GREAT SKATES: LOCAL PAIR CAPTURES CHANCE AT NATIONALS

Skating pair Matt Buttrey and Sarah Booth beamed Saturday as they skated a few turns on The Ice in Cape Girardeau.

They tried to contain their enthusiasm as they talked about their most recent victory and the upcoming national competition.

Their sparkle is well deserved. The pair last week won first place at Midwestern Sectional Championships and now advance to national competition. They will compete in the 1993 United States Figure Skating Championships Jan. 17-24 in Phoenix, Ariz.

It marks the first time a pair of local skaters will compete at nationals at this level.

It all brings them closer to their Olympic dream.

"This was the most important competition we've been to," Matt said. "After this, nationals will be the most important."

The pair have been skating together in USFSA competitions for three years.

Matt and Sarah compete at the novice level. To be eligible for Olympic competition, they would have to test into the junior and then senior levels of competitions, and win.

"I think we could, but it will be a while," Sarah said.

They have a few years to perfect their skating skills. Matt, who is from Scott City, will turn 16 in January. Sarah, who is from Marble Hill, turned 11 in November.

Matt said, "Brian Boitano was 27 or 25 when he won the Olympics. We still have a while."

In the meantime, they are enjoying the victory.

"We're really happy," Sarah said.

Matt said, "I don't think we were nervous when we were competing at Mids."

"We were confident and we just did it," Sarah added. They placed first among eight teams.

Between now and January "We will practice, practice, practice," Sarah said.

The pair had a two-day break this weekend but start training again next week with at least two trips a week to St. Louis to meet with their coach there.

"We will probably be going more often than that," Matt said.

They travel nearly 1,000 miles a week to train in St. Louis and also in Springfield, Ill.

The pair hope to add a new overhead lift to their routine. Others at the competition will be doing the more complicated skills.

"I think we need it," Matt said. "Some people had them at Mids, but we won anyway."

"Our presentation was better," Sarah said, who said enjoys the jumps and tricks and lifts while skating. But then she added with a smile, "I like showing off."

The two are excited about the upcoming competition.

"I think it will be great," Matt said. "We will just go and do our best.

"There will be lots of judges watching us, all the time, even when we're not on the ice," he said.

They first competed at the Upper Great Lakes Regional Championships. The top four teams advance. Matt and Sarah placed first.

At the Midwestern Sectional Championship, which they just returned from, the top four advance to national competition. Matt and Sarah placed first.

Now they go on to the USFSA Championships, the final leg of the competitive season.

After that, Matt said, "We are going to think about trying to test up to junior level. But we're not sure yet."