I Title at stake
) . „ • _t_
This Saturday night, many years of
hard work will finally pay off for three
couples who arc currently competing
for the National Championship in the
World Class Roller Skating Dance
competition.
The top three couples from na
tional competition will cam a spot on
the U.S. team in the Worid Class
Championships in Pensacola, Fla.
Seventeen couples arc entered in
nationals this week, but only eight
couples will advance to the finals
Saturday night.
The Original Set Pattern Dance
Competition will take place Friday at
10:45 p.m. at Pershing Auditorium.
During the finals Saturday at 9:30
p.m., each couple will skate to their
own choreographed music to deter
mine the champion.
One of the favorites in this year s
event is Allen Dcsterhall and Julie
Hidcr, last year’s runner-up team.
“Saturday night will be an All
World Class competition in dance,”
Hidcr said. “It will be the best of
skating and will be skating at it’s
best.”
Dcsterhaft,20,and Hidcr, 22, have
been practicing together for seven
years.
Their goal this year is to finish lirst
at Nationals. They said they would
like to finish first at World’s, but a
team from Germany will tough to
beat.
Dcsterhaft is a sophomore at Ohio
Stale University majoring in dance.
Hidcr is a senior at Kent State Univer
Sity majoring in mercnanaising ana is
getting a minor in public relations.
Both said competing and school
work is tough to keep up at times.
They said they practice six to seven
hours a day on the weekend and three
to five hours a day during the week.
Dcstcrhaft.is also a professional
teacher at the Fred Aistaire Dance
Studio. He and Hider also compete in
dance competitions and H idcr also ice
skates.
Hider said that although ice skat
ing is similar to roller skating, they
still have their differences.
“In ice skating, you can glide eas
ier, and roller skating is more diffi
cult,” Hider said. “It’s easier to be
more graceful on ice.”
Stories by
Mike Kluck
Photos by
Connie Sheehan
Roller skater captures
her third national title
Although she has won other roller
skating championships, 11-year-old
Jennifer Kearn said her victory Tues
day night was special.
“I came in here hoping for a place
ment, but winning the championship
is so much better,” Kearn said.
Jennifer won the national champi
onship in Elementary Girl’s Figure
Roller Skating at Pershing Audito
rium.
It was the first year she competed
in this event, but not her first roller
skating championship.
She has won two Juvenile Figure
Roller Skating championships.
Jennifer, who will enter the sev
enth grade in September, has been
competing and practicing since she
was four.
Jennifer’s mother Marilyn said she
went to a roller rink for fun and the
manager, Jack Britland, was im
pressed with Jennifer because she was
trying jumps and spins. He talked
Jenniler into trying artistic snaring.
Jennifer now practices six days a
week for two to three hours a day with
her coach, Donna Boncll.
“I feel I am a hard worker, but I
enjoy the challenges,” Jennifer said.
“I want to keep working at roller
skating and learn new things, I want to
get as good as I can.”
Jennifer will return to her home in
Whitehall, Pa., Sunday to compete in
the Keystone Games. She is currently
seeded No. 1.
Jennifer said her ultimate goal is to
w in at a world class level and compete
in the Olympic Games, if roller skat
ing becomes a competition sport at
the games.
Jennifer’s dad, Robert, said that
although it is difficult at times, the
family continues to support her.
“The bucks may gel tight at
times,” Robert said. “She works hard
and it is nice to sec it pay off. It makes
it all worth it.”
Clockwise from far left: Jodi Davidson and John Fetrow celebrate
after winning theiunior pairs title Tuesday at the National Roller
Figure Skating Championships. Jennifer Kearn receives her
championship plaque for elementary girls’ division. Kyoko Har
ada and Richard Green glide across the wood floor during the
Vienesse Waltz dance competition. World class and junior skat
ers share mirrors and the spotlight at nationals.