Under the guidance of newly appointed head coach Allen Chung, the Varsity Blues figure skating team drastically improved in the 2008-09 season.

Toronto posted some impressive results at the fall and winter invitationals and peaked just as the OUA’s best headed to Varsity Arena for the 2009OUA championships.

After a seventh place finish last season, Toronto finished just off the podium this year. Ranked seventh after day one of competition, the Blues came back on day two with two gold-medal performances and placed fourth in the synchronized skating event to solidify their fourth-place finish overall.

Leading the way for the Blues were Annie-Claire Bergeron Oliver and Veronica Hall, who picked up the gold ribbon in the senior similar pairs. Bergeron Oliver also earned a third-place finish in the gold ladies category.

Stacey Henderson and Lydia Shultz were the other Toronto skaters to strike gold – this time in the starskate gold creative dance event.

Julia Hommik and Gillian Saunders placed second in the intermediate similar pairs, while Nonita Campbell and Sonya Hessey picked up the bronze in the senior silver similar dance.

Bergeron Oliver, Hall, Henderson and Schultz were all named OUA all-stars for their top performances over the two-day event.

The Blues were also awarded the OUA spirit award for the second consecutive season.