The figure skating team faces new strategies, tactics and members.
“Managing your nerves is a big part, it can be very nerve wracking when you’re competing. So practicing your elements is what you have to do,” senior Emily Renaud said.
The figure skating team, consisting of around 20 people, overcomes the new challenges they face. The six schools around the Macomb area including Eisenhower, Utica, Dakota, Romeo and CSI come together at Suburban ice to practice together and to compete against the judges.
“I’m a little bit upset because after I passed this test, I was supposed to move up to a team, but since the rules have changed, it’s now over two tests, so I’m not going to pass that before senior year ends, so I’m going to be staying on B team for all the four years, which is okay, but it would have been nice to be on A team,” senior Maise Patterson said.
The team having to deal with changes of rules puts them into a tough situation. Having a couple new girls on the team, along with the new adjustments like changing their exits the girls work together to be the strong figure skaters they are. By participating in team bonding activities, helping each other learn and communicating, they all show their compassion and love for this sport.
“I always want to do my best. I get nervous because I want to put out the best I can do out there. But I have to remember that everybody’s looking to achieve the same thing. Everybody’s true to you who’s your team,” junior Jacalyn Yakel said.
With figure skating being an individual sport, including time for the girls to get together and to bond could be difficult. But with the shared passion for the sport, they not only put time into being the greatest skater they can be, but as well as making time for each other. They take the time to do the fun things that matter together like blanket making, holiday gift exchanges and team dinners.
“You have to really focus for the moment,” Renaud said. “I try to block everything out and just focus on what I’m doing, as if it were practice; so I just try to not worry too much and do my best.”
