Lindsey and Christina's Double Life
Photo by KrPhotogs Photography
By Amanda Piel
Hackett students whose sports aren’t offered by the school often go without recognition for their accomplishments. Figure skating, specifically, is hardly spoken of at Hackett despite being home to some amazing individuals. With the amount of work required to be an outstanding figure skater, it appears that some students have two lives: as students and as ice dancers.
The National Solo Dance Final will be held next week in Wesley Chapel, Florida from September 12th-15th. To be qualified, skaters must have ranked among the top six in their region. A multitude of skaters who compete for the Greater Kalamazoo Skating Association have qualified this year, two of them from Hackett.
Senior Lindsey Piel will be competing at the highest level in International Pattern Dance. While she qualified in Junior Combined also, she has decided only to compete in International Pattern Dance due to recurring back pain. Sophomore Christina Amat will compete in two events, Intermediate Combined and Silver Pattern Dance.
As a figure skater of nine years, Christina knows what kind of mindset is right for her to have going into nationals. When asked about her goals for the upcoming competition, she answered,
“My main goal for nationals is to be proud of my finished programs. I have spent all season working to try and make it to nationals, and now that I am going I hope that I finish the season on a high note. Another goal that I hope to achieve is just being able to enjoy my last programs of the season. I want to have fun competing, rather than just stressing about my score or placement.”
Photo by Nikki Czuhajewski
With her friends by her side, Christina is ready to take to the ice and celebrate the monumental accomplishment of qualifying no matter the final result. She feels good about her season as a whole, which is the most important thing.
Lindsey Piel, a seasoned skater of twelve years, is ready to take on what might be the last competition of her career. She is hoping to place in the top eight and earn some extra points by getting her steps called by a technical specialist, a difficult feat. When asked about what the best part of ice skating is, she answered,
“Being able to perform. I love showcasing my hard work in front of others. And I love how skating makes me stronger both mentally and physically. In times of weakness, I have found my strengths.”
Both ladies are working hard this week at practice to prepare for the last competition of the National Solo Dance Series. Be sure to wish them luck!
