Sept. 18, 2002

OXFORD, Ohio - Miami's synchronized skating team is looking to improve on its ninth-place finish at the 2002 World Championships, and its first step in that process arrives next week in the form of renowned ice skating choreographer Sarah Kawahara. Kawahara's resume is a "Who's who" list in the figure skating world.

For the first time in her acclaimed career Kawahara will be working with a synchronized skating team. Just prior to her arrival in Oxford, Kawahara will be accepting an Emmy Award, her second, for her choreography of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. She earned her first Emmy Award for Disney's production of Scott Hamilton's "Up Side Down".

Another project on Kawahara's docket in 2002-03 is the Scott Hamilton and Friends TV Special, which is being taped in October. She also is serving as the choreographer for the Champions on Ice 25th Anniversary tour, which opens in December and tours on into 2003.

Kawahara has worked with some of the brightest stars in the figure skating world. Most recently she choreographed Michelle Kwan's long program for the 2001-02 season and the 2002 Winter Olympics. Also on her list of soloists are Kristi Yamaguchi, Scott Hamilton, Victor Petrenko, Oksana Baiul, Elvis Stoiko, Dorothy Hamill and Robin Cousins, to name a few.

The RedHawks' guest choreographer, who was named the United State's Figure Skating Association "Choreographer of the Year" in 1993, also has done several television specials. Kawahara served as the primary choreographer for Michelle Kwan's TV Special in 2001, as well as Disney's 75th Anniversary Special in 1999. In addition to these specials, she also choreographed the Nancy Kerrigan Special, the "Wizard of Oz", Toller Cranston's Christmas Special and three specials of the Ice Capades.

"This is the first time that the synchronized skating world has had a choreographer of this caliber work within its ranks," head coach Vicki Korn says. "It's nice to see Miami University setting the tone for collegiate skating by bringing in such a highly respected choreographer."

The Senior Synchronized Skating team opens its 2002-03 campaign on December 6-7, 2002, at the Dr. Richard Porter Classic in Ann Arbor, Mich. Last year the RedHawks finished first at the Porter Classic. Getting off to an earlier start in 2002 is the Collegiate Synchronized Skating team, which begins its season on November 22-23, 2002, at the Falcon Challenge Cup at Bowling Green State University.