NATIONAL SHOWCASE 2016 S


‘So Anyway’


HUNT CLAIMS SIXTH TITLE IN FINAL SOLO PERFORMANCE


Piercyn Hunt delivers a heartfelt performance in her final solo appear- ance at National Showcase. Hunt secured her record sixth Showcase title.


like sad, but happy, emotional.” For the first time in her career, Hunt


shared the Parade of Champions podium with one of her students, Jessica Vermillion. “Tat was so exciting,” said Hunt, who


also gave a shout out to her mother, Michelle, for all of her support. Hunt, who also won the Parade of Cham-


pions duet category with Ashlyn Olson and led the winning production ensemble, created and choreographed more than 70 programs for her 35 Ice House Skating Academy skaters “It’s a lot to juggle,” Hunt admitted. “Te


kids kind of joke around that I have a super- power, that my memory is insane. I can remem- ber all of their steps and all of their arm [move- ments] and all of their words. In a way it keeps me very calm. If I had a lot of time to fixate on myself, I think I would be really panicked and worried. It keeps me distracted, but a good distracted.” Marco Berg from the Santa Rosa Figure


Skating Club finished second with his light en- tertainment program. As “Maestro Marco,” he took the audience through a whirlwind of classi- cal music genres. Representing the Youngstown FSC, Corey Phillips performed his “Imagina- tion” dramatic program that highlighted his great speed and engaging performance quality. Phillips placed third. Te competition featured a record 920


entries in 93 events. It culminated with the Pa- rade of Champions, where winners from select major categories compete against each other for the overall National Showcase title and the Richard Dwyer trophy. Dwyer, known as “Mr. Debonair,” once again performed his signature program with the Dwyer girls and presented the winning trophy. Te event marked the second time that the


Greater Cleveland Council of Figure Skating Clubs has hosted the event (2011). “It’s so great to have National Showcase


back in Cleveland,” Event Chairman Bill Coyle said. “Te growth in the program has been tre- mendous, and I’ve enjoyed getting to see the


creativity in every performance.” Parade of Junior Champions A member of Silver Blades FSC of Kansas


City, Moorea Long took home gold with her teen light entertainment program, “Ode to a Goldfish.” Skating to the comical story of a goldfish


by KARISSA WOIENSKI Piercyn Hunt bid farewell to a stellar solo


career at National Showcase with a senior dra- matic program to the song “So Anyway” from the Broadway musical Next to Normal. Hunt’s expressive performance earned her


a record sixth National Showcase title in nine appearances. She will not compete anymore as a solo artist at National Showcase, but will continue to participate in duet and ensemble


34 OCTOBER 2016


events with her skaters from Ice House Skating Academy in Hartland, Michigan. She was one of 538 skaters who compet-


ed in National Showcase 2016 at the OBM Ice Arena near Cleveland, in Strongsville, Ohio, Aug. 11–14. “I picked the music because it kind of ex-


plains my situation,” Hunt, 23, said. “It talks about saying goodbye, moving on and having to fly. It was my last Showcase nationals. It was


that goes to heaven, Long displayed her flexi- bility in a Biellmann spiral and haircutter spin. Her engaging performance drew laughter from the audience, especially when she appeared with a halo and wings, as a voice-over reminded the audience that “every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.” “My goal was to perform in the Parade of


Junior Champions,” said Long, who was com- peting in her third National Showcase. “It’s great to see Showcase continue to grow. I’m al- ready counting down the days until next year.” Long also received the Haley Gans “Skate With All Your Heart” bronze trophy.


PROEVENTPHOTO


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