Skating Academy Students Produce In Big Way At Regional

By Scott Kindberg skindberg@post-journal.com

Students of the Jamestown Skatng Academy have reason to smile after their performances at the North Atlantic Regionals. Submitted photo

11/7/2007 - Lenel van den Berg was running on fumes, he was hungry and he was short-staffed.

In the end, though, it was all worth it.

For when the results from the North Atlantic Regionals were tabulated last month at the Pepsi Center in Amherst, the students from the Jamestown Skating Academy rose to the occasion yet again.

In fact, nine of them qualified for the Junior Nationals, while five others advanced to the sectionals, affirming yet again that the JSA is one of the premier facilities of its kind.

‘‘It was just amazing,’’ said van den Berg, the co-director of the JSA with Kirk Wyse. ‘‘They skated well — one after another. It was a thrill. On the last day, I kept thinking to myself, ‘Something is going to go wrong,’ ... but they did what they were supposed to do.’’

Advancing to the Junior Nationals in Salt Lake City, Nov. 28 through Dec. 1, are Adrian Rosenberg, first place, intermediate men; Jordan Bauth, second place, juvenile girls; D.J. Campbell, third place, intermediate men; Chelsea Firth, third place, intermediate ladies; Deanna Baudo and Campbell, juvenile pairs; Jenny Tingley and Michael Donovan, intermediate pairs; and Ellie Elchert and Billy Darvill, intermediate dance.

Qualifying for the sectionals in Raleigh, N.C., Nov.14 though 17, are Peter Max Dion, second, novice men; Amber Walczyk, third place, novice ladies; Christian Pickard and Ryan Coombs, novice dance; and Taylor Firth, senior ladies.

‘‘You always go into these things with a kind of projected goal for the kids and I think with almost every kid a goal was reached that was set for them,’’ van den Berg said. ‘‘And, more than that, the kids performed really, really well. They were confident and they did their business like they were trained. ... For me, it was a thrilling experience.‘‘

That’s understandable, considering the JSA produced so many who were able to place and move on.

‘‘It is very rewarding for us,’’ van den Berg said. ‘‘There are a lot of coaches who don’t have as many students as we do, so they can concentrate on maybe two or three, where we concentrate on as many as we can. We feel more satisfaction because to produce more is a lot harder. To have nine skaters go to junior nationals and five go to sectionals, that’s a lot of kids to qualify. It doesn’t very often happen.’’

The thrill was compounded even more, because Taylor Firth — under Wyse’s watchful eye — was competing in the Finlandia Cup in Helsinki where she placed seventh overall out of a very strong field of 16 ladies.

‘‘You just thank your lucky stars,’’ van den Berg said of the JSA’s success. ‘‘We’re just really grateful. We realize how quickly things can change. We try to enjoy every moment.’’

In other words, moments like those at the North Atlantic Regionals never get old for van den Berg and Wyse.

‘‘The excitement of the skaters’ success never fades,’’ he said. ‘‘But it’s not just about winning. ... Each kid, somewhere along the way, had a memorable moment. Those things are important. It’s about personal goals and not all about winning medals.’’