Oceanside skater takes home the gold

Moments before Oceanside figure skater Samantha Cesario, 16, glided onto the ice, she cleared her head. She wasn't really nervous, she said, even though this was a pivotal moment in her young career.

It was her first trip abroad, in Val Gardena, Italy, no less, one of the most beautiful valleys in the northern part of the country. She was competing in the 2010 Gardena Spring Trophy, an international skating competition held in April. The atmosphere in the rink, she said, was beautiful. As a rising star in the world of figure skating, competing in her first international competition, Cesario said she took it all in.

Then, she let loose on the ice. Having executed dynamic double axel jumps, triple jumps, graceful spins and spirals, Cesario clinched the gold medal in the Junior Ladies competition, winning over strong skaters from Italy, Germany and her friend, Lindsay Davis, of California. It was, she said, another defining moment in her life.

"I was really happy with how I skated," Cesario said. "At this particular competition, I tried to enjoy it because it was a beautiful rink, a beautiful atmosphere. I wasn't that nervous and I think that helped me a lot. I think this is also a really defining moment for me. To get international is a huge deal — and to win it is even better."

It's been a busy year for Samantha Cesario. Last October, she finished first overall at the North Atlantic Regional Competition in New Jersey, where she bested 2006 Olympian Emily Hughes. From there, she advanced to the Eastern Sectionals in Newark, Del., and finished third. Her win in Italy comes after her strong performance as a senior level skater at the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships in Spokane, Wash., in January, where she competed against the country's top skaters in an Olympic year. While she didn't advance to the Olympics, her performance landed her an invitation to the Gardena Spring Trophy by the United States Figure Skating Association, where she was part of an "elite" group.