BV West junior Hannah Holladay was one of 14 people on her team to perform in the opening ceremonies of the United States Figure Skating National Championships in front of an audience of about 9,000. Holladay, who has been skating for over nine years felt that the performance was an honor.

“Being a part of the event was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I am so thankful for the ability to perform with my team at such a major competition and I will undoubtedly remember that night forever,” Holladay said.

Holladay has been fostering a passion for figure skating over many years.

“I started skating when I was seven years old in a tiny rink in the mall,” Holladay said. “When I moved to Kansas in 5th grade, I joined the local synchronized skating team and fell in love with the team dynamics and my fellow skaters.”

Holladay has completed around 80 competitions over the span of ten years and has won over 200 different medals. But all of her success has not come easy.

“It definitely hasn’t always come easy being able to balance school with skating,” Holladay said. “Inevitably there have been many challenges both on and off the ice but at the end of the day, my passion for skating makes every difficult moment worth it.”

While many students dedicate their time and effort to their respected sports, Holladay stands out as a particularly hard worker who’s passion for figure skating is strong enough to move mountains.

“Skating is who I am,” Holladay said. “The support of my teammates, family and friends has pushed me to become a better athlete and person day in and day out. The skating community and the life lessons I’ve learned through skating are irreplaceable and I couldn’t imagine myself being a part of a better sport.”