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Tracy Scholz and Tony ConteNew and Return Trips to Adult NationalsJune 8, 2003 This year's USFSA's Adult National Championships began, rather appropriately, right after a late spring snowfall in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Winter was still very much in the air as hundreds of competitors from all over the country descended on the Ann Arbor Ice Cube to compete in freeskate, dance, pair, and interpretive events. 2003 also marked the second consecutive year that the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club has hosted the event in their 3-rink facility. Medals were won, personal bests were achieved, friendships were made or strengthened and, perhaps most importantly, a lot of people had a lot of fun.
Starting at the age of nine, Tracy first embarked on a successful roller skating career, winning her Regional championships 7 times and placing in the top twelve in World Class Ladies for 3 of those years. Her family's experiences in that sport are the subject of a book her mother recently wrote entitled With Leaps and Bounds. After college, a 9 1/2 year stint as a roller coach, one more win at Regionals, and a new baby, she put away the roller skates for good -- and decided to pick up ice skates instead. "Now that I was 29-years-old and the mother of a two year old, I knew there was nothing offered in roller skating that I could do, and I still had the competitive bug in me," recalled Tracy. "So, I bought a pair of ice skates and went to a couple of sessions. I started private lessons about a year later because I knew that if I was going to get any good, I'd have to discipline myself to practice and learn from an instructor." It was both an easy and difficult transition to the ice. "I could throw a double axel my first week on the ice -- a jump I could do easily in roller skating -- but could barely do forward crossovers." After her first skating competition this year at Skate Houston (which she also co-chaired), she headed to Ann Arbor. "I really wanted to skate well so that I could tell my husband that the trip was REALLY worth me being out of town for five days while he babysat," Tracy joked. "(Actually) I just wanted to skate very well because that's the kind of person I am. It didn't matter to me where I placed, just that I didn't want to be disappointed with the way I skated. I had no real expectations, so placing well was just icing on the cake!" She enjoyed her first trip to AN and has plans to travel to Lake Placid next year at the Gold level, and try to qualify for the Championship Gold Ladies event at Sectionals. "Adult Nationals was very well run. I liked seeing how things were both different and the same between roller and ice. Everyone was so nice! What was also fun was to see the stuffed animals (and other novelties) being thrown onto the ice. I've seen it tons on TV, but to see it live was really cool. I'm going with a bag full next year!" Many competitors return to Adult Nationals each year to push themselves further in the sport and try out their skills at a new level. This year marked Antonio Conte's sixth consecutive trip to AN and his first time competing at the Championship Gold Men's level. During his AN career, Tony has won medals in all 3 levels of competition -- a bronze in Bronze I men in 1999, a silver in Silver Men I in 2000, and a pewter in Gold Men II in 2002. He is also a three-time medalist in the Men's Interpretive event at Adult Nationals. In Ann Arbor, Tony skated to a packed house and a mountain of stuffed animals in the Championship Gold Men's event , and went on to win the bronze medal in Gold Men II, one spot higher than his finish last year.
For a comprehensive list of results from this year's Adult Nationals and other adult competitions, check out the USFSA's website. The 2004 Adult Nationals competition will take place in Lake Placid and is currently scheduled for April 14-17, 2004. |
Winning a gold or silver medal at your second figure skating competition ever is a big deal for any competitive skater-- but if that second-ever figure skating competition is the Adult Nationals, and you go on to win both of those medals, it is a REALLY big deal. Adult competitor Tracy Scholz, who represents the Texas Gulf Coast Figure Skating Club, made quite a splash at this year's Adult Nationals, winning the gold medal in her Interpretive group with a rousing rendition of The Rocky Horror Picture Show as well as capturing the silver medal in the Silver I Ladies Final.
For Tony, Adult Nationals has always been one of the highlights of his competitive year. "I skated at my first Adult Nationals in 1998 and since then I have been privy to the wonderful camaraderie that takes place at the National event," he said. "Adult Nationals is a reunion of sorts and all of the adult skaters arrive at the competition to celebrate their own personal triumphs as well as those of their friends and cohorts." As such a long time AN competitor, Tony has also seen great changes in not only the competition itself but adult skating as a whole. "I have witnessed a dramatic improvement in the skills and talents in the adult skating community at all levels," Tony noted. "For instance, the Championship Masters Men's event is noted for triple jumps being included in the freeskate program. The Ladies' events are especially noteworthy for artistry and skating quality on par with many elite senior level skaters." In addition to his extensive competitive experience, Tony is also a Silver-level USFSA judge, a board member of his club, and the Eastern Vice Chair of the USFSA's Adult Skating Committee. The very active role he plays in the skating world is all the more impressive considering that he also serves as the CEO of Florida Atlantic Anesthesia, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and as the Medical Director of Surgical Services at Holy Cross Hospital.