By Gary Curreri

Pompano Beach’s Lara Annunziata recently placed third in the Ladies Final and qualified for the 2015 Eastern Sectional Figure Skating Championships, which will be held in Raleigh, NC from Nov. 19-23.

It marked the second consecutive year that Annunziata, 11, a Shepherd of the Coast sixth grader, finished third at the regional competition. Annunziata was one of 29 skaters from the Panthers Figure Skating Club (PFSC) that went to competition.

“I am happy I made it to sectionals again,” said Annunziata, who moved up to a higher division this year. “It’s a little longer program and has an extra jump. It is a little more tiring.”

Annunziata said it is important to make eye contact with the judges and the sectional qualification is a culmination of her hard work throughout the year.

“I really don’t think of anything when I am out on the ice,” she said. “I kind of go with the flow. I clear my mind. It is really important to go to sectionals in my first time at this level.”

Deerfield Beach’s Rachel Metzner placed 11th in the Novice Ladies Division. The 15-year-old North Broward Prep sophomore also moved up a division this year and has been skating for the past nine years.

“I love everything about it,” Metzner said. “It is the way I feel on the ice. It is indescribable. I really enjoy being out on the ice. I feel free. I can do whatever I want. My friends always ask me why I do a sport that takes so much time. My answer is because I love it and it is what I want to do. I want to continue on with it in the future.”

When she first started, she had no idea it was going to morph into what it has become.

“I first started taking group lessons with my friend because she was having a birthday party and I did Stanley C. Classes here,” Metzner recalled. “When I finished, I cried because I didn’t want to get off the ice so my mom signed me up for private lessons.”

She is pleased with the effort she has put into the sport. This was her fifth trip to regionals and she made it to the finals in juvenile two years ago.

“I am most proud of all of the obstacles I have overcome,” Metzner said. “I have had a lot of injuries. I have had knee injuries, a broken collarbone, torn rotator cuff, collapsed lung and, right now, I have a cracked rib cage.

“For me, it is cool to see how I have been able to come back from all of my injuries and still compete,” Metzner added. “I still stay motivated, which I think is really important. When I was injured, it was really hard for me for me to do. I sat at home and got ahead in my homework and got to see my friends. I wasn’t happy. My life felt incomplete when I wasn’t on the ice. I am happy I am back.”

Pompano Beach’s Lara Annunziata won the Dorothy Dodson Award for the highest score in the Intermediate Division at the recent Sunshine State Games Figure Skating competition at the Ellenton Ice & Sports Complex. Photo by Gary Curreri

By Gary Curreri

Don’t let Lara Annunziata’s size fool you.

The 11-year-old Pompano Beach girl recently came up big at the recent Sunshine State Games Figure Skating competition at the Ellenton Ice & Sports Complex.

Annunziata brought h o m e the most prestigious honor from the Sunshine S t a t e Games as she captured the Dorothy Dodson Award for the highest score in the Intermediate Division. She finished third in the short program and won the long program in the division. “I wasn’t surprised I won it because I work hard every day,” said Annunziata, who will be entering the sixth grade at Shepherd of the Coast Christian School. “I like trying new things. I like doing jumps.”

“It was a surprise,” Annunziata added. “The day before I was working on my double axel and I couldn’t do it. The day I was going to compete, I landed them. I was so shocked.”

Annunziata landed the element in practice, but fell in both the short and long program. It still didn’t take away from her efforts.

“I was happy that I landed it in practice because it was clean,” Annunziata said.

Her performance at the Sunshine State Games didn’t go unnoticed by Nancy Mariani, the director of skating development for the Panthers Figure Skating Club.

“The fact that she won the (Dorothy Dodson Award) is huge since it is her first year in the division,” Mariani said.

Annunziata was a bronze medalist in the juvenile division last year at regionals and a finalist at sectionals where she placed seventh. The top 4 qualify for Nationals. This is her first year in the intermediate division and she’s been skating for six years. She got her start at the same time her sister, Gabby, 14, began skating. Gabby is taking a break from the sport.

“I want to skate in the Olympics,” Annunziata said. “I will have to try new jumps.”

After coming so close to advancing to nationals last year, there is hope of making it this year.

“Hopefully, I will make it,” Annunziata said. “I will have to land all of my jumps.”

Annunziata also has post- Olympic plans.

“After the Olympics, I want to coach,” said Annunziata, who trains three hours a day, every day. “Sometimes, I go to school and get out an hour early. Sometimes, I will miss some work in school and, sometimes, I can’t go to parties. I take ballet class once a week and that helps me with my skating too. It is all worth it though.”

LOCAL GOLFERS FARE WELL IN JGA COMPETITION

Several local golfers recently turned in strong performances in the Junior Golf Association of Broward County tournament at the Plantation Preserve Golf Course & Club and Springtree Golf Club.

Pompano Beach residents Isak Nilsson (40-41-81) and Wyatt Rubin (36-45-81) tied for third in the Boys Championship Division.

Pompano Beach’s Dylan Glatt carded a 47 to finish in a tie for fourth in the Boys A Division, while Deerfield Beach’s Katie Williamson carded a 39-39-78 to win the Girls Championship Flight.

Pompano Beach’s Lara Annunziata won the Dorothy Dodson Award for the highest score in the Intermediate Division at the recent Sunshine State Games Figure Skating competition at the Ellenton Ice & Sports Complex. Photos by Gary Curreri