Image by Celia Hoffman Ice Hawks President Payton Hickson, right, and Vice President Riley Mathieson are both excited to see the growth and outreach of the club figure skating team.
Abigail Muller takes it all in: the sound of skates scraping on ice, the roar of the cheering crowd and the energy that radiates from thousands of devoted fans filling the Tsongas Center. It’s game day for the UMass Lowell men’s hockey team – and for Muller, the cheer captain of the Ice Hawks, the university’s figure skating and hockey cheer club team. During breaks in the hockey game, Muller and her teammates will be out on the ice, skating in formation, performing routines and rallying the crowd.
Sharing and amplifying school spirit is central to Muller’s life as a UMass Lowell student
“School spirit in general is fun. As long as you're having fun, the crowd's gonna have fun,” says Muller, a sophomore mechanical engineering major from Leominster.
The Ice Hawks team is open to all students, regardless of whether they have ever skated before. The club has three tiers: the cheer team, the performance team and the competition team, which competes in the Northeast regional section of U.S. Figure Skating. All members are part of the cheer team and have the opportunity to explore both the performance and competition teams. Members say the environment is supportive and fun.
Image by Celia Hoffman After their Spring Show at the Tsongas Center, the Ice Hawks celebrate their performance with flowers and gifts for graduating senior Julia Beauvais, front row center.
“With the Ice Hawks, I found a community that builds me up. It was a great way to come back to a sport that I used to love, without all the pressure,” says Muller, who began skating in childhood before deciding to take a break from the sport in seventh grade.
Membership in the Ice Hawks, which was established as a student club about seven years ago, has been on the rise. This year, the club fielded its largest roster, with 19 members. Members come from every college across the university.
“We get a lot of high schoolers interested in joining the Ice Hawks because they've seen us at the games. I feel like we have a real presence on campus now, too,” says Muller.
Club president Payton Hickson and Riley Mathieson, the vice president and competition chair, have made it a priority to expand the group’s ranks.
“This year we've had the greatest number of members that we've ever had. Payton and I want to continue to build a strong foundation for whoever's coming up next,” says Mathieson, a junior mechanical engineering major from Merrimac.
Image by Celia Hoffman Ice Hawks Vice President Riley Mathieson performs on the Tsongas Center ice.
“Our coach is really experienced, which helps our competition team to get prepared and level up their skills,” says Mathieson.
As much as the skaters enjoy being on the ice, the real pleasure comes from being with each other, they say. Many say they have forged strong bonds with other skaters in the hours spent practicing routines and preparing for performances.
Mathieson, a commuter, says she felt like she was missing out on the full college experience by not living on campus. Since joining the Ice Hawks and the Rocketry Club, she says she has made great friends and feels like part of a community.
“Clubs are where I've made my best friends. As a commuter, clubs made everything a lot easier,” she says.
The Ice Hawks host a variety of events, such as “skate with us,” where all students can get out on the Tsongas Center ice and meet the team. Mathieson says they also hope to implement youth clinics in the coming years.
Image by Celia Hoffman This year the Ice Hawks fielder their largest roster with 19 members.
For Muller, her favorite things about being a part of the Ice Hawks are the traditions and bonding experiences.
“We get matching Beanie Babies for every competition as a good luck gift,” she says. “We also do a lot of team dinners, which are also really fun.”
Both Mathieson and Hickson will stay with the Ice Hawks during their senior year and hope to continue to lead the club as co-presidents.
“This club is my pride and joy. I know I am going to be the most annoying alum after I graduate,” says Hickson.
Muller says people from her classes recognize her as an Ice Hawk and from her performances with the team at hockey games. She enjoys how connected that makes her feel to UMass Lowell.
“Joining clubs is a really great way to make UMass Lowell feel like home,” she says . “I know that's what it's done for my friends and me.”