For the most part, athletics here at Gordon usually have converged around basketball courts, soccer fields, and running lanes. However, this year, something new is taking its unique voice on the ice. Armed with determination and common belief in their passions, sophomores Keri Anderson and Ava Zakrzewski emerged as the eager leaders of Gordon’s first figure skating club—something that embodies not only athletic endeavor itself, but also meaning.
For Ava and Keri, skating is more than athleticism; it is an abiding passion, a vehicle for creativity, and, at this point, an “audience for one.” But the founding of the collegiate skating club at a Christian college on Boston’s North Shore was not foreseen when they first arrived at Gordon.
“First, I thought I was done skating,” Keri admits. “I was done competing two years before that and was just coaching at my local rink. But God was not done with me yet.”
The initiation of these plans occurred during their first year of college, when one of the first individuals Keri encountered on campus turned out to be Ava—another aspiring competitive figure skater who shared similar Olympic ambitions and harbored the same introspective inquiry: Is it possible for skating to continue to play a role in my life?
Subsequently, the situation escalated rapidly. The pair commenced their skating activities at nearby rinks, primarily for enjoyment. In an impulsive decision made last April, they registered for a collegiate competition—Keri’s first event in two years.
“I placed second,” she remarks with amusement. “It turned out to be far more enjoyable than I recalled. Skating alongside Ava rekindled that passion.”
Once the notion of establishing a club started to become concrete, the two of them knew they were taking up something more than supplementary.
Ava states, “Liberty University is the only Christian college to have a collegiate ice skating team.” That unique aspect was the drive for us. “My lifelong love of figure skating is still going strong, and my dream of competing at the collegiate level led us to start a skating team.”
Based on Prayer—and Passion
Beginning a sport club at a teaching institution is challenging enough, to say the least—especially when the club needs off-campus facilities, transportation, and finances. The special requisites of competitive figure skating only complicate the endeavor.
Still, Ava and Keri were determined. They started with something simple: build a fun society that would enable students to skate, learn, laugh, and possibly compete. Their goal was to promote their passion for skating through a God-honoring approach, in which fun and purpose came first rather than merely medals and flair.
Ava says, “From my point of view, God didn’t allow for the existence of this club.” She adds, “I almost didn’t come to Gordon because they didn’t offer figure skating. That activity was so important to me. Yet God showed me that He wanted me to be here. God brought Keri into my world—without that, I don’t know that the figure skating club would be here today.”
Keri reflects similarly concerning godly guidance, saying, “God’s involvement has undeniably flowed through each step of this process. He opened doors through outreach to the community and radically redefined my perceptions of how collegiate skating could be.”
For these girls, faith isn’t just a foundation—it’s also their fuel. Every step of this process, from a dream to reality, has been covered in prayer and patience. It’s not just about their own passion; they also hope to expand the club even further and give others the same opportunities.
Blades, Belief, and Big Dreams (Now Reality)
Gordon College’s figure skating club has officially started.
Keri states, “Our goal is to build a space for people to learn and to enjoy skating, no matter the skill level they’re at.” She also continues, “But we’ll also be involved in the collegiate competitive scene. Ava and I plan to sign up for two competitions next spring—one at MIT and another in Utica, New York.”
While they are starting small, Ava sees great potential for the club.
“One day, I hope the club will be large enough to qualify for the U.S. Figure Skating Collegiate Nationals,” she says. “At this point, we don’t yet have enough women participants on the team to qualify—but I hope that future figure skaters at Gordon College will keep it going.”
Ava’s seemingly single-minded motivation can be attributed to her combined mentality—coach, leader, and representative. As a member of the Gordon Athletics Department, she managed to arrange two official media days for herself and Keri, complete with professional photography, jerseys, and the all-around spirit typical of a varsity team.
“It was such a cool moment,” Ava says. “It made it all feel real.”
Once competition starts, this page will likely be filled with instructional videos, backstage pictures, and details of their skate experience. Ava and Keri also hope to use social media to inspire not just fellow skaters and admirers, but future generations of Gordon students to dream big—creatively.
More Than Just Ice Time
Of course, it’s not all jumps and spins. Community-building is also one of the club’s fundamental goals.
Keri states, “This year is special for skating, as it is the year of the Winter Olympics.” She continues, “As such, club members can absolutely count on the club organizing an Olympics viewing party.”
And perhaps that’s why the club is so special. It’s more than just someplace to skate—it’s a place to be seen, supported, and sent.
Leaving a Legacy
For both Ava and Keri, it’s less about personal success and more about legacy and the audience this club will reach.
“Since Keri and I started this club, I hope to see future Gordon athletes keep figure skating alive in a Christian environment,” says Ava. “That’s the dream.”
At a time when competitive sports can often feel merciless and demanding, Gordon’s recently created ice-skating club offers a refreshing contrast—one grounded in intent, sparked by warmth, and open to anyone. As Ava and Keri persist in etching their trajectories across nearby ice rinks, they are simultaneously establishing a more enduring legacy at Gordon: an environment in which passion and faith coexist.
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