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Figure skaters well represented at ESWG

Pearl Hough skates to a gold medal at the Empire State Winter Games in Lake Placid.  Photo provided

LAKE PLACID – Figure skating has always been the largest sport represented in the Empire State Winter Games, and this year was no exception with nearly 600 single and dance competitors and 30 synchronized skating teams participating Jan. 31 to Feb. 2. All levels were represented, and competition went on in all three rinks in the Olympic Center, with the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena hosting events all day throughout the three days.

Local skaters consider the Empire State Winter Games one of the major events of the Lake Placid figure skating season, and two Skating Club of Lake Placid skaters won gold.

Carly Brox, who lives in Canada but resides and trains part-time in Lake Placid, won Excel Pre-Juvenile Girls Group I, skating to Adele.

“I felt confident because I was on home ice, and it was so amazing to compete on the 1980 rink,” Brox said. “I was also a little nervous, but once I stepped out onto the ice I knew I could do this.”

In Excel Beginner Girls Group Q, Pearl Hough of Lake Placid placed first with an excellent performance to “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper.

Skaters representing the Skating Club of Lake Placid pose for a photo prior to the Empire State Winter Games opening ceremony at the Olympic Center on Friday, Jan. 31. (Photo provided)

“I attribute my success to extra time spent on the ice, working on my program very hard, and my outstanding coach, Amanda Jones,” Hough said.

Other Skating Club of Lake Placid skaters brought home silver and bronze: in Pre-Preliminary Girls WB Freeskate Group A, Darya Stoughtenger placed second, while Reid Pedu and Lilyonna Karpp won bronze in Excel High Beginners Group I and Excel Beginner Girls Group I, respectively.

Also competing on behalf of the Skating Club of Lake Placid were Megan Quinn, Willow Wood, Alea Abodeely, Alexa Roberts, Abigail Gavin, Brenna DeWalt, Chloe Hurteau and the Crystal Edges Synchro team.

“It was beyond inspiring to see our local skating club of Lake Placid skaters represent our club with bravery, confidence and grace,” Skating Club of Lake Placid co-director Amanda Jones said. “From first time Empire State Games competitors to seasoned veterans, we could not be more proud of our skaters and volunteers.”

For more information on the Empire State Winter Games, including results, visit their website at www.empirestatewintergames.com. And to learn more about the Skating Club of Lake Placid, visit their Facebook page.

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