recreational ice skating

America’s Heartland was teeming with talented and elated skaters from 13 rink teams from nine states,* who took to the ice Nov. 8-9 at Lou & Gib Reese Ice Arena in Newark, Ohio, to compete in the ISI Heartland Challenge.

Fox

“We had a fantastic weekend at the Heartland Challenge,” said Mandy Roberts, mom of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Ice & Blades Figure Skating Team member Fox Roberts, who turned 13 years old on the Sunday of the competition. “The Lou & Gibb Reese Ice Arena was a very pleasant setting for the competition. Of course, the best part of our experience was spending time with teammates on and off the ice.”

“This was my fifth major ISI competition competing in hockey events,” said Emily Purdy, 15, of the Skating Club of Johnstown of Johnstown, Pa. “Prepping for them helps me in games with my speed and edge work.

Emily

“Ohio was fun doing my own events, but I also skated in our production. Skating with the group in hockey skates can be challenging, but my coach and I find a way to tweak all of the moves so that I’m doing everything my teammates do in figure skates.”

Emily’s sister, Elizabeth, 12, stated, “I always like going to the ISI competitions because we get to travel all over and visit lots of different rinks with my best friends. I also like competing against the different skating clubs and making new friends at each competition. Some of the skate clubs trade pins, which is a lot of fun getting pins from skaters from all over the country.

“This was my first time in Ohio, so it was a lot of fun getting to see a new state. We have seen some great skaters from Lou & Gib Reese Ice Arena before, so it was nice seeing their home rink!”

ISI Skating Programs & National Event Director Kim Hansen commended the volunteers, who worked tirelessly to help make the competition a success.

“The volunteers were amazing, and they were led not only by Kristan Hausman, who is both the skating director and manager of the Lou & Gib Reese Ice Arena, but also by several mothers of long-time ISI skaters,” she said. “They gained so much experience over the years watching their daughters compete at ISI events that they knew almost instinctively what we might need. It was truly gratifying to see that their daughters’ experiences were so impactful and important to them that they wanted to give back wholeheartedly to benefit the younger skaters at the event.”

Lou & Gib Reese Ice Arena was crowned the overall team champion of the event

Lou & Gib Reese Ice Arena

 

*Colorado, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.


Heartland Challenge Full Team Results (Place, Team, Points)

  1. Lou & Gib Reese Ice Arena, Newark, Ohio, 541.0
  2. The Skating Club of Johnstown, Johnstown, Pa., 349.5
  3. The Edge Ice Arena, Bensenville, Ill., 343.0
  4. Southgate Ice Arena, Southgate, Mich., 234.0
  5. Ice & Blades Figure Skating Team, Pittsburgh, Pa., 172.5
  6. City of St. Peters Rec-Plex, St. Peters, Mo., 141.0
  7. Gilmour Academy Ice Arena, Gates Mill, Ohio, 102.0
  8. City of Owensboro Edge Ice Center, Owensboro, Ky., 56.0
  9. South Suburban Sports Complex, Littleton, Colo., 46.0
  10. Reno Ice, Reno, Nev., 18.0
  11. Printscape Arena at Southpointe, Canonsburg, Pa., 11.0
  12. Stars of Austin Figure Skating Club, Pflugerville, Texas, 11.0
  13. Galleria Ice Skating Center, Dallas, Texas, 6.0

Youngest Skaters: Evah Capouellez, 4, The Skating Club of Johnstown, Johnstown, Pa.; and Stella Rouse, 4, Southgate Ice Arena, Southgate, Mich.

Oldest Skater: Debbie Klee, 67, Reno Ice, Reno, Nev.

Most Events: Jennifer Martino, 19 events, Gilmour Academy Ice Arena, Gates Mill, Ohio; Chloe Capouellez, 16 events, The Skating Club of Johnstown, Johnstown, Pa.; Samantha Tkach, 13 events, The Skating Club of Johnstown; Lilah Killen, 11 events, Ice & Blades Figure Skating Team, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Natalie Wojno, 11 events, The Skating Club of Johnstown.

Largest Skating Teams: Lou & Gib Reese Ice Arena, 37 skaters, Newark, Ohio; Southgate Ice Arena, 24 skaters, Southgate, Mich.

Teams from Farthest Distance: Reno Ice, Reno, Nev., 1,971 miles; Stars of Austin Figure Skating Club, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,083 miles.

 

Submitted Photos

  

ISI Heartland Challenge ice skating competition  

 

 

Professional Photos by Diamond Photography

ISI Heartland Challenge  

  ISI Heartland Challenge ice skating competition

  

 ISI Heartland Challenge ice skating competition 

 

 

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