West River Catholic


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†	Connecting the dots between good foods and moods
†	Bishop's Column: Mary, the one who knows our needs
†	Hope for healing after abortion through Rachel’s Vineyard
†	Common Ground: Reflecting on the Joyful Mysteries brings us to Christ
†	Safe environment training sessions held throughout diocese
†	Celebration of Marriage
†	Korean War Memorial Dedicated
†	Clemmons winning in figure skating competions

October 2004

Clemmons winning in figure skating competions

Taylor Clemmons performs at the Casper Tournament where she won three gold medals. (Courtesy Photo)

By Becky Berreth

Taylor Clemmons, a fourth grader at Elizabeth Seton, made the trip to the World Figure Skating Championships in Minnesota this August. At her first world's she earned six medals including two third place finishes in Artistic FS 2 and Spotlight Light Entertainment FS 2."It was kind of scary because I didn't have any of my team, but it was cool," Taylor said.

Taylor and her mom, Jill Clemmons, began skating just over two years ago and usually practice eight hours a week unless it is right before a tournament. But, her mother does not just skate. In order to go to Worlds, Taylor had to have a coach. Jill is now a Gold Certified Judge and makes attending these competitions a reality for her daughter. Taylor has participated in five competitions, one in Casper, Wyo., where she won three gold medals. Competitions are grouped by age and level, however, because of a small field of athletes she has competed against girls as old as 16.

As for costumes at competitions, the Clemmons family likes to take a different approach. "Mom designs them," Taylor said proudly. They order the basics and then add their own sequins and designs. As for the skate, it depends on the level. The higher a skater gets, the larger the toe pick and the thicker the boot. "When she jumps, she (Taylor) is really hard on the skates," Jill said. In a sport where a small injury can sideline you for weeks, Taylor is pretty confident that she will not hurt herself. "I know how to fall," she said.

Her mother, tends to think differently. "She really jumps, she really goes for it. We're trying to get a jump harness bought by Black Hills Figures Skaters Club because in Rapid City there is no protection against falling. For example, she's learning her doubles now and triples and you break things when you fall going that fast."

It seems no matter how talented Taylor gets, or how un-state-of-the-art her training gets she will not be going anywhere but here for training. "Her coach says she's got the whole package, the no fear, the athleticism," Jill said, speaking in third person. "Her coach seems to think we need to ship her away to training, but she doesn't want to do that." The Clemmons belong to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral.