About Us

IN SYNCH

October 2009

by Kama Korvela

Oxford, Ohio, isn't the easiest of destinations to reach. The small town, which is home to historic Miami University, has even inspired a quote — “Not all roads lead to Oxford.”

When Vicki Korn came to Miami University, she had to forge her own path. At the time, there were no collegiate senior-level programs for synchronized skating. Twenty-five years later, the Miami University RedHawks are considered one of the top teams worldwide. Last May, Korn ended her storied career with the university, but her legacy — and her love for the sport — lives on.

Korn grew up as a singles skater in the suburbs of Chicago. She wasn't exposed to synchronized skating until she met Erika Amundsen, who worked with the Ice Skating Institute (ISI). At the time, Korn was living in Evansville, Ind., after graduating from Purdue University.

Vicki Korn Photo courtesy of Miami University

“I noticed they had recreational synchro teams and programs there (in Evansville), and I thought it was such a great activity for adults and kids,” she said.

In 1984, Korn was hired as the skating director of Miami University. Her main responsibility was to oversee the Miami Ice Skating Club, which included the synchronized skating team. In the early 1980s, synchronized skating was still in its infancy in the United States, and Miami University was one of the few colleges at the time that included synchronized skating as a club sport.

“When Vicki came to Miami, there was no program,” said Becky Search, a Miami alumna. “She had a great vision for what it could be, and really helped to make a name for the sport.”

Search, who is an athlete member on the U.S. Figure Skating board of directors, the Synchronized Skating Development Subcommittee chair and a member of the Athlete Advisory Committee, feels that Korn's development of Miami's program is nothing short of amazing.

“What she did with the program is almost like a fairy tale,” Search said. “Vicki took her dreams and turned them into a reality.”

In 1995, Korn achieved two milestones. She became the head synchronized skating coach, and the program itself graduated to varsity status, becoming the first collegiate senior-level program. Under her tutelage, the team proved to be hugely successful, winning three U.S. titles at the senior level and 11 U.S. titles at the collegiate level. In 2007, the RedHawks won the silver medal at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships, something no other American team has ever accomplished.

The impact Korn has had on her students is evident as well.

Karin Sherr only knew one person in the entire state of Ohio when she started her freshman year at Miami in the fall of 1996. She had met Korn in 1995 and was impressed by the coach's philosophy on education and athletics.

“Vicki promised me that skating and academics could live harmoniously,” Sherr said.

Competing as a member of Miami's synchronized skating team was “my lifelong goal,” Sherr said, but as a young woman she was a little unsure of herself and her abilities.

“She had a confidence in me,” Sherr said. “My first time competing for Miami was at an international competition in Quebec, and I was super nervous, but Vicki told me that I could do it and, after she said that, I wasn't nearly as nervous.”

Sherr was able to apply what Korn had taught her on the ice to her studies.

“She expects a lot out of her athletes, and I thrived upon that,” Sherr said. “By demanding that, she made me the best skater I could possibly be. This same motivation and drive helped me in academics as well.”

Korn guided the RedHawks to the first World medal by a U.S. team - a silver - in 2007.

Like Sherr, Search met Korn during her senior year of high school. But unlike Sherr, Search had never considered competing in synchronized skating before coming to Miami.

“I had no experience in synchro before coming to college, so I was not the ‘typical' skater at Miami,” Search said. “Usually, the girls that come there are born and bred to be synchronized skaters at Miami.”

Search echoed Sherr's sentiment about Korn's commitment to education.

“She always said that academics came first and that Miami was the best academically, as well as athletically,” Search said.

Search said Korn always wanted her skaters to be “well-rounded people.”

“Whenever we traveled, especially internationally, Vicki always made sure the team had a ‘fun' day and our families were involved, too,” she said.

Korn's dedication to her students never wavered, even during tough times.

“When I got into a serious car accident (during college), Vicki was there,” Search said. “She has always come through for her athletes.”

Without a doubt, Korn's contributions to synchronized skating have helped elevate the sport to its current status.

“When you look at many of the top coaches in the nation, they are all Miami University grads and are ‘Vicki's kids,'” Sherr said. “That alone shows the impact she had on her students.”

Korn's approach to developing her team's competitive programs was unique and ground-breaking. During the 2004–05 season, Korn brought in an acrobat to help the team with lifts that were included in the competitive program, Search said. Korn would often work with well-known coaches and choreographers to develop programs, including Judy Blumberg, Oleg Vasiliev and Sarah Kawahara.

“She was a pioneer and set the bar for other colleges,” Search said.

Lynn Benson, former coach of the Haydenettes and a longtime colleague of Korn's, has great respect for the program that Korn built.

“Vicki is one of the key people who worked long and hard to create a collegiate division for synchronized skating,” Benson said.

The Haydenettes often competed against Miami University, and Benson feels that both teams benefited because “it pushed the athletes never to become complacent.” And though they might have been on opposing sides, the women didn't let what happened at the rink dictate their personal relationship.

“Vicki and I always left the ‘rivalry' on the ice and got along very well,” Benson said. “Obviously, competing can be intense; however, it relieves a lot of stress when the coaches truly like and respect each other. I believe this filters down to the athletes as well.”

The skating world knows how the last 25 years of Korn's career have played out, but the next chapter is in the process of being written.

“Right now, I'm reading a book about reinventing yourself,” Korn said. “I'd love to get involved with synchro on the youth level. I still feel like I have a lot to give to the sport.”

Others are confident that the next part of her story will be one of success.

“Some people start things but don't ever finish them, but Vicki always follows something all the way through,” Sherr said.