When Jaylyn Orwig was in her formative years as a figure skater, she loved to watch the talents of Margot Haglund, Robbie Dierking and Ryan Coombs glide across the ice at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena.
"I hoped I could be as good some day,'' she said.
That time has arrived for the Jamestown Skating Academy student.
Article Photos
Submitted photo
Jaylyn Orwig of the Jamestown Skating Academy earned a gold medal by passing the U.S. Figure Skating Senior Freestyle test this winter.
Thanks to earning a gold medal by passing the U.S. Figure Skating Senior Freestyle test, Orwig has joined an elite fraternity. So elite, in fact, that only one in 5,000 skaters successfully completes the exam.
Of course, passing tests is hardly unusual for the Youngsville High School junior.
In fact, Orwig has already begun her undergraduate studies through St. Bonaventure University.
"Hopefully, I'll go into college as a junior or, at least, a second-semester sophomore,'' she said.
Once she graduates from Youngsville, Orwig intends to delay entry into college in order to pursue a chance to skate professionally as many former JSA students have done through the years.
"I'd love to travel with Disney On Ice for two years, then go to college, coach and do some recreational skating, because I definitely don't want to lose any of it."
Orwig has been able to get a taste of what a professional ice show is about, having been a regular participant in the annual production of Excellence On Ice, "America's most spectacular community ice show." This year's performances will be held at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at the JSBIA.
Orwig will be skating to "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables - a number she admits is ironic because she couldn't have dreamed that the sport would have taken her to such heights when she first laced up her skates 10 years ago.
"My friends and their parents decided to try (the) Learn-to-Skate (program) for a couple sessions,'' Orwig said. "The other two kids dropped out, but I'm really glad I stuck with it.''
By passing her gold test, the daughter of Karen and Tom Orwig joins 40 other JSA students who have done so in the last 25 years.
"It means all the hard work has paid off,'' the Pittsfield resident said. "It's a privilege, definitely."
So, too, she is quick to add, is performing in Excellence On Ice, which includes other Warren County skaters Bekah Casey, Kirsten DiPierro and Stephanie Hice.
"It's exciting,'' she said. "I just want to make people happy and react with the audience. I love that.''
This year's theme, "A Night of Awards," will feature music and productions from the Academy Awards, Grammy's and Tony's.
VIP seating will once again be featured. Flooring material will be placed around the perimeter of the ice floor and tables adorned with linens, hor d'oeurves, wine and soft drinks. With six seats per table, the spectator becomes part of the show. The arena seats will be utilized for reserved seating. Concert-style lighting will be provided by APG of Fredonia.
VIP on-ice tickets are $30 and reserved arena seating tickets are $10 or $12.
Tickets are available at the JSB Ice Areana box office from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. To reserve tickets by phone, call the Excellence On Ice ticket line at (716) 484-2624 or reserve tickets on-line at www.JamestownArena.com.
Excellence On Ice is sponsored by The Jamestown Post-Journal, the Warren Times Observer, Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Wegmans and SE-93.