The rush of adrenaline, the feeling of accomplishment and the freedom are just a few reasons why South students, such as seniors Ola Czyzewski, Jessica Young and Alex Franco, competitively ice skate outside of school.

According to Czyzewski, managing school and skating can sometimes be difficult.

“[Balancing] school and skating [is] not easy,” Czyzewski said. “Between the long practices off and on the ice, work and homework, I really don’t have much time for myself.”

Young agrees that keeping up with her studies and skating takes a lot of effort. According to Young, she strives to do well in both but doing so requires discipline.

“If anything, school is more important, but I try to manage my time in order to be successful at both,” Young said.

Even though balancing time between skating and school has proven to be a challenge, Franco skates because it’s her passion. According to Franco, who has been skating for eight years, she is able to find peace with herself while she’s on the ice.

“I don’t just like skating; I love it,” Franco said. “There’s something about gliding on a single blade that I find so relaxing and calming. That might sound cliché, but it’s just something that can’t be described.”

Czyzewski, who was first put on the ice at the age of two, has made it to Junior Nationals and Midwestern Sectionals twice. According to Czyzewski, there are many reasons why skating is her passion.

“I like how skating combines art with sport and that I can express myself and make people cry in a good way, while still challenging myself with difficult jumps and spins,” Czyzewski said. “I like the speed. I like choreographing programs. I like the feeling of accomplishment after landing a jump I’ve worked on for years.”

Young, who has been skating for 15 years, has a similar love for skating. She was ranked 14th nationally last year and competes in the Senior Ladies Division.

“I enjoy the opportunity to both perform for an audience and compete at the same time,” Young said. “Plus, I enjoy the challenges of accomplishing difficult elements such as triple jumps or difficult spin combinations.”

Czyzewski practices six days a week in Northbrook, Glenview, Vernon Hills and Wilmette. She practices before and after school every day and a couple hours on Saturday.

Franco believes there is a lot of dedication needed to succeed in figure skating.

“I [practice] twice a week in the morning at 6:30 and try to find times after school to go,” Franco said. “But if I don’t find ice after school, I go twice in the afternoon for class.”

Although ice skating demands a lot of time, dedication and physicality, Czyzewski feels as though it is worth it.

“It’s my escape; a place where everything bad seems to go away,” Czyzewski said.