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Skaters are on the right track

Glengarry and Summerland Skating Club members pick up 16 medals at Okanagan Interclub competition.
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JORDANA MCEACHERN of the Glengarry Skating Club during her freeskate program in the BC/YK Super Series Sectional Championships in Kelowna. Competing in women under-14

Members of the Glengarry and Summerland Skating Club returned from the Okanagan Interclub competition in Armstrong Nov. 25 to 27 with 16 medals, including three gold.

Capturing gold were Sabrina Fortunato of SSC and Saki Smith, who lives in Summerland but skates with Glengarry.

“Overall, it was a good one,” said Glengarry Skating Club coach Trevor Buttenham. “This is a continuation of the Autumn Leaves. They are on a good track and continue where they need to be.”

READ MORE: Glengarry skaters earn eight medals

Ten silver medals were earned by Jordan McEachern (two, in juvenile women U14 and elements open- a personal best),  Meagan Pankratz (27.41) in gold women, Nadia Snyman (22.26) in Star 8 Women, Samantha Macnally (16.75) in Star 7 women, Amy Slater, a personal best, in Star 4 13 and over, Giselle Weisheit in Star 4 U13, Payten Ferguson in Star 1 girls and boys and Smith in Star 6 elements.

Buttenham said the performances are one of the best the skaters have put on.

“We haven’t done this well in the last year,” he said.

Earning bronze were Sabrina Fortunato in gold women, Snyman in Star 7 and Isabelle Tuckwood in Star 5 13 and over and Kaylee Fortunato in introductory.

Weisheit was among the skaters, along with McEachern and Macnally and Snyman, who stood out.

“Giselle had been kind of a mess for the last couple of weeks. She really pulled one off at this competition,” he said. “That was nice to see. She had skated really well at Autumn Leaves and then she really had a drop off. To see her really bring it back and punch it up right when it needs to be, that’s good. That shows a lot of gumption from a kid. She didn’t have a lot of confidence going in and she really nailed it when she needed to.”

“I feel like I did a good job,” said Weisheit. “I’m proud of myself. I was having some struggles before the competition. I was really happy. When I got to the podium, I got second and I was surprised. I thought others did better than me.

At the BC/YK Super Series Sectional championships in Kelowna Nov. 10-13 that leads to the Canadian Figure Skating championship, McEachern and Macnally got a taste of what being in a qualifying competition is like. Neither are eligible to qualify for the Canadian Figure Skating Championships, but went for the experience as McEachern is a year from moving up, while Macnalley is two.

McEachern, competing in Juvenile Women U14, placed sixth after scoring 24.2 points. Buttenham said she skated very well. She had a mistake in the first element, which he said can happen with eight tricks to perform. Buttenham said she skated on par and was a point away from a personal best.

Macnally placed ninth in Pre-Juvenile Women U11 after scoring 18.96 points. Buttenham said the pressure may have got to her. She was three points from earning a personal best.

“This is the first time going to a sectional,” said Buttenham. “This is to get used to the pressure of it. Competing is a carried skill.”