As she laces on her ice skates for what seems like the millionth time, senior Jennifer Byman runs through the competition routine in her head. Every twist, jump and turn matters. Countless hours of practice consume her thoughts as she meticulously stretches each muscle. She double checks her makeup and hair while she smooths out her dress. As she steps out onto the ice, her name is called. She takes a deep, chilly breath and glides.

“She is a natural performer,” Jennifer’s mother Kristine Byman said. “She never looks nervous on the ice and she is very confident in her skating skills.”

Jennifer began skating at the age of three when her parents slapped a pair of ice skates on her and pushed her out onto the ice. Although she wasn’t given a choice in the matter, she quickly fell in love with the fun atmosphere and creative routines. Soon after, her parents got her into practicing several times a week and even hired a private coach for her at the St. Peter’s Rec Plex.

With these years of hard work and passion, she started pursuing her competitions and skating more rigorously. She competes with a synchronized skating team called Onyx Ice, along with doing individual events. She has competed at the St. Peter’s Rec Plex, Webster Groves, Jefferson City, Miami University in Ohio and in Wisconsin. Although she has competed nationally, she is still working hard to improve.

“I want to improve on my ice presence, which is pretty much how I execute my program and make it smooth and entertaining to watch,” Jennifer said.

Jennifer is currently working hard to finish her last competitive season successfully before she heads off to college. She is practicing more than ever to improve her skill level. She spends hours, multiple times a week, practicing her routines over and over until they’re perfect and up to her coach’s standards. No matter how sore or tired she is, she continues pushing herself harder.

“If I don’t have a competition coming up, I just practice my skills individually so I can test and move up in skating levels which is usually pretty hard,” Jennifer said.

Normally, competitions last an entire weekend and mainly consist of a lot of waiting. Jennifer spends her time making sure her appearance is acceptable for when she competes because it factors into her final score. After she performs, she spends time anticipating and watching the award ceremonies. Her favorite moves are the flip jump and sit spin because she likes how they look in programs. She enjoys the moves where she can show her flexibility and test her endurance.

“She always looks incredible when she performs,” Jennifer’s friend, senior Samm Heupel said. “She masters every move like she’s practiced it millions of times.”

Although Jennifer loves ice skating, she plans on putting away her sparkly skating dresses and going to college to pursue radiology. Most colleges don’t have ice skating programs so she’s content with keeping it as a hobby after this year. She’ll continue practicing and having fun, just without the intensity. Her parents are more than proud for how long she’s stuck with it and how hard she has worked to be the best she can.

“I love skating and I would so do it forever if I could,” Jennifer said. “I’ll always skate in some way or form.”