EASTHAM — In just its first year of competition, the Nauset Figure Skating Club came in first overall in the New England series of U.S. Figure Skating high school competitions.
The series, hosted by the New England InterClub Council, consists of three skating competitions throughout the region. The Nauset team was “shocked” when it finished first at its inaugural Harvestfest competition on Oct. 6 in Dover, N.H.
The team finished second at the Thanksgiving Classic competition on Nov. 9 in Falmouth, Maine, and capped off the series by coming in first at the Challenge Cup on March 7 at Charles Moore Arena in Orleans.
“It has been a great season for these skaters,” Coach Tamsyn Shaw said. “This figure skating series has really given them a focus for their weekly individual and group skating lessons. They had fun and were successful. What more could we ask for?”
Thirteen teams competed on March 7; Nauset finished first with 52 points. The club scored a total of 117 points in the series to come out on top. Shaw said the top three teams were awarded crystal trophies.
Seven Nauset skaters competed in individual and team maneuver competitions at different levels on March 7. There are 10 levels in high school figure skating, from beginner to senior. Skaters can participate based on their level of skill in three events: excel free skate, team maneuvers, and a showcase.
The skaters were Delaney Shaw, Alexa Hoffman, Hailey Philbrick, Haley Tortora, Grace Murphy, Ella Raye, and Isabella Valentino.
Shaw finished second in the excel senior free skate and first in the high-level showcase. Hoffman placed first in the junior free skate and seventh in the high-level showcase. Hoffman and Shaw together came in first in the high-level duet.
Tortora finished second in the excel juvenile free skate and first in the intermediate level showcase while Murphy also took first in the excel intermediate free skate.
Raye placed sixth in the excel intermediate free skate and third in the intermediate showcase. Philbrick came in second in the excel preliminary free skate, and Valentino placed third in the intermediate showcase.
Valentino and Murphy placed third and Raye and Philbrick placed second in the intermediate level duet.
Shaw, Murphy, and Valentino took second place in the Level A team maneuvers, while Raye, Hoffman, and Tortora placed second in the Level B team maneuvers.
Nauset Figure Skating is technically the Lower Cape Figure Skating Club, with Cape-wide participation, but Shaw said she hopes that next year figure skating will become a certified team sport at NRHS. The club’s early success could make that an easier proposition.
