
Figure skaters gaining momentum in preparation for last two Sectional events in March
2/8/2023 10:56:47 PM | Figure Skating
With a little more than a month to fine-tune its routines for its March 11-12 Southeast Sectional Intercollegiate competition at the University of Delaware, Liberty University’s figure skating team is focused on perfecting skills on the ice as well as becoming more mentally and spiritually strong in and out of the rink. Head Coach Dawn Harter and the Lady Flames reflect on the season so far with joyful memories and look ahead to the spring competition schedule with excitement with a potential trip to the U.S. Figure Skating Collegiate National Championships on April 13-16 at UCLA in Valencia, Calif., within their reach with a top-four sectional finish.
“The fall semester was great. We practiced up until November and then we went to Florida and we had a lot of fun,” Liberty junior Kristine Neumeyer said. “We stayed there for a few days and did team events and bonding through competition. We also did a service project that was an awesome opportunity to grow as a team, in figure skating but also in the Lord.”
The Lady Flames approach the Delaware event with confidence after their second-place showing at the University of South Florida in Tampa, where they finished runner-up to the Blue Hens.
“I was proud of our team and how we performed,” Neumeyer said.
“It’s nice to get the momentum going to see how their programs are faring against other individuals and what to tweak between now and March,” Harter said. “We’re working hard to make sure that they’re prepared and ready for the competition ahead.”
Sophomore Greta Snukis has high hopes for the future of the program, and the Lady Flames’ ability to raise their standards as the season progresses, with the regular-season-ending event set for March 24-26 at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pa.
“I definitely think the atmosphere (on the team) going into the next two competitions is really good and at an all-time high considering we did really well in Tampa,” Snukis said. “I hope that leading up to the next two competitions everyone really is focusing on doing the best we can, training smart, not overworking themselves or being burned out from skating, but finding the joy and fun in it.”
Harter said the veteran leadership from the Lady Flames’ nine seniors should give them a competitive edge as they pursue a third consecutive national bid after last season’s eighth-place finish out of 16 teams.
“They’re a very strong group as far as skaters, but also their maturity level of where they’re at in their growth with the Lord but also on the ice and their input with the team,” Harter said. “The ones that are moving up in their years here at Liberty, we’ll be looking to them to pick up the torch and keep carrying on.”
Harter has already lined up six recruits for the upcoming fall, which will help the team supplant the graduating skaters.
“I know that the Lord’s going to bring girls in … and though we have such good memories and times with the seniors, I also know that the (six) freshmen coming in will bring new talent and offer new opportunities and things to the team, different gifts and abilities,” Neumeyer said.
Video edited by Kylee Lilge/Club Sports Video & Media Associate