It Takes Two: Figure Skater Finds Success in Pairs

Figure skater Johnathon Horton knows the exact time and place he first put on a pair of skates. It was at the John Lindell Ice Arena in Royal Oak, September 2001.

He still has the photo of himself from that first day.

“I was wearing a helmet and pads and I was all bundled up,” Horton said.

Earlier that year, the seven-year-old had tagged along and watched a friend from down the street ice skate. Horton went home and said, "I want to do that."

“I already ran down all the other sports — soccer, football, baseball,” Horton said. “I didn’t like team sports."

But Horton, 17, a senior at , wanted to skate. He raced through all six levels of basic skills and advanced to the freestyle level. He worked with a few coaches before becoming a student of Craig Joeright's — a former international competitor and U.S. bronze medalist with his pairs partner (and wife) Larisa Spielberg.

Horton is now finding success as part of a two-person team.

A New Team

On Valentine's Day 2008, Horton met his young pairs partner.

Horton said he recalled passing through the lobby of the Troy Sports Center. Joeright was there and so was a spunky nine-year-old girl from Bay City, Maggie Gallagher. Her mom had begun driving her to Detroit to work with Joeright.

“Craig (Joeright) said, ‘wait a minute,’ ” Horton said. He looked at both skaters and suggested they get on the ice together.

“I had a pairs team before and I was trying to get a couple of teams together,” Joeright said. "Johnathon is a good-sized boy. Maggie came along and was the perfect size and attitude. Their hair color, complexion and skating styles matched."

"At first I didn’t know what to think," said Gallagher, now 12. "'I'm doing pairs?' I got lucky. Usually a girl has to try out for a partner."

As two singles skaters they had to learn the very basics of pairs skating, such as stroking around the ice together as a team. Like all pairs skaters, they practiced the more challenging elements, like lifts, off-ice first.

Within six months they were in their first competition.

Competing as a pair

In the fall of 2009, Horton and Gallagher entered the Midwestern sectionals competition, which would qualify them for the national championships at their level.

Adding to the excitement of the next competition, Junior Nationals were staged in Joeright’s hometown of Cleveland that season.

They’d also begun working with a second coach, Stephanie Kalesavich, who’d been a national bronze medalist with her partner Aaron Parchem. 

Lori Horton said she gets anxious watching her son compete.

“I get a nervous stomach,” Mrs. Horton said.

Johnathon Horton has entertained some butterflies during major events, but being part of a pairs team helps.

“Johnathon gets nervous at competitions,” Gallagher said. “But he can focus on me. Unlike most teams we’re a team that cares about each other very much. Our families get along.”

Johnathon and Maggie are both only children, which encourages the sibling-like relationship between them.

"Before we get off the ice each day we resolve our problems," Horton said.

Joeright said the pair is successful because their personalities match.

"They couldn’t do anything if they didn’t get along," Joeright said. "They communicate, they have the ability to deal with each other. And their pairs elements are strong."

Busy Days & Nights

Horton’s daily routine may be different from other high school students.

"I get up – it’s dark," he said. "Go to school. Come home for maybe five minutes. Go to the rink. Come home – it’s dark."

But skating has brought along opportunities he might not otherwise experience.

He has traveled to competitions all over the country, including Wichita and Salt Lake City. This year will bring a trip to sectionals in Fort Collins, Colorado and the Junior Nationals close to home in East Lansing.

Their competitive performance this year is the upbeat “Feeling Good” by Michael Buble, choreographed for them by Olympic silver medalist ice dancer Tanith Belbin.

“We put a lot of attitude in it,” Horton said.  

"In every competition we emphasize the program itself," Joeright said. "Skating the way they know how to skate. And to show off their personalities."

Horton said he is planning to attend college to become a dentist, and is unsure whether he'll stay close to home.

He said will continue skating wherever he goes. However, skating without Gallagher will be a tough transition.

"I’ll miss her," Horton said.