Although she has spent her life on the ice, Forest Hills Eastern junior Ellison Durkin only recently came to the realization that her academic life could coincide with her athletic life in a new way.
“I was watching a college signing ceremony for senior athletes pursuing their sports career past high school,” Ellison said. “Twelve unique athletes were recognized for their incredible accomplishments, grit, talent, attitude, and commitment. The work they put in over the years was being recognized and celebrated; it was awesome but also bittersweet. Despite having a similar athletic background, I would never have an experience like it which was a fact I had already come to terms with. However, it suddenly clicked that it was something I wanted, and then it was just a matter of getting there.”
Meanwhile, fellow figure skater and junior Bryn Sapp was having a similar experience. Both of them wanted to create a way for the sport that they had put all of their hard work into to be reflected in their identities as students.
“In early November, some of us began thinking more about college applications, and we all realized we should be more involved in school to assist us when it comes time to submit our college applications,” Bryn said. “We were also looking for a way to get more involved in the figure skating community and high schools around Michigan and the country. We originally wanted to make a Forest Hills figure skating team, but we were on a time crunch to make the team, so we decided to join the West Michigan United Figure Skating team at the very last minute.”
These two sources of inspiration combined as the two worked together to find opportunities for them and other local figure skaters to connect skating with school. West Michigan United FS was the exact opportunity they were looking for.
It benefits us for whom figure skating is our only sport because we cannot get involved in our school as much; we practice every day after school.
— Bryn Sapp
Those who do less common sports often cannot participate not only in school sports but also in school clubs because of the uncooperative schedule that the sport enforces. So, transforming her club sport into a school sport benefitted Bryn and all others in the same situation.
“I am excited to be a part of this team,” Bryn said. “It benefits us for whom figure skating is our only sport because we cannot get involved in our school as much; we practice every day after school. We can’t get involved as much in different clubs and sports, so Ellison and I thought opening it up for the younger girls going into high school in the next couple of years would be a good idea. It’s also fun to hang out with skating friends and talk to them without getting yelled at.”
The future for high school skaters in West Michigan is looking bright. Every member is elated to see how this season goes and see how it will impact their individual skating as well.
Forest Hills Northern sophomore Ellie Foster skates with Ellison and Bryn and looks forward to the competitive aspect of this opportunity.
“[I’m looking forward to] the new type of competition because I’ve never done anything like it before,” Ellie said. “Also, [I’m excited] to meet new skaters and try out new things.”
High school skating is different from club skating in many ways, including the method of competition. It is team-oriented; there are A, B, and C teams based on what tests the skater has passed.
Ellie is thrilled to use this new way of competing to push herself and improve her skating.
“I am super excited to be a part of [the team] and try it out,” Ellie said. “The normal [skating] season is nothing like this, and I am so excited to try this new type of competition. This is also going to push me to be a better skater and work harder at practice.”
Ellison, Ellie, and Bryn are all ecstatic about this chance to channel their passion for skating into something more. Being involved in a high school sport, spending more time with new and old teammates, and implementing a new way to enjoy the sport they love are just a few of the many benefits to joining West Michigan United FS.
“[I’m most excited] to see how far our team can go as a combined force,” Ellison said. “Skating has always been a solitary sport, but for the first time, the girls I have known and loved for years will come together in pursuit of a common goal.”
