Artistic on ice
SLIPPERY ROCK — When it comes to cheerleading and track and field, Slippery Rock High School junior Janelle Zawodny is a longtime member of the team.
When it comes to figure skating, she stands alone.
“I’m the only one in my school who does it,” Janelle said. “But that’s OK. It’s fun to go to all of the competitions and meet new people.”
Janelle began skating at the Hess Ice Rink in New Castle when she was 3, as part of the facility’s Learn to Skate program. She began competing in figure skating at age 5.
Her parents moved to Slippery Rock from Washington, D.C., when she was 3.
“I grew up skating, going to the rink on Friday nights, that sort of thing,” her mother, Carmen Zawodny, said. “My mother was athletic and got us involved in physical activities. I wanted to do the same for Janelle.
“When it came to skating, she just took off.”
Janelle has been competing in figure skating for 14 years. Last month, she secured the title of “gold medalist” while passing her United States Figure Skating Senior Moves in the Field test with honors.
Melissa Maggio, Director of Skating at Hess, has been Janelle’s coach for the past six years. Janelle goes to the rink and skates with her for an hour on Mondays and Saturdays.
“She has tremendous talent and there’s potential to develop more skill there,” Maggio said. “Janelle is a tough kid, too. She suffered a bad concussion that set her back for a little while, but she’s bounced back from that and other injuries.
“She doesn’t show any fear on the ice. She’s confident and she’s into it.”
Maggio would not make any predictions on Janelle’s future in the sport, saying “that’s a long way off,” but looks forward to her competing at Skate Pittsburgh this month. She’s won gold medals in that competition before.
“Janelle always does well there,” the coach said.
Primarily sticking with local events, Janelle has done figure skating competitions in Ohio and New York, in addition to Pittsburgh. She competes in roughly four or five events a year.
“What I love about figure skating are the challenges,” she said. “I always try to learn new things to add to a routine or that I can practice. It’s exciting and satisfying when I accomplish something I hadn’t done before.
“It takes a lot of time, effort and patience. I’m not a very patient person, so that last thing is tough for me.”
Janelle has been a cheerleader and track and field athlete for Slippery Rock since seventh grade. She competes in the triple jump and long jump for the Rockets. She’s done the high jump and hurdles as well.
“Skating has definitely helped her agility and leg strength in those events,” Mrs. Zawodny said,. “When you’re skating for an hour at a time, you’re building endurance as well.
“She’s a base in cheerleading, so she does weight lifting to build her upper body strength. Janelle wants to be at her best in everything she does.”
Also a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council and SAGE Club (Student Alliance for a Greener Effort), Janelle volunteers as an assistant coach for the Slippery Rock Youth Cheer program, assists with the Slippery Rock Youth Track & Field summer program and is now a member of the coaching staff for the Learn to Skate program at Hess.
“I enjoy teaching and helping out,” she said.
She expects to continue her academic and figure skating career at Mercyhurst University in Erie. She was looking at Pitt and Penn as well.
