Was it worth it? A Parent’s Perspective

By: Skate Ontario Staff

January 21, 2019

In our minds, the unsung heroes behind the athletes are the parents. The stands in Saint John were full of them nervously watching dreams come true and/or go up in smoke for their favourite skater(s). Nerve-wracking.

Coach Lianne Sherriff said with a chuckle, “We could have bought many houses if we hadn’t paid for skating.” Lianne and husband Warren Clayton are parents to four children, all of whom skated and were in Saint John to support their son, Dustin Sherriff-Clayton, a senior men’s competitor.

For both parents, watching is “stressful”. Lianne continued, “We have had to learn to not ride the rollercoaster of his (Dustin’s) emotions. We say the same thing whether they (any of the kids) skate well or badly: we love you.”

With this much on the line, It begs the question: is it worth it when you have a child at Nationals?

Lianne replied, “100% YES! Because along the way, they’ve learned discipline, performing under pressure, communication, as well as having made friends across the country. There are a lot of life lessons that come from this experience.”

For all of the Team Ontario skaters who made their way to Saint John – CONGRATULATIONS!

Here is what you accomplished:

85 skaters with 68 entries in all events across the four disciplines and three levels.

Novice

Ice Dance

Gold Medallists – Sophia Kagolovskaya & Kieran MacDonald!

Pair            

Bronze Medallists – Mackenzie Ripley & Owen Brawley

 

Junior – Team Ontario on the podium in all four disciplines!

Ice Dance

Bronze Medallists Natalie D’Alessandro & Bruce Waddell

Pair          

Silver Medallists Brooke McIntosh & Brandon Toste

Men           

Bronze Medallist Corey Circelli

Women – Podium Sweep!

Gold Medallist – Hannah Dawson

Silver Medallist – Madeline Schizas

Bronze Medallist – Reagan Scott

 

Senior – All four Canadian titles went to Team Ontario

Ice Dance 

Gold Medallists – Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje

Silver Medallists – Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier

Pair         

Gold Medallists – Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro

Silver Medallists – Evelyn Walsh and Trennt Michaud

Men       

Gold Medallist – Nam Nguyen

Silver Medallist – Stephen Gogolev

Women

Gold Medallist – Alaine Chartrand

Silver Medallist – Aurora Cotop

 

We are #SkateOntarioProud