SARATOGA SPRINGS — Amanda Shelburne has coached figure skating for 40 years, but 2014 marks the most students she has had medal at the Empire State Winter Games.
On the weekend of February 7-9, seven of her skaters claimed a total of 10 medals in a variety of disciplines.
Among those skaters were Saratoga Springs seniors Francesca Mastrianni and Liz Bouyea. While Bouyea claimed silver in Pre-Silver Dance, Mastrianni took home two golds (International Dance and Gold Dance) and a bronze (Senior Ladies).
“It’s fun to watch them grow,” said Shelburne, who has coached Mastrianni since she was 4 years old. “Skating teaches you a lot of different things. It teaches you to goal set, it teaches you to time manage and it’s hard work. Life isn’t handed to you. You have to work hard for it.”
Mastrianni will continue skating for the collegiate team at Colorado College in Colorado Springs.
“[Francesca] probably has a story within a story because she may be the only female quadruple gold medalist in the capital region,” said Shelburne of the skater who has snagged gold in four out of five possible disciplines throughout her career. “There’s probably several triple, but the fact that she’s got the other one is kind of unique. Most can get three, but that fourth is tough.
Skating at the senior level places Mastrianni amidst Olympic competition.
Proud of all her skaters, Shelburne was particularly impressed with the hard-working Bouyea.
“Liz is very quiet and shy,” said Shelburne. “I think she came out of her shell a lot. Her goal at Empire’s this year was really to express herself because dance is all about the girl selling the dance and whatever they’re doing and she’s learned to do that.”
Eighth grader Claire Aibel was the other competitor to take home gold. She medaled in for Pre-Juvenile Ladies.
In addition to Mastrianni, Aibel and Bouyea, Carly Brox earned silver in Preliminary Ladies, junior Karissa Becker won bronze for Intermediate Ladies, Emma Nicholson skated to two bronze medals (Pre-Silver Dance, Pre-Juvenile Ladies) and sophomore Jennifer Knotek took bronze for Pre-Juvenile Ladies.
“They’ve been together skating in the rink for a while and they really enjoy each other when they’re away at competitions,” Shelburne said.
After taking two years off, Knotek, made a statement in her bronze performance.
“Coming back to Empire’s as my first competition was pretty intense,” said Knotek. “I didn’t even think I’d place. I just went out there and skated my heart out. It was amazing.”
“Every year Empire’s is always a lot of fun,” added Becker, who has been skating since she was 5 years old. “This year I was really nervous because I had bigger jumps than last year. I just went out there and forgot about them. Just kind of let everything go and smiled and had fun. It was very rewarding to get third place.”
One of the younger girls, Schuylerville seventh grader Jennifer Steele, competed in her second Empire Games.
“I was really nervous because I had a lot of new jumps in my program, but when you go to a competition like the Empire’s, it’s easy to get nervous.”
All of the skaters take lessons under Shelburne and are in local area high schools or middle schools, except Brox, who is from Toronto and resides in Lake Placid. Most represent either the Lake Placid Skating Club or Uncle Sam Figure Skating.
A majority of the skaters, who practice with Shelburne throughout each week at the Weibel Ave Rink and the Clifton Park Ice Arena, will be competing at the end of March at the RPI Houston Field House in Troy for the 31st Annual Garren Invitational Figure Skating Competition, which is put on by the Hudson Mohawk Figure Skating Club.
“[Empire Games] was a very good competition,” Shelburne said. “All of them did really well and I’m proud of them. If they do their job and skate well, that’s what their job is. It’s the judges’ job to judge them and it’s my job to make sure they’re ready. Hopefully, if you do your job, they’ll come away satisfied. It’s a short amount of time and you’re hoping they’re ready mentally. They had a great time and they were positive until the end.”
