Photo credit Melanie Heaney
By Samuel Auxier
As sunrise echoed the sentiments I’m sure we all share inside,
I was burdened by this grieving feeling my tears could not hide.
Like an unseen hand guiding my way through storms inside forming,
I found myself at the edge of the rink this morning.|
Hoping to see the skaters I had come to admire,
Who were like embers in an unquenchable fire,
but none were there to inspire.
Before me, in the distance, just memories of what used to be,
It’s not that this daunting truth wasn’t known to me,
I just wanted to see their smiles, their first bumps, their laughter together,
Then it occurred to me, they all still exist once I remember.
So I closed my eyes, and I saw each and every lost star,
I remembered the drills they did in Wichita,
Cheering each other and waving to those on the sidelines,
Coaches and parents clapping, it was all so vivid in my mind.
I remember sitting by the ice with a smile on my face,
I was judging their jumps, and mesmerized by their grace.
The way they would sway like the ice was a part of their soul,
I graded each skater, trust me, it was a difficult role.
For they were excellent, the epitome of good,
I would stand there and watch them forever if I could.
Circling the ice, the young men were being led by Cory,
Who had improved so much and so fast,
I could see he would be quite the camp story.
Landing the triple axel projected him on an upward trend,
A delightful young man, whose warmth captivated friends.
His parents and coach were elated by the performance demonstrated,
And Cory, his smile continued through the camp unabated.
On and off the ice, he was a beacon leading the way,
Inspiring the other skaters with every passing day.
Up next was Franco, with bushy eyebrows and dark hair,
His style of skating was fluid, with plenty of style and flair.
Every jump was solid, igniting a resounding uproar,
The crowd was wowed, calling for more.
With a smile on his face, he turned to Coach Inna,
Fist-pumping to the one who always believed he was a winner.
A few weeks later, sister Isabella honored him with many crying and applauding,
It was a heartfelt moment as she skated to their father’s recording.
As the crowd’s cheers echoed so joyous and loud,
I just knew Franco would have been so proud.
Flying around the corner came Edward with great speed and flow,
His pace was superb, his determination captivated the show.
Not faltering, his spins and his jumps were a sight to see,
A masterful delivery celebrated with joy, as did Coach Kalli.
His spirit was bright, his heart burned with a passionate blaze,
On the ice, his technique left every eye amazed.
Next came Spencer, a bouncing head of curly hair,
Hitting every triple toe triple-toe with plenty of air.
Throughout every session he performed at the camp,
He demonstrated why he was the sectional champ.
His style and poise were immense, making jumps look easy.
A feat certainly worthy of praise, believe me.
Vadim and Genia smiled with pride before lending a hand,
It wouldn’t be long before he was at the top of the Worlds stand.
The young men earned their keep, but there’s no debating,
That the young ladies who followed were equally amazing.
Hitting the ice ablazing, their expressions told a story of unwavering will,
One by one they displayed refined style and skill.
Given their accomplishments, we expected a thrilling sight,
And sure enough with each performance, we were certainly right.
Overcoming incredible obstacles like a young child of prophecy,
Brielle skated with the incredible poise of a prodigy.
Pointed toes and a lyrical style elegantly executed,
She skated with skills that could not be disputed.
For she landed triple jumps with unparalleled ease,
If you didn’t see it yourself, you wouldn’t believe.
Impressive is an understatement, but her skill is true,
A young lady not only skilled, but lived with virtue.
She showed us her mettle and she seemed unstoppable,
For her, nothing was going to be impossible.
Next was another young treasure, looking so elegant,
On the ice, Olivia Eve proved she was in her element.
Hitting her double axels with no expression of doubt,
No question that winning was what she was all about.
Watching her meticulous footwork, we were all impressed;
So intricate for her level, each step gracefully expressed.
She was one with the music, in sync with each beat,
Executing flawless movements with her feet.
The tall and expressive Everly followed with skills to impress,
Landing her triple lutzes in a battle for the best.
Her program and interpretation were very exquisite,
It was evident her potential was one that held no limit.
Every jump was landed like a seasoned professional,
If I had to use one word to describe her, it would be exceptional.
Watching her program with raw talent on display,
I could honestly say she was clearly on her way to Team USA.
Her sister Alydia on the Dance rink with partner Matt.
Proved that talent ran in the family - an irrefutable fact.
The partners showed promise, future champions to be,
Every move so graceful, flowing like waves aloft a gentle sea.
Dressed in dark blue and stripes of chartreuse,
I was hypnotized by how they danced the rhythm and blues.
And then there’s Jinna, who was a talent like none else,
She was a skater who competed with the best version of herself.
Sometimes you see a young skater so good,
A judge forgets to take notes and it’s just understood.
She was one that could pull you into such a trance,
An Olympic champion to be if she had the chance.
She lit up the rink with that great big smile,
And her triple jumps were immaculate, seasoned with style!
With Olga and Alexei acting as cheerleaders and guides,
Her legacy with gold was forthcoming with them at her side.
But not to be outdone, over on rink number one,
Sean and Angela’s dancing shone like summer’s shining sun.
Proudly, I know I’m not alone when I say,
It looked like the next Charlie and Meryl on the way.
Their twizzles were always so perfectly in synch,
With steps so precise that you didn’t dare blink.
Sasha looked on, certain that these two friends,
Were a special blend on whom the team could depend.
An essential addition that would make their performance better,
For a team with talent like that is one that wins together.
As these memories play like a montage within my mind,
Some sense of solace I was able to find.
A reminder that life never stops, it lives on in us,
Not to incite despair, but to inspire purpose.
For they are closer than ever to our future path,
For they now reside in the depths of our heart.
Cheering us on like we cheered for their success,
Upon our futures is where their legacy now rests.
So cry in your grief, then lay your tears in the past,
It’s on us to complete the journey to which they were tasked.
This life is now not only yours, but continues their script,
And victory will be our song, at the World Championships.
They will live in every title achieved in their name,
True skaters never die, we just adopt the passion of their flame.
