Skating sisters stick together
SLIPPERY ROCK— Grandma didn't want young Brianne and Amanda Jerpe sitting around her house all day
And they're not. Nor are they standing around, walking around or running around.
The Jerpe girls have been skating around for years now — and their grandmother, Sandra Ditommaso, couldn't be happier.
"Both of their parents work full time, so I've been watching the girls since they were born," Ditommaso said. "The only stipulation I ever had was that they grow up active. I didn't want them sitting around all the time.
"I took them to a variety of activities. Ice skating is what captured their fancy. They do it by their choice, not mine. I'm just the one who carts them around."
They're headed to the Chicago area this weekend to compete in the Ice Skating Institute's World Recreational Team Championship as members of the Skating Club of Greater Youngstown.
Brianne, 11, is entering sixth grade and has been skating for five years. Amanda, 7, is in elementary school and has been skating for four years. They are Slippery Rock residents.
This will be their second year at the ISIworld competition. Last year, Amanda earned a gold, a silver and a bronze medal. Brianne picked up two silvers and two bronze medals despite skating on a sore ankle.
The ISIevent, which features 126 skating teams from all over the world, takes place at a three-rink complex in Bensenville, Ill., 20 miles west of Chicago.
Skaters compete in a variety of individual and team events, including freestyle, couples spotlight, pattern, production, synchronized teams, kaleidoskate and team compulsories.
The Jerpe girls skated in 29 events combined at last year's ISIworld competition, including a family spotlight skate together to the song "Sisters."There is no qualifier for the ISIworld event. Competitors just register and go.The Youngstown skating club has 31 members. The Jerpe girls skate at a rink in Youngstown and at the Hess rink in New Castle. They skate four days a week — three hours each on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, six hours on Saturday.The other three days of the week, they take a dance class at Slippery Rock University."It helps with our landing and jumping,"Brianne said. "But the skating is still my favorite thing.""The dancing makes us more graceful on the ice,"Amanda said. "I started skating after watching my sister. It looked like fun."Neither tires from the long practice sessions. They use each other to break up any monotony during practice."Just for something different, I'll skate over and play with my sister,"Brianne admitted. "We like having each other there."Besides the world competition, the Jerpe girls compete in four other events annually, primarily at Neville Island or in Pittsburgh."I feel a little nervous when I first go out there, but it's more of an exciting feeling," Brianne said.As far as these sisters are concerned, their skating is not a temporary thing."I hope we get to the Olympics someday,"Brianne said.
