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SKATING ON COLLEGE TEAM OFFERS PRICELESS MOMENTS TOGETHER by LANEY DIGGS


WE ARE FAMILY


opportunities for skaters to continue doing the sport they love. Collegiate skating has eased the transi-


S


tion for me from being an elite athlete to col- lege student. Ever since joining the Cal Figure Skating intercollegiate team at UC Berkeley, I have never been happier. In my fi rst semester as a college student,


I didn’t want to continue juggling skating and school as I had previously done. If my high school years were a refl ection of what I was to expect in college, I knew I wouldn’t have the time or energy to pursue skating. It took one informational meeting with the team to change my perspective. By the end of that hour, I realized that these girls had the same expectations I had for a college experience. Not only is school always their main priority, there is minimal pressure to maintain a vigor- ous practice schedule.


The University of California, Berkeley, UCLA and Denver University have a ball at the 2012 Pioneer Open qualifying competition.


kating doesn’t end in college. It is just the beginning. With more than 20 uni- versity fi gure skating teams across the nation and counting, there are many


Skating at the intercollegiate level pro-


vides an opportunity to experience the envi- ronment of a team sport. Representing your university as a team creates strong bonds and friendships to last a lifetime. Traveling to- gether to other universities for competitions at least three times a year has aff orded me unforgettable memories. In particular, while at competitions, our team has made it a tradi- tion to have dinners at Panera Bread. Once we get to the rink where the competition is held, wearing our team jackets creates an even more unifi ed feeling. And as each teammate takes the ice for their event, joining together to shout our university chants and cheers al- lows for the team to get closer still. All of this illuminates the team concept that many of us never experienced growing up. In this environment, there is no pres-


sure to bring home the gold for yourself. It’s a team. Together we work to bring home a medal for our university. Teams consist of male and female skaters from all skill levels ranging from preliminary to senior champi- onship, all competing together to accumu- late points for their team. There is even an event called team maneuvers in which three to six members of your team take the ice at the same time and each person does a cer- tain element. The team that performs the ele- ments with the best quality is awarded fi rst. Again, this fosters a team bond between all of the skaters, which is extremely refreshing compared to the individualistic atmosphere of competitions before. As a team, we have also become ex-


The Cal Bears show their team spirit. “We are not only teammates, we are family and friends,” Diggs said.


The University of California, Berkeley, earned a fourth-place fi nish at the 2012 Intercollegiate Team Championships.


tremely close with other university teams. I have been blessed to meet and befriend many amazing student athletes from their own respective universities. At the 2012 Inter- collegiate Championships, we shared a locker room with the University of Denver. Instead of feeling nervous before events, skaters were dancing, rocking out to music and laughing. The friends you make from other universi- ties continue throughout college. Each com- petition your team participates in is like a reunion; we catch up, share stories and take dozens of pictures. Having a close bond with the members


of the Cal Figure Skating Team has helped me transition into college life. Since the majority of skaters in college are going through the same experience, we understand one anoth- er and help each other pull through. The girls on the team are my family, we support one another, push each other to be better skat- ers, students and people. I don’t know what I would do without these girls. Sharing the same passion of skating, which no one except us will understand, has provided me with an incredible support system. Skating in college is the start of a new chapter, one that I feel like was meant for me.


Members of the University of California, Berekely, gear up for competition. (l-r) Michelle Hong, Tanya Shaby, Katrina Phan, Janelle Unger, Laney Diggs


44 AUG./SEPT. 2012


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