Amherst Skating Club holds awards banquet

(Clarence), Alyssa Penizotto, Taylor Aquino (Lancaster), Avery Steadman; top row - Jocelyn Delmar, Gracie Clauss, Janine Swiatek, Anita Delgosha, Marlana Cole (Clarence), Nick Rotella (Lancaster), Lauren Penizotto and Karen Stry.

The Amherst Skating Club held its 43rd annual awards banquet on June 1 at Ellicott Creek Fire Hall.

This event was extra-special, as ASC had a team-record 10 United States Figure Skating gold medalists and an international gold medalist in Sascha Potter. This year, Marlana Cole earned her U.S. figure skating gold medal in freestyle, along with five other skaters who received their moves-in-the-field gold medals and four skaters who received a gold medal in dance. Each skater was honored with a commemorative 14K gold pin and one dozen long-stemmed yellow roses.

There are seven levels a skater must pass before one is allowed to test for a gold medal. Gold (or senior) freestyle requires the skater to pass all seven moves-in-the-field and seven freestyle levels. Senior freestyle is the level at which Michelle Kwan and Kimmie Missener skate. Each level requires hundreds of hours of skating in specific patterns of footwork. Special recognition was also given to Karen Stry for her outstanding commitment and volunteer work with the Amherst Skating Club.

Amherst Skating Club introduced their new Board of Directors at the 43rd annual awards banquet on June 1. Members, pictured from left, are: first row - Jill Gordon, Sandra Montgomery, Johanna Calvert (president), Marlee Mu (treasurer); second row - Lizin Zhang, M.D., Molly Clauss (corresponding secretary), Brandon Piasecki Esq. (vice president); missing from picture - Cameron Townsend and Ann Gill. Members without titles are members at-large of the ASC Board of Directors.

Skating Progress Awards
Senior Freestyle
Lauren Penizotto, first
Marlana Cole (Clarence), second

Men's Senior Freestyle
Nick Rotella (Lancaster), first
Junior Freestyle
Brooke Sinatra, first
Avery Steadman, second
Moves in the Field
Adult
Jocelyn Delmar, first
Senior
Laura Price, Kathryn Stephan,
Alyssa Penizotto; first
Mary Jo Russo, second
Junior
Avery Steadman, first
Emma Cercone, Brooke Sinatra;
second
Wilma Walker Dance Trophy
Adult
Karen Stry, first
Senior
Alyssa Penizotto, first
Sascha Potter, second
Men's
Nick Rotella, first
Junior
Melissa Davis, first
Skating Achievement Award
Senior
Amanda Gordon, first
Taylor Aquino (Lancaster), second

Junior
Jennifer Zhang, first
Bruce Lipman Service Award
Senior - Janine Swiantek
Junior - Katie Kriner
Club Service Award
Senior - Grace Clauss
Junior - Jordan Serrotte

Norma J. Schwartz Award
Karen Stry
Skater's Choice
Lauren Penizotto
Wilma Dee International Gold
Medalist
Sascha Potter
Parents: Grove and Sara Potter
Coach: Sara Potter
Gold Medalists
Marlana Cole, freestyle
Kathryn Stephan,
moves-in-the-field
Anita Delgosha,
moves-in-the-field
Alyssa Penizotto,

moves-in-the-field
Laura Price, moves-in-the-field
Abby Miller, moves-in-the-field
Amanda Gordon (Clarence),
dance
Alexis Christ, dance
Taylor Aquino, dance
Alyssa Penizotto, dance

The club also introduced their new Board of Directors at the 43rd annual awards banquet on June 1. Members include Jill Gordon, Sandra Montgomery, Johanna Calvert (president), Marlee Mu (treasurer), Lizin Zhang, M.D., Molly Clauss (corresponding secretary), Brandon Piasecki Esq. (vice president), Cameron Townsend and Ann Gill.

"2007 is a very exciting year for the club because we've been selected to host the 2008 USFS North Atlantic Regional Championships, which will be held October 9-14 at the Amherst Pepsi Center," said Calvert.

In other ASC news, Kaitlyn Mu placed third in the limited beginner FS group D at the 19th annual Spring Skate Festival, sponsored by Skating Club of Western New York in May.