The two teens skated onto the rink holding hands, wearing matching blue-gray outfits; she in a dress with a flowy skirt, he in a shirt and black pants. They raised their arms to greet the audience and judges and then skated to the middle of the ice, took a breath and leaned into each other for their starting pose.
Brendan and Caroline Mullen, siblings at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, have been skating since they were young children, and ice dancing together since middle school. This past January, they competed at junior nationals for the first time.
“We’ve always been close,” said Brendan, 18. “Skating just kind of made us even closer.”
They first began skating with their mom, Julie, who enjoyed skating and took the kids with groups of friends to the rink. Caroline wanted lessons and Brendan wanted to improve his hockey skills.
They started skating singles and then pairs before their coaches suggested ice dance, a figure skating discipline where skaters compete in teams of two. The programs incorporate different elements including spins, lifts, footwork and dance choreography. Unlike singles and pairs, ice dancing does not include jumps. It’s been an Olympic sport since 1976.
“I think ice dance just came more naturally to us,” said Brendan.
The partnership felt natural, too.
“Because we started together at such a young age, I think it kind of clicked,” he said.
In 2021, they placed third in nationals in the novice level. This past season, they moved into the junior level, the fourth of five levels.
“As you move up the levels, you get older and stronger and more mature,” said Caroline, 16.
The teens agreed it was a big jump from novice to junior, but they achieved one of their main goals for the season: qualifying for nationals in Nashville.
There they competed in two programs, the shorter rhythm dance, and longer free dance, in a large stadium.
“We’ve never really competed in an arena like that before, so that was really new for us,” said Brendan.
Despite COVID-19 lowering attendance, “There were enough people that you were able to feel all the pressure of all the eyes on you,” he said.
The duo accomplished another goal for their season — being chosen for the international selection pool, making them eligible to compete internationally for the upcoming season.
Their success comes with a lot of effort, work and juggling schedules. During the week, they attend classes at O’Connell, where Brendan is a senior and Caroline is a sophomore.
“(They’re) very blessed to go to school at Bishop O’Connell,” said Julie. “The academic dean is so supportive of them. Sister Catherine (Hill) has been instrumental in orchestrating their schedule so they could have an arduous academic schedule and be able to train.
“They’re able to do these things because they have the support and the grace,” she said.
With permission from the school, the siblings leave classes early and head to the Ion International Training Center rink in Leesburg, where they skate for three to four hours six days a week in both private and group lessons. They also do an hour of off-ice training, usually dance class or another workout. Their group training includes junior teams from across the U.S. and other countries such as Italy, Poland, Japan, France, Mexico and Israel. Senior ice dancers Michael Parsons and Caroline Green, alternates for the Beijing Olympics, also train there.
“Being able to see those teams compete definitely gives us inspiration to be able to compete,” said Brendan.
Despite the workload of studies and skating, the teens also find time to swim at O’Connell, and volunteer at St. Raymond of Peñafort Church in Springfield, where they are parishioners. Brendan is an altar server, and Caroline and Julie are on the flower committee, helping with flower arrangements for Masses.
Their faith comes into the rink with them as well — before competing, they say a little prayer together.
Next year, they hope to qualify for junior worlds by placing in the top three at nationals. For now, they are excited to watch the ice dance competitions at the Beijing Olympics and root for their favorite pairs, including Americans Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue. Watching the Winter Games also stirs up future ambitions.
“Olympics and worlds, that’s definitely one of our long-term goals that we have in the back of our minds,” said Brendan.
“We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves,” Caroline was quick to add.
Brendan agreed, “We’re definitely just taking it one step at a time.”
Bartlett can be reached at [email protected].
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