The Carleton Ravens closed out their season on a high note at the OUA figure skating championships last month, turning months of preparation into one of their most successful performances in recent years.
The competition, which took place on March 10 and 11, was hosted by Toronto Metropolitan University at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. Carleton finished eighth overall, capping off a season of growth as the team celebrated its 25th year.
“It was awesome being able to perform representing Carleton,” said Ravens figure skater and co-captain Adelle MacLeod.
Skaters Jillian Andrews and Sarah Burry echoed her excitement.
“Going out in the Ravens’ colours was a great way to showcase our school,” Andrews said.
“It wasn’t just us cheering for our own skaters, but all of the unis cheered everybody on. It’s a wonderful community to be a part of,” Burry added.
MacLeod, Andrews and Burry competed alongside teammate Petra Dvorkin in the Freeskate Fours event. The group performed a program characterized by synchronized spins, jumps and footwork. The team placed sixth overall in the event.
“I’ve been on the team for three years, and this year’s competition were the best results we’ve seen since I joined,” MacLeod said.
MacLeod also competed in the Gold Artistic event, a discipline focused on creativity, musicality and expression. For her performance, she placed fourth overall, the highest standing the Ravens achieved in the championship.
“Being on team Fours definitely helped rub off on me,” she said, adding that during the performance, skating with them had helped with her facial expressions.
“It’s important which music you choose, as when you’re able to feel the music it’s much more natural to express [emotions] with your body movements,” MacLeod added.
Andrews and Burry competed in the Senior Pairs event, a two-skater program that, like Fours, emphasizes synchronization, technical elements and overall cohesion. For this event, the two skaters placed seventh.
“There were a few challenges at the beginning, but we worked through those challenges as a team,” Burry said.
“It was very successful … We worked hard to get ready for the OUA championships,” Andrews added.
To prepare for the season, the skaters trained hard on and off the ice.
“We made sure to cover all our bases, and keep active outside the season, going running, working out at the gym,” Andrews said.
“It’s been really helpful to have the university offer more space and time for us, too,” added Burry.
The Ravens figure skating team has competed three times this year: the 2025 OUA Fall Invitational hosted by Western University in November, the 2026 OUA Winter Invitational hosted by Brock University in February and ending with the OUA Championships.
“We were happy about how we trained and prepared for it, and it was overall a great experience,” MacLeod said.
Head coach Amanda Cousineau praised the team for their diligence and positive disposition.
“Everyone did what they were capable of to the best of their abilities,” she said. “The season had a few early challenges, but they adapted well and were a cooperative team.The team’s uniqueness came from their individual strengths and the strong motivation from the athletes to each other.”
As the season comes to an end, the Ravens are setting their sights on the future, building on summer training and preparing for the next campaign. One change could be an expansion into synchronized skating, an event consisting of 12 to 16 skaters.
“Preparation has helped the team fulfill some of their personal goals this season. It was about making sure we just felt prepared enough to feel ready,” MacLeod said.
Featured image by Neil Gunner
This article, and all of the Charlatan’s work, is brought to you by an independent student newspaper dedicated to informing, uplifting and entertaining the Carleton University community. We are a levy-funded organization which plays a role in the broader, vibrant student culture on campus. By reading this article, you are supporting our efforts.
