OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami University Senior Synchronized Skating Team, who is representing the United States at the World Winter University Games in Torino, Italy this weekend, currently sits in fourth place after the short program -- 2.46 points away from the bronze medal and 6.3 points out of the gold. Back home in the United States, the collegiate team --the defending U.S. Collegiate champions -- brought home a first place and the junior team a third place at the Midwestern Synchronized Championships in Geneva, Ill.

The senior team with a score of 61.86 sits behind Sweden (68.18), Finland (66.16) and Russia (64.32) at the 2007 World Winter University Games in Torino, the home of last year's Olympics. If the RedHawks can use its free skate program and jump into one of the top three positions, it would become the first U.S. senior team to ever win a medal at a major world competition. The senior team skates its program at approximately 11:30 a.m. EDT tomorrow as part of the last group.

"I am very happy with the team after the short program," said head coach Vicki Korn. "The team came in and skated wonderfully and didn't make any mistakes. Going into the free skate, we feel that we are in a good position to win a medal and that's what we came here hoping to accomplish."

The Collegiate Team, making its first appearance on the ice since December didn't miss a beat at the Midwestern Synchronized Championships as it ran away with the collegiate division, beating out second place Michigan State by 7.54 points (89.98 to 82.44). The University of Michigan finished in third place with a score of 77.17.

The Junior Team finished in third place at the Midwestern Championships, 5.13 points behind Team Braemar in first and a slim 0.19 behind the Hockettes for second.

The Collegiate Team next heads to the Mid-America Championships as its last tune up for the U.S. Nationals in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Feb. 22-24 where it will be joined by the senior and junior teams.

2007 World Winter University Games