For the figure skater, timing is so very important and on Saturday, at the Skate Ontario Championship here, Alexis Engwerda’s timing was perfect as she skated to the senior bronze ladies gold medal win.
The Morrisburg Figure Skate Club member who has been skating since she was three years old, put together her very best skate ever to finish in first place ahead of the other 17 skaters in the Senior Bronze category. She chalked up a personal best score of 26.52, well up from her previous pb of 23.53 which she skated at EOSIC in February for a second place finish and the right to represent Eastern Ontario at the Ontario championship.
“The pressure was qualifying for this competition and placing at EOSIC, therefore we were just going to enjoy the experience and honour of attending the all-Ontario event, have fun and skate the best we could,” said coach Allison Scott. “Alexis rose to the challenge and had an amazing clean skate.”
“As far as I know we have never had anyone win at this level,” said Morrisburg Club president Julie Van Hoof. “We are a small club from a small town and this is a big accomplishment. Alexis has had a very good year and she should be very proud of her accomplishments.”
And indeed Engwerda is delighted with her win. “I wasn’t expecting to get that big a mark. I’m excited because it was my personal best.”
The grade 10 students at North Dundas District High School says she wasn’t nervous going into the competition. “My warm up was good, and my skate just kind of flowed. I just went after one element at a time.”
Engwerda’s program consists of a spiral sequence, three spins and six jump elements, five being double jumps. The jumps include a double/double combination.
For the Skate Ontario competition a second double flip replaced a double Salchow.
“More points are awarded for the flip and it has become a very consistent jump for Alexis,” explained Scott of the change.
“Alexis skated effortlessly with her warm smile,” said Scott. “She precisely linked all of the elements with her intricate footwork and artistry flair and she attacked every element with focus and determination. She had a beautiful combination spin, a strong double salchow/double toe-loop combination and a gorgeous double flip in combination.
“When they announced her score we were ecstatic and absolutely thrilled that she had improved by three points since EOSIC. It was an outstanding accomplishment. She had achieved her goals and we were please with how well she had performed.”
Engwerda was the sixth skater on the ice in the 18 skater senior bronze category and after her skate, and her score put her in front of the previous five skaters and she and Scott settled back to watch and enjoying the remaining skaters.
It was only as each of the remaining 12 skaters finished their programs and Alexis score continued to be the one to beat, that the realization slowly began to sink in.
“It became very emotional once we realized she had won,” says Scott. “It was truly exhilarating to hear her name announced as Skate Ontario Senior Bronze Champion! Words cannot express how impressed and proud I am of Alexis. She is a hard-working and determined skaters and such a charming sweet girl who is absolute pleasure to coach.”
With the Skate Ontario Gold medal now in a place of honour with her many skate awards, Alexis is now turning her attention towards the upcoming ice show to be performed with her fellow Morrisburg Skate Club skaters at the end of March.
She has just recently successfully completed her testing and will move up to the Junior Silver level which will add 30 seconds to her program. She has one final competition at the Senior Bronze level in April in Gloucester.
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