsPewter Medalist8th Place
2018 Midwestern Sectional Championship12th PlaceBronze Medalist
2017 National ChampionshipsPewter Medalist7th Place
2017 Midwestern Sectional Championship7th PlaceSilver MedalistSilver Medalist
2016 National ChampionshipsGold MedalistPewter MedalistBronze Medalist
2016 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipBronze Medalist13th PlaceGold MedalistSilverMedalist
2015 National ChampionshipsPewter Medalist6th Place
2015 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipBronze Medalist5th Place8th PlaceSilver Medalist
2014 National ChampionshipsPewter Medalist7th PlaceSilver Medalist
2014 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipSilver Medalist7th PlaceGold Medalist4th Place
2013 National ChampionshipsPewter MedalistSilver MedalistPewter Medalist
2013 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipSilver MedalistGold Medalist7th PlaceGold MedalistPewter Medalist
2012 National ChampionshipsPewter MedalistGold Medalist
2012 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipSilver Medalist6th Place7th PlaceGold MedalistSilver Medalist
2011 National ChampionshipsPewter Medalist5th PlacePewter MedalistSilver Medalist
2011 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipGold MedalistSilver MedalistBronze MedalistGold MedalistSilver Medalist
2010 National ChampionshipsPewter MedalistBronze Medalist
2010 Midwestern Sectional Championship6th Place9th PlaceSilver MedalistGold Medalist
2009 National ChampionshipsSilver Medalist6th Place9th PlaceGold Medalist
2009 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipSilver MedalistBronze MedalistGold MedalistSilver Medalist
2008 National ChampionshipsGold MedalistBronze MedalistBronze MedalistGold Medalist
2008 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipGold MedalistSilver MedalistGold MedalistGold Medalist
2007 National ChampionshipsPewter MedalistBronze MedalistSilver MedalistGold Medalist
2007 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipSilver MedalistBronze MedalistGold MedalistGold Medalist
2006 National ChampionshipsGold MedalistGold MedalistGold MedalistPewter Medalist
2006 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipGold MedalistPewter MedalistBronze Medalist
2005 National ChampionshipsSilver MedalistGold MedalistBronze MedalistGold Medalist
2005 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipSilver MedalistSilver MedalistGold Medalist
2004 National ChampionshipsSilver MedalistGold MedalistSilver MedalistGold Medalist
2004 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipGold MedalistSilver MedalistGold MedalistSilver Medalist
2003 National ChampionshipsGold MedalistBronze MedalistBronze MedalistGold Medalist
2003 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipGold MedalistSilver MedalistGold MedalistGold Medalist
2002 National ChampionshipsGold MedalistSilver Medalist
2002 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipSilver MedalistPewter MedalistSilver Medalist
2001 National ChampionshipsGold MedalistSilver MedalistGold MedalistBronze Medalist
2001 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipGold MedalistSilver MedalistBronze MedalistGold MedalistSilver Medalist
2000 National Championships5th PlaceBronze MedalistGold MedalistSilver Medalist
2000 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipGold MedalistGold MedalistGold MedalistBronze Medalist
1999 National ChampionshipsBronze MedalistPewter MedalistPewter Medalist
1999 Midwestern Sectional ChampionshipSilver MedalistSilver MedalistBronze MedalistSilver Medalist
1998 National ChampionshipsPewter MedalistGold Medalist