Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

Itís on to bigger and better competition for Stephanie Zastrow. On the weekend of Oct. 20, Zastrow took part in the Upper Great Lakes Regional Figure Skating Competition in Richfield, MN. After receiving a bronze medal in the Senior Ladies event, Zastrow, a Forest Lake High School senior, is headed to Pelham, AL from Nov. 15-18 for the Midwestern sectionals.

Zastrow came out of the group A qualifying round in first place, and then moved on to the final round where the skaters performed both a short and a freestyle program. She earned a first place in the short program and landed in third in the freestyle, which placed Zastrow in the bronze position for the overall.

ìAt the regions this year I ended up getting two personal best scores so I was really excited about that,î she said.

The competition was judged under the International Judging System, which assigns points to each element of the program as well as a component mark for choreography, interpretation and skating skills.

Considering her high scores, Zastrow felt the new judging method is a good fit for her abilities. She is a strong spinner and good at spirals and the international system places more of an emphasis on these skills.

Representing the St. Paul Figure Skating Club, Zastrow has been skating since she was six years-old and now practices two to three hours per day, six days per week. She is a five-time Minnesota state champion and a former Novice Regional Champion. This will be her third trip to the sectional.

ìThis is actually my first time as a Senior Lady,î Zastrow said. ìI went once a Novice Lady and once as a Junior Lady.î

The top four from the Midwestern competition move on to nationals, and from that select list come the skaters who represent the country at the World Championships and the Winter Olympics.

ìIf I make it to nationals I would be competing against Sasha Cohen who went to the Olympics last year (in Turin),î she said.

So next week could bring even more success for Zastrow.

ìIt just depends how I skate and how the others skate. I mean, potentially I could do really well.î

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