As founder of the Diversify Ice nonprofit, UD alumnus Joel Savary also coaches Howard University’s new team, which competed at its first-ever event at UD earlier this week.

Making history on ice

Article by Artika Casini Photos by Larissa Veronica Heather, Audrey Tong and Carly Ferreira and courtesy of Olivia Tennant, Emmanuel Savary and Melissa Maldonado February 27, 2024

Blue Hen works to make figure skating more inclusive

Joel Savary had just received his first ice skates — a used pair, purchased by his mom — when a woman approached.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Putting on my skates,” he answered.

“Those aren’t your skates,” she said. “You’re stealing someone’s skates!”

Confused, Savary saw the stranger march to the main office and point in his direction. The 14-year-old was already running late for his freestyle session, so he glided onto the ice, jumping and spinning, as the woman watched in stunned silence. She never apologized.

“That’s why I appreciate UD so much,” said Savary, a 2011 University of Delaware graduate with degrees in English and political science. “It was one of the most welcoming institutions and rinks for me to train on.”

Blue Hen brothers, Joel, Class of 2011 (left), and Emmanuel Savary, Class of 2025, are working to diversify figure skating.

The University’s defining culture of inclusivity was on display at the Blue Hen Ice Classic, a student-run figure skating tournament that brought 213 skaters from 21 universities to Newark, Delaware, from Feb. 24-25.

Making history at the event was Howard University, which launched the nation’s first figure skating team at an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) last year, with Savary serving as coach. The UD event was the team’s first competition, or a “great homecoming,” as Savary described it.

“Everyone has been so nice and welcoming,” said Howard student and skater Maya James. “Knowing that it was our first event, they made sure we understood how the weekend would be.”

Long, for one. Events ran from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, and until 7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25.

But spirits remained high. “UD is known for camaraderie and sportsmanship,” said head coach Leah Krauskopf. “You’ll hear our students cheering as loud as they possibly can — not just their team, but for every single person that takes the ice.”

Nutrition and medical sciences student Melissa Maldonado transferred to UD after attending last year’s tournament in Newark. “I fell in love with the [supportive] energy,” she said. “So much so that I had to come back.”

That palpable sense of community caused Melissa Maldonado, a junior nutrition and medical sciences major, to transfer from Pace University in New York City to UD.

Since its inception in 2000, the Club Skating team has had incredible success, representing UD at every national final, winning six national championships and never placing below third. At the recent home competition, UD placed first, scoring a poetic 302 points. The program is one of the largest in the country and welcomes everyone from first-time skaters to past Olympians.

One of its more prominent former members includes Emmanuel Savary, a current senior studying physics while simultaneously pursuing a professional skating career. Coached by his older brother, Joel, the younger Savary has won the U.S. Jr. National Championships and several international competitions.

Emmanuel Savary, a current senior studying physics while pursuing a professional skating career, has won the U.S. Jr. National Championships and several international competitions. But it was UD’s club program, he said, that “made me enjoy skating again.”

But it was UD’s club program, he said, that “made me enjoy skating again. It was a completely new experience. It was supportive and fun.”

Club member Olivia Tennant, a graduate student studying applied statistics, echoes this sentiment.

“When you’re young, it’s competition, it’s work,” she said. “Here, you’re skating because you choose to skate, because you love to skate.”

Half Filipino and half Black, Tennant especially loves to see the sport diversify.

Graduate student and Club Skating member Olivia Tennant is proud to see ice skating continue to diversify. “Howard being here is such a massive step,” she said. “I am so grateful to share this ice with them.”

“Howard being here is such a massive step in staking,” she said. “I am so grateful to share this ice with them.”

It was an emotion she felt just one week prior, at a freestyle event not unlike the one Joel Savary attended at 14, yet profoundly different. Across the rink, Tennant spotted another mixed-race girl with excellent form and similar spirals in her hair. They admired each other from afar, exchanging smiles, not words.

The University’s defining culture of inclusivity was on display at the Blue Hen Ice Classic, a student-run figure skating tournament that brought 213 skaters from 21 universities to Newark, Delaware, from Feb. 24-25.

Joel Savary would be proud. A policy analyst by day, the Blue Hen devotes his nights and weekends to Diversify Ice, the nonprofit he founded in 2017 to do exactly what the organization’s name suggests.

Already, he can point to measurable success, with more skaters of color at the national and international level, most of whom are ambassadors for his program. He can see the impact of the guidance and resources his organization has poured in, how skaters have propelled to even greater heights.

“The figure skating world is small,” Savary said. “My goal is to make it more colorful and accepting.”