Synchro Team Honors Fellow Teammate Battling Cancer

When Starlight's Adult Synchronized Skating team manager Sally-Anne Kaminiski received an e-mail from a fellow teammate a few weeks ago asking to schedule a few "spirit" practices before heading to the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships, Kaminski was happy to oblige. Then came a special request. Could all the team members wear the color teal, the Cervical Cancer Awareness Color in honor of another fellow adult teammate, Tracy Blomquist, recently diagnosed with the disease.

Kaminski's answer was a resounding "yes" and fellow teammates were thrilled to organize the practice.

"Tracy's surgery was that Thursday and we weren't sure she was going to feel up to coming to our Sunday practice so we scheduled "Teal" day for February 19," Kaminski said. "On Saturday we got word she was coming to practice that day so we secretly changed the day to February 12."

Another adult team member rallied the Starlights senior team practicing on ice before the adults, to join in. Both teams represent the Skokie Valley Figure Skating Club and practice at the Twin Rinks Ice Pavilion in Buffalo Grove, Ill.

"Seniors had an ice make right around the time the adult team was starting off ice practice and so when Tracy walked into the rink there were 41 women in the lobby wearing teal. She had no idea at all we had switched the theme for practice and it was pretty cool to see her reaction," Kaminski said.

For Blomquist, the past few months have been a roller coaster of emotions from the initial diagnosis, surgery and now the healing process. After her doctor discovered the cancer through a colposcopy procedure, and going on a hunch, that something might be wrong, Blomquist underwent a biopsy in December.

"On January 9th she informed me the results had come back carcinoma. You can imagine my surprise. I do not remember half my conversation but all I remember her saying is 'You have cancer. You need to call this oncologist as soon as possible'," Blomquist said.

After the initial shock wore off and hysterics subsided Blomquist decided to find out everything she needed to know about the disease and "beat this thing head on".

That same week Blomquist was to leave with the Starlights for the Mid -America Synchronized Skating Competition.

"I did my best to escape the real world and enter the skating world for the weekend," Blomquist said. "I confided to a few of my teammates what was happening and they were nothing short of amazing. I wanted to tell them because I was afraid they would see through my facade and know something was wrong and I didn't want to distract them from skating."

A few weeks later, the day before leaving for the Midwestern Championships, Blomquist met with her oncologist and scheduled surgery within two weeks. Blomquist informed her teammates on the bus ride to Michigan and stressed she hoped to be back in form to join the team at the U.S Synchronized Championships.

"We skated great and medaled at Mids and that was special to all of us," Blomquist said. "We had a horrible skate the previous competition so it was a moral victory for all of us, and I remember ending the program and thinking WE DID IT. And these awesome ladies are going to help me keep battling."

Blomquist underwent surgery when she returned from sectionals and is now successfully recovering. Her doctor called her surgery "textbook".

"No surprises and he couldn't have asked for things to go better," Blomquist said.

Now it is time to focus on The U.S. Synchronized Championships, life and Blomquist's new motto, "Fight like a Girl".

"There is nothing more amazing then walking into the rink and see a sea of teal, over 40 women dressed in the same color for you. The senior girls were surprises since I figure most of them do not even know who I am, but they told their manager that they wanted to do it even before their last run through that morning. They even brought the team in a huddle and yelled 'We love Tracy.' Amazing," Blomquist said.

For Kaminski, the "spirit" practice was not a surprise. It is all about the wonderful special friendships that form while skating with the Starlights.

"Tracy is a rock star," Kaminski said. "Not only does she coach an ISI team, but she works full time as an x ray technician including with the Chicago White Sox when they are in town, and she goes to school. Many of us admire her because she is able to balance such a heavy load and still be able to skate with us."

Blomquist is just overwhelmed and humbled by the support she received.

"Synchronized skating is a special sorority of sisterhood and friendships," Blomquist said. "It is even more apparent now. Besides the support I received from the Starlights, I have received well wishes from former teammates of mine from the Wagon Wheel Starlets and Miami University and even other adult teams. That is special and says a lot about the sport we love so much. It is important these ladies know you do not have to fight alone. There are people everywhere who want to be there for you and help you 'Fight like a Girl'."