Howard University, located in Washington, D.C., has carved out a historic moment by establishing the first intercollegiate figure skating team in the realm of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
This pioneering initiative, spearheaded by Howard students Maya James and Cheyenne Walker, not only rekindles their personal love for figure skating but also pioneers a new era of representation and inclusivity in a sport grappling with diversity.
Founders’ Passion Sparks History
Maya James, a junior majoring in psychology, and Cheyenne Walker, a senior pursuing political science and Afro-American studies, share a profound connection with figure skating from their early years.
The decision to attend Howard University, an HBCU, presented a challenge as it lacked opportunities for them to continue their love for skating. Unyielding, they independently toyed with the idea of forming a figure skating team at Howard, marking the genesis of an extraordinary journey.
“I just missed the sport, honestly,” James admits. “As I was coming to college, I saw U.S. collegiate Instagram pages and how they went to competitions, and it looked so fun and welcoming.”
The spark for this groundbreaking venture ignited during winter break in 2022 when James stumbled upon an article featuring Walker. Inspired by a shared dream and fueled by the desire to introduce figure skating to their campus, James reached out to Walker via Instagram to propose the establishment of a figure skating club.
“When Maya reached out to me, I was so excited because I was speaking to other girls from Figure Skating in Harlem who go to Howard, and we would always speak about how we wish there was skating, but we didn’t know how to go about it,” Walker recalls.
“So, when Maya was like, ‘Yeah, I want to start this,’ I was on board for sure because it’s definitely something that I wanted to see on our campus community.”
Overcoming Challenges: From Vision to Reality
The journey from a shared vision to a fully-fledged team was no glide on the ice. Neither James nor Walker had experience organizing a team, but their determination and shared vision acted as guiding beacons. Walker, leveraging her political science background, drafted the team’s constitution, and together they navigated the complexities of developing a budget and schedule.
The approval process, both by Howard University and U.S. Figure Skating, was a formidable challenge. Convincing the university to fund a non-Division I sport and embrace figure skating took a whole semester. Nevertheless, by the summer of 2023, the Howard University Figure Skating Team was officially formed, etching its place in history as the first intercollegiate figure skating team at an HBCU.
A Partnership with Purpose: Diversify Ice
Acknowledging the lack of diversity in figure skating, particularly the underrepresentation of African-Americans, the team forged a partnership with Diversify Ice, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting minorities in figure skating. This collaboration ensures access to Black coaches and essential resources for the team.
Joel Savary, founder of Diversify Ice, emphasizes the significance of this collaboration, stating, “Our entire team is really invested in this… it’s an opportunity to break barriers and get a brand new team up and running.”
Building a Legacy: Challenges and Triumphs
The establishment of the Howard University Figure Skating Team, while historic, was not without its share of challenges. Securing practice locations proved tricky, with the team frequently shuttling to rinks in Maryland due to the closure of the only rink in the D.C. area for construction. Undeterred by early morning practices and logistical hurdles, the team held its inaugural practice on October 7, 2023.
Ariel Clarke, a member of the team, reflects on the first practice: “We got some really good feedback from everybody. They said it was an 11 out of 10! They said, ‘Oh, when’s the next group skills class?’ Everybody’s really excited for what’s next, so it was a great turnout.”
Assisting in coaching the team are Joel Savary and Joy Thomas from Diversify Ice, both local to the D.C. area. Their involvement reflects the commitment to breaking barriers and fostering diversity within schools.
A Historic Debut and the Road Ahead
While the Howard University Figure Skating Team is not officially affiliated with Howard Athletics, it plans to compete against teams from different regions on an intercollegiate level. The inaugural competition against the University of Delaware is slated for February 2024.
The significance of this achievement is not lost on the founders or team members. Cheyenne Walker shares,
“Being the first of anything is a really big responsibility because you’re trying to set the precedent for everyone else. If there is another HBCU that feels like they should create a figure skating team or is inspired by our story, I think that would bring a lot of the current skaters on those campuses together to create a powerhouse of HBCU skaters.”
Maya James, the president of the team, sees this endeavor as more than just a sporting achievement.
“By starting a skating team at Howard, they hope to help make figure skating more of a place where everyone feels like they belong and can see themselves represented within the sport.”
Howard University Figure Skating Team looks forward to its debut competition and the journey ahead.
