Freshman Phenoms Skater finds success at early age

Erin Canis, freshman, glides across the Webster Groves Ice Arena, her pink and yellow dress fluttering around her legs. The theme from “Schindler’s List,” a movie about the Holocaust, resonates across the rink, corresponding with Canis’ heritage.

“I give myself a sort of pressure that I need to skate this well because I’m skating for my ancestors, and I can’t let them down,” Canis said.

Canis first competed with this routine at the Sweetheart Open, where she placed first despite learning the routine quickly.

Terri Canis, Erin’s mom, said she loves to watch Canis compete.

“Her gracefulness and technical accomplishments have led to many proud parent moments,” Terri said.

At the Meet Me in St. Louis competition in March, Erin placed second in her Freestyle 5 solo. She said it wasn’t her cleanest performance of this program, but that meet is known to be a harder and larger competition.

Off-season, Erin enhances her skills in artistry and footwork for future competitions with Joy Elder, coach, who has been in the field for 35 years.

“She has an unbelievable work ethic,” Elder said. “There is no doubt in my mind that she will achieve multiple gold medals in her skating career.”

Erin has been figure skating for six and a half years and goes to both guided and individual practices in order to work toward United States Figure Skating (USFS) gold medals.

It’s uncommon for a 15 year old to gain a gold medal so early on, but Erin is close to passing her senior level Moves in The Field test, which would award Erin her first USFS gold medal.

However, Erin’s favorite part of ice skating goes deeper than competitions.

“The feeling of just being on the ice or learning a new spin or landing a new jump, which is the best feeling ever, really brings me life,” Erin said. “Beyond learning the physical moves in skating, it has taught me to strive for

Cricket player breaks national women’s record

anika TALYAN

Pooja Ganesh, freshman, sets her sights on the wicket 20 meters ahead of her and runs, not realizing that she is breaking a cricket national record.

During a cricket camp designed to scout talent, Ganesh, then age 13, participated in a Yoyo test by running between the two wickets at increasing speeds until she couldn’t anymore.

During her test, Ganesh broke the National Women’s Record, pulling attention toward her.

“I didn’t realize that I did it,” Ganesh said. “I thought I could’ve done better.”

With a national record under her belt, Ganesh was picked for the regional cricket team, which progressed to her playing at the national level. There, Ganesh was named MVP of her team and best hitter despite being 13 among 18-year-olds.

The year after, the Women’s U.S. Under-19 Team was looking at her to play for the World Cup. The only problem: Ganesh was not at the minimum age of 15 and would not be able to compete according to the International Cricket Commitee’s (ICC) rules.

The coaches reached out to the ICC, asking them to do something they have never done before: make an exception. The ICC agreed, making Ganesh the youngest person ever to play for the Women’s U.S. Under-19 Team.

On the team, Ganesh traveled to countries like South Africa, United Arab Emirate and Italy to play against other female cricket players in the World Cup. The team didn’t do very well, but Ganesh said she still enjoyed the experience.

“It was still really cool to be there,” Ganesh said.

The Chesterfield City Council awarded Ganesh a Mayoral Proclamation for her success in cricket and proclaimed March 20, 2023, as “Pooja

Ganesh Day” in the city of Chesterfield.

Her father, Ganesh Krishnamurthy, introduced her to cricket by having her read World Cup statistics to him. He noticed she was analyzing the skills of the players and said he saw something special in her.

Krishnamurthy started playing cricket with her in their driveway before placing her in the American Cricket Academy Club, as the only girl.

Many have watched Ganesh play cricket and have come up to her to ask for her picture or autograph. With that new kind of spotlight, Krishnamurthy said it is as important to him for Ganesh to be a humble, kind person while also being a talented cricket player.

“Being humble and being respectful is something that any athlete should have,” Krishnamurthy said.

Although Krishnamurthy is a cricket coach, he said he only helps Ganesh if she asks, leaving most of the coaching to Ajay Jhamb, who has been coaching Ganesh since 2016

Jhamb started by teaching her how to hold a bat.

“Very few kids work as hard as she has,” Jhamb said. “She is an ideal kid for a coach and is always going the extra mile.”

Jhamb said she is one of the strongest female batters in the country.

After Ganesh played with the Women’s U.S. Under-19 team, Jhamb said Ganesh turned her focus from technical skills to getting stronger and faster.

“By playing with the top talent in the world, she was playing at a level where she got to see what she needs to do to improve,” Jhamb said.

Jhamb is focusing on teaching her patience as a player.

“It now is going to be more critical than working with her skill,” Jhamb said.

Jhamb said he knows she will play pro in the future and be successful in her cricket endeavors

“It’s just so heart warming and it gives me so much immense pride for her,” Jhamb said.