From the Fall 2021 Cadets Magazine
By Ashley Wiehe
After this past summer, everyone has Olympic fever. You root for your favorite athletes and watch to see who takes home gold.
For senior Andy Deng, it’s a little different because he sees himself competing at the Olympics in just a few years.
Deng, 16, started figure skating about 10 years ago, and now is competing nationally and hopefully soon internationally with his partner, Cayla. His dream is to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
“It would be a lot of fun. It would be a good chance to represent the U.S. and my school, wherever I go to college,” he said. “The best athletes around the world are there.”
At Concordia, Deng has a specialized schedule that allows him to attend the classes that he needs to graduate while also having the flexibility to complete the needed three hours a day (four or five times a week) of training during the school year.
“It’s definitely let me train more, but it’s let me sort of have that connection with other people my age,” he said. “It’s really nice to have that connection with people my own age and socialize a bit.”
At 16 years old and with his partner Cayla at only 12 years old, they are the youngest competitors in the Fort Wayne Ice Skating Club (most are closer to 19 or 20 years old). In general, this pair is far beyond their age when it comes to their talent.
“We’re already working on new elements for next year,” Deng said.
But their age also causes some limitations for them.
Deng’s coach, Alena Lunin, a champion figure skater and Team USA coach, has limited the number of lifts that Deng can do while he continues growing, and the pairs are unable to compete in certain competitions because of Cayla’s age.
“It’s just another year to prepare,” he said, not worried about missing out on this year. “It’s not as much pressure.”
Concordia has been instrumental in helping Deng find balance in his life — allowing him to pursue his figure skating dreams while also having a normal high school experience.
“Concordia is awesome. Everyone is super supportive,” he said. “(And what’s great is that) everyone has their own goals, and it’s awesome to have something in common with everyone else.”