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SOUTH BRUNSWICK: SBHS senior skates for silver, bronze

By Maria Riegel, Special Writer
   South Brunswick High School senior Katarina Ronquillo competed in this year’s National Solo Ice Dance Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado from Sept. 20-23, and won two titles; Silver for Senior Solo Free Dance and Bronze for Gold Solo Pattern Dances.
   Katarina, who started skating in 2004, is a member of Princeton Skating Club and trains two to three hours per day after school in various ice rinks all over the state of New Jersey.
   ”I have been skating for eight years,” Katarina said. “My mother let me try out ice skating for the first time when I was just eight years old, and I fell in love with it right away.”
   She said that her favorite parts of skating are the spins, the speed and the deep edges. Additionally, Katarina said that the thrill of competing also allows her to enjoy skating.
   Katarina said that this year was the first time she qualified to compete in the National Solo Ice Dance Championships; however, she has won several other medals throughout her skating career.
   ”The National Solo Ice Dance Championships have been going on for two successful years now,” Katarina said. “I have won many gold medals throughout my eight years of skating in local, out-of-state and regional competitions.”
   Katarina’s program was choreographed by one of her coaches Sinead Kerr, but Katarina said she was able to choose her own music for the routines. The song she skated to was Merry-Go-Round Howl’s Moving Castle Theme.
   In addition, Katarina said her coaches Otar Japardize and Sinead Kerr and her family were extremely proud of her skating accomplishments achieved at the National Solo Ice Dance Championships. She said that her parents were in awe of her hard work and dedication to skating.
   ”My family, coaches and all others that helped me achieve both titles were very proud of what I accomplished,” Katarina said. “My parents especially because they sacrificed their time and money for me to do the sport I love. They were proud to see that all of that hard work has paid off.”
   According to Katarina, both of her coaches have inspired her to perform as well as she has because of their Olympic performances. Katarina said that she saw her coaches compete in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics which has allowed her to strive to be the strong skater she is today. She said that it was quite a motivation for her to perfect her figure skating skills after observing her coaches performing at an extraordinary level.
   Also, Katarina said that she is applying to colleges and universities that are close to the ice rinks she already trains in. Although she would like to go to college for skating, she said that there is no college specifically for skating; however, she said that she is not willing to give up her passion for skating. Katarina said her main goal is to become a professional skater.
   ”I do plan to become a professional and eventually qualify for the Olympics,” Katarina said. “It’s my dream to make it to the Olympics.”