![Cape Cod is a popular tourist destination for Massachusetts residents and enjoy the scenery that the coastal area has to offer. Unfortunately, Cape Cod is being faced with consequences of climate change such as rising sea levels, erosion and a loss of biodiversity. “[My family and I] have been going there since 1984, so we really watched the Cape shrink every year,” lifelong Cape Cod visitor Mary Hicks said.](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-13-at-1.35.03 PM.png)
![After the Raider's first goal of the game, scored by senior captain Luke Galizio, the players pile onto the glass by the student section to celebrate, igniting the crowd into a roar. "The atmosphere was incredible, having two towns that both come to support us is amazing," Galizio said. "When [the crowd] started chanting 'Raider nation' it made [the game] feel like it wasn't just one team against another, we had a whole building of fans supporting us."](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/06FBB04E-4C03-408A-B554-FE6C06CE8C08_1_105_c.jpeg)
What you need to know:
In a celebration of life, Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. hosted a ceremony to honor the 28 lost lives of young figure skaters due to the Jan. 29 plane crash. On Sunday, March 2, a sold out audience of 15,000 people gathered for “Legacy on Ice” to pay their respects, including 150 family members and multiple figure skating stars.
The American Airlines Flight 5342 carried 60 passengers and four crew members and was heading towards the Reagan National Airport while a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter was traveling in the opposite direction. The two aircrafts collided in the air, causing them both to fall into the Potomac River. All 64 people on the plane and the three soldiers in the helicopter died during the crash.
Of the fatalities of Flight 5342, there were 28 members and affiliates of the U.S. Figure Skating Organization who were coming from a developmental camp in Wichita, Kansas. The skaters were children who attended the camp, their parents and even some retired performers. Given that the camp is a prestigious program in the world of figure skating, the majority of these skaters were known for their skills and awards, and some had upcoming competitions.
The “Legacy on Ice” memorial was organized by Monumental Sports and Entertainment, Entertainment Gang and U.S. Figure Skating to raise money for the victims’ families through three charities.
The ceremony featured figure skating performances in tribute to the lost lives. 14-year-old Sofia Bezkorovainaya, a friend and teammate of Everly Livingston who was a victim of the crash, skated the routine that Livingston was meant to do in her upcoming season on the USA figure skating team. Bexkorovainaya was then joined by skaters from Washington Figure Skating Club for a group number on the ice.
Why it matters:
Six of the passengers were figure skaters from Boston. One of whom was Jinna Han, a 13-year-old figure skating star who had joined the Skating Club of Boston in 2020. Since then, Han had been gaining recognition for her talent. In 2022, she voiced her intentions of making it to the Olympics on NBC10 Boston. Recently, she had pursued her dreams by competing in the 2025 Eastern Sectionals, earning fourth place overall.
Boston is hosting this year’s ISU World Figure Skating Championships at TD Garden from March 26 to 30. The championships are vital for determining the USA Team for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy.
While the championships are still to be held, it will be difficult without Han and six other Bostonians, coaches and skaters alike.
Other sources to look at:
“The Figure Skaters in the American Airlines Plane Crash Remembered: What to Know About the Victims” – People
“What to know about the deadly American Airlines and Black Hawk helicopter collision” – ABC News
“Boston’s figure skating community mourns plane crash victims before championship” – NBC Boston
