This month’s mystery athlete is a freshman who figure skates for Blake. She first stepped onto the ice when she was in preschool through an introductory program. Although she took a short break from the sport, she returned to skating at age nine and has continued to pursue it ever since. In total, she has been skating for about seven years.
Her motivation to begin skating came largely from her family. Skating is something that several of her relatives have been involved in, including her cousin, sister, and even her mom. Because of these family connections, skating naturally became something she wanted to try herself.
This year marked her first season skating for Blake, and she says she enjoyed the experience. So far, she has competed in one competition in St. Cloud earlier this season. Looking ahead, she hopes to participate in more competitions during the summer to keep improving and gaining experience.
This skater’s favorite jump is a Lutz, which is known for being a difficult, counter-rotated jump that requires strong technique and control. When it comes to spins, she especially enjoys performing attitude spins or layback spins.
Throughout her years of skating, she has had several memorable experiences. One of her favorite memories was attending her very first costume fitting before her first competition, a moment that made the experience feel exciting and real. Another highlight was rehearsing with her teammates for the team’s recent skating showcase. Practicing the opening and closing numbers together and spending time with teammates made the event very meaningful.
For her, the most rewarding part of skating is the feeling of improvement and accomplishment. “Just improving and also testing and getting that pass on your paper…it feels really good,” she says.
Her teammates also recognize her dedication to the sport. Fellow skater Sacha Newberry ‘29 describes her as a highly determined athlete who is always willing to pursue her goals. According to Newberry, she “goes for what she wants to accomplish, and there’s nothing that can stop her from doing what she wants to accomplish.”
Beyond her determination, she brings a strong sense of personality to the team. Newberry says she adds humor, joy, and happiness to practices and performances. “She brings a great positive attitude,” Newberry explains, adding that getting to know her as both a teammate and a person has been a great experience for the team.
With several years of skating already behind her and many more opportunities ahead, this skater continues to bring passion, determination, and positivity to the ice.
