ports

High Roller

She may
only be 9, but
Lisa Rosett
is already
chasing the
championship
circuit.

STEVE STEIN

Lisa is a fourth-grader at
Maple Elementary in the
Walled Lake school district. She
also attends Hebrew school
twice a week at Temple Kol
Ami in West Bloomfield
"I like skating because you
meet new friends and the com-
petition is fun," Lisa said.
"Sometimes it's hard to practice
when your friends want to do
something, but I know it's im-
portant to skate."
This past summer,Lisa com-
peted in the U.S. Figure Skat-
ing national championships in
Pensacola, Fla. She finished
second and earned a silver
medal with her partner Dusty
Brinsmaid of Jackson in juve-
nile (age 11-and-under) team
dance, and she was 11th in
primary girls (age 8-and-un-
der) figures.
Lisa and Dusty qualified
for the nationals by winning
the Great Lakes regional at
Skate World in Troy in July.
Lisa placed third in figures
thinks it's all worth it, Her partne r is at that competition and
Dusty
earned the last quali-
and so does her sup-
Brinsmal d.
fying spot.
portive family.
In the summer of
"Our emotions run
1992, Lisa participat-
the gamut with this
ed in the U.S. Roller
sport, but when you
Skating Junior Olympic
look at the big picture, it's a
national championships
good investment," said Lisa's fa-
in Fresno, Calif., for be-
ther, Dennis Rosett. "Lisa has
ginning skaters. She was
traveled to at least 15 states be-
fourth solo dance and
cause of her skating, which is
fifth in figures in girls 8-
more of the country than I had
and-under.
seen before she began compet-
Lisa was a solo dance
ing, and I think all this is help-
state and regional cham-
ing her build character.
pion in 1992 and she was
"Lisa is learning all the
second in figures in the
lessons of life. The ups, the
regional in Ohio.
downs, working hard, making
"This is a tough year
a commitment...
for Lisa because she's
"There's no doubt she's more
moving up in divisions,"
mature for her age in some ar-
eas. I know she has more disci-
pline and that has helped her
She gets lots of support
in school."
from her family.

SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Lisa's on a winning track.

isa Rosett roller skates three
to four hours a day, six days
a week. Just before major
competitions her practicing
increases to eight hours a
day, every day.
That doesn't include the
hour or so the Farmington
Hills youngster spends in the
car going to and from the
Skatin' Station in Canton for
her workouts.
Lisa owns three pairs of
skates, and they're worth about
$1,800. Her dance and figures
costumes represent a $1,300 in-
vestment and she also has sev-
eral practice outfits at $100 a
pop.
That's a lot of time and a lot
of money, and it doesn't include
travel to competitions. But Lisa,
who is 9 aliti kaz been skating
competitively for three years,

L

Dennis said. "If she can make
it through this stretch, I think
she'll compete for many more
years."
The entire Rosett family is
involved in roller skating.
Dennis, who's a model mak-
er for automotive firms, has
been judging local roller skat-
ing events for two years.
"I'd say Fm a medium tough
judge," Dennis said. "Fm pret-
ty tough on Lisa in practice,
however. Sometimes I need to
remind myself that she's 9
years old."
Cheryl Rosett, Lisa's moth-
er, is a registered nurse. She's
a costumer for the Skatin' Sta-
tion Artistic Club, of which Lisa
is a member, and a tabulator at
local competitions.
"Being a costumer is very im-
portant because how a skater
looks can influence judging,"
Dennis said.
Lisa's sister, Erin, 12, is a for-
mer skater. ❑