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FIGURE SKATERS WIN TWO BRONZE MEDALS

By Amanda Cupido

The figure skating team won two bronze medals at their competition on Thursday, and for the first time in Ryerson’s history every skater won points for the team.

Their performance at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Winter Invitational in Aylmer, Ont. earned them seventh place overall.

“We did really well,” says Robyn Doolittle, the team’s head coach. “We were really excited.”

The competition marked the first time the team entered into the fours freeskate category. They won a bronze medal.

“We’ve never had enough people,” Doolittle says. “It was the surprise of the day.”

The second bronze the team won was in the creative dance category by the pair of Alex Dabkowski and Tara Bartolini.

Dabkowski has skated with Ryerson for three years and competed in both categories that were awarded medals at the invitational.

“I felt really good about both of them,” she says.

Dabkowski thinks the team did well this year because the coaches are the same as last year.

“Staying continuous is definitely the best thing,” she says. “We are all getting closer and getting to know each other better.”

Even though continuity is important, the team’s dynamic is still changing.

“Half of the team are rookies this year,” Doolittle says. “A lot are new to OUA skating.”

Other results include a fourth place finish in the senior silver dance event by Michelle Zenger.

Derek Fox earned fifth place in the men’s freeskate.

After their competition next week, the team wants to tweak their events to prepare for the OUA finals.

Their next competition is the OUA championship hosted by University of Toronto on Feb. 18 and 19.

The team is hoping to place in the top six.

And with their top showing at the Winter Invitational, the goal seems to be within reach.

“We are right in there,” Doolittle says.

“It’s totally within our sights.”

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