THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 6, 1995 TAG: 9508050068
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Six skaters from Plaza Skating Center are competing this weekend in the United States Roller Skating Championships at Syracuse, N. Y. through nine regional meets.
The local skaters qualified by finishing among the three leaders in the Southeast Regional at Richmond. Two, Heather Chamberlain and Jessica Bowers, won region championships.
Also qualifying were Jennifer Gaskins, Crystal Holloway, Stephanie Black and John Fraysee. They departed for the national meet on Wednesday.
Coach Hazel McCaskill accompanied the skaters to the Nationals.
Chamberlain, 11, won the Juvenile girls figures in the regional. Bowers, 13, was first in Elementary girls loops. She also was third in Elementary girls figures.
Gaskins, 12, was runner-up in the regional in Elementary girls figures and was third in Elementary girls loops.
Crystal Holloway, 15, qualified in two events, taking second in the regional in Freshmen girls figures and second in Advanced Women loops. Holloway was a 1993 National finalist in figures.
Stephanie Black, 17, also qualified for two events. She was runner-up in the regional in Junior Women figures and second in Junior World Class figures.
The only non-Portsmouth girl in the Plaza contingent, Black lives in Chesapeake and recently graduated from Great Bridge High School. She plans to attend Old Dominion University.
``I've watched her grow up,'' said McCaskill. ``I have been coaching her for nine years.''
John Fraysee, 46, took third place in the regional in Master Men figures. A former Richmond resident, Fraysee now lives in Virginia Beach. His wife, Donna, is a skater at Plaza and the two met at a skating rink.
The regional included skaters from Maryland, North Carolina, the District of Columbia and Virginia.
``We are very hopeful of some placing in the finals,'' said McCaskill. McCaskill has coached three National champions.
``Two of these skaters qualified for the finals in Lincoln, Neb., last year,'' she pointed out. ``Another was a finalist two years ago.''
Eliminations trim the finalists to nine in each category, which includes freestyle, loops, figures, dancing and pairs events.
McCaskill said the skaters have been working out four or five times weekly from two to three hours each workout.
``Dedication and discipline are requirements,'' she said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JIM WALKER
Skating champs from Plaza Skating Center are Crystal Holloway, left,
Jessica Bowers, Stephanie Black, Jennifer Gaskins and Heather
Chamberlain. by CNB