Let the Games Begin

Figure Skating Kicks off Nutmeg Games Today
By Dan Farrand
Staff Writer

Nancy Temple

DANBURY -- Since she was eight, Angela Catalano has been at home on the ice.
The Danbury native has become accustomed to twisting, spinning and jumping to whatever music is on the loud speaker. When she laces up her skates, she is having fun and that's exactly what she hopes to do today when she joins 167 other competitors at the Danbury Arena for the Nutmeg State Games figure skating competition. "I'm just going out there looking to have a good time," said the 13-year-old Catalano, a member of the Danbury-based Laurel Ridge Skating Club. "But I'd also like to win a medal." Catalano will take the ice around noon in the Restricted Pre-Preliminary Group at the all-day competition which starts at 9 a.m.

The figure skating contest will unofficially open this year Nutmeg Games. The Opening Ceremonies aren't scheduled until July 26, but the figure skating competition was planned earlier to avoid scheduling conflicts. This will be the first time in Nutmeg Games history the figure skating event is being held outside of Hartford and it will boast the Games' largest number of competitors. "It's incredibly exciting to see this kind of a turnout," Nutmeg Games associate director Pat Fisher said. "It says and does a lot for the sport. The folks in Danbury have done a phenomenal job getting this thing organized."

There are well over 50 different skating categories and levels for participants. The two main groups are broken down between freestyle skating and restricted skating. The freestyle is more open and difficult while the restricted levels are judged more for basic skills.

Judges will score the skaters at every level on a six-point scale and the top three finishers will qualify to compete in the 2009 State Games of America in Colorado Springs, Co.
"It would be nice to qualify for those," Catalano said of the State Games of America. "It would be a big deal." To do so, Catalano has been practicing four times a week with her Laurel Ridge coaches to get ready for the games.

"The girls are very excited," Danbury Arena and Laurel Ridge skating director Karla Jones said. "With the competition this close, the girls will be much more comfortable and will have all their friends around to cheer them on." Laurel Ridge Skating Club is the host club for the Nutmeg Games figure skating contest and will have 31 of their 80 club skaters competing today. The club will also have over 30 volunteers on hand to help. "This is an exciting day for us," Laurel Ridge Skating Club president Nancy Temple said. "It's a very big day for us."

The Laurel Ridge Skating Club, which is composed of skaters from all over greater Danbury, started out of Ridgefield's Winter Garden Rink over 30 years ago. The group, however, moved its operations into the Danbury Arena in 2001 so its athletes could practice year round.
The result has been a slow but steady transition toward a more serious and determined group of skaters. "We've sent several kids to the State Games and we've had a few people make regionals," Temple said. "Our goal is merely to create opportunities to succeed for our members."
But Temple and Jones also point out they want to teach and grow the sport, and they seem to be doing it.

Since moving to the Danbury Arena, Laurel Ridge has seen its numbers rise from 50 members to 80 despite this being a traditionally slow time of growth for the sport as a whole. "Numbers tend to jump right around the Olympics," Temple said. "It's kind of a slow time, but we normally see an influx of new skaters right after the Olympics." Teaching wise, there is never a slow day as Jones spends hours working on single moves with some of her skaters. Catalano has spent a tremendous amount of time on her sit spin, which has become her best move.

Now, her coach's biggest challenge is picking out the music. "I wanted to do my performance to a hip-hop song," Catalano said. "My coach told me, 'No.' We compromised on 'A Spoon Full of Sugar.'" But Catalano did win one battle. She will get to wear her favorite blue dress when she takes the ice today. "I love the dresses," Catalano said. "They are what I like the most."

Figure skating attracts 167 participants – best since 2004

DANBURY – Early indicators suggest participation in this year’s Nutmeg State Games will be very strong.

Registration for the July 12 figure skating competition at Danbury Arena has closed with 167 state residents having signed up.  This represents the highest number of skaters in The Games since 2004.

“This is the first time that figure skating has ever been held anywhere but West Hartford and candidly we were concerned as to whether or not we would get a viable turnout in Danbury,” said Nutmeg State Games Executive Director Bill Mudano.

“So, we are delighted with the response.  The figure skating enrollment in Danbury is close to our highest ever and should make for a tremendous competition.”  Skaters range in age from 5 to 25.

Fast Pitch Softball is already sold out with a full field of 16 teams – eight in the 18 & Under Division and eight in the 16 & Under Division.  Games will be played July 19-20.

This sport will also feature a Showcase on Friday, July 18th where these high school players will go through drills with college recruiters in attendance.  Already committed are coaches from: Post University, Bay Path College, MIT, Fitchburg State, Saint Vincent College, Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, UMass-Boston, AIC, Massachusetts Maritime Academy and our own Western Connecticut State University.

The softball tournament will be played at Hatters Community Park and WCSU.