Former figure skater Kirschke succeeding Harter, who took program to new heights, as head coach
6/28/2023 3:43:06 PM | Figure Skating
Flying and figure skating are two of Courtney Kirschke’s primary passions, and she is elevating her involvement in both this summer.
Kirschke, 24, who competed at the Senior level on Liberty University’s figure skating team for the past two and a half years before completing her B.S. in Aeronautics: Commercial Corporate in May, will succeed Head Coach Dawn Harter, who is stepping down after seven seasons at the helm, on July 1.
A former “Disney on Ice” performer from Spokane, Wash., who is a USFSA double gold medalist in Moves in the Field and Freeskate, Kirschke currently works part-time as a flight instructor for Liberty’s School of Aeronautics.
“It is interesting how as a flight instructor and now a coach, both are opportunities to mentor and lead and pour into students, and I am excited to do even more of that,” she said. “I want to put into practice servant leadership, humbly leading those that I’m working with.”
Harter guided the Lady Flames to successive runner-up finishes to Delaware in the Southeast Section and eighth- and sixth-place showings at the U.S. Figure Skating Collegiate National Championships the past two spring semesters. She believes Kirschke will help the program continue to rise.
“She will bring a wealth of knowledge, maturity, and a strong faith in Christ,” Harter said. “Watching her as a Learn to Skate instructor, she communicates well with others and enjoys sharing her love for the sport. The girls on the team respect her. She will provide the leadership and dedication to this team, and I'm excited to see how they progress."
Kirschke started figure skating at the age of 6 and traveled with “Disney on Ice” for two years after high school, performing all over the United States and into Canada and Mexico as well as the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. She said competing on Liberty’s figure skating team renewed the passion she had for the sport that had diminished through her club competitions and even in the professional skating world.
“To have that kind of a community in the skating world is amazing,” she said. “Growing up in club competition, it wasn’t like that. It was all about the competition. Your worth was in your performance. Even on the professional circuit, it was a very worldly organization, a very secular way of living.”
As Liberty’s head coach, she will continue Harter’s approach of training skaters to use their gifts for God’s glory and viewing the sport of figure skating as a form of worship to the Lord.
“Having skating be something that I can use as a platform for worship brought back the passion and the joy of the sport for me,” Kirschke said. “We had great coaches and great captains who really cared about the team, cared about the people on it, and poured into us so well, and I hope to carry on that spiritual mentorship and leadership.”
She said that focus kept her from being shaken by the performance-based pressure that competitions can bring.
“Going into the competition field, yes, there’s nerves and even fear sometimes, but having God be on the forefront of your mind takes the pressure off of the outcome because you’re doing it for the Lord, and what the scoresheet says is (secondary),” Kirschke said.
She credited Harter and founding head coach Tatiana Payne, who served as Harter’s associate head coach over the past seven seasons, for fostering a positive culture within the program.
“There has definitely been a great foundation set by Dawn Harter and Coach Tatiana, who have set the program up (for success),” Kirschke said. “We are one of the top competitors in our section and people know who Liberty is on the figure skating circuit.”
She is excited about the talent level of the returning skaters and the opportunity to bring out the best in them as well as in incoming recruits and walk-ons.
“I see so much potential in the skaters we have,” Kirschke said. “I have seen some of the progress they’ve made over the summer. That has been super encouraging and I’m excited to see what they bring when we start in the fall. I have never had a choreographer role, but I am excited to explore that side and help build up the team in that way. We will provide the skaters individual lessons and hone in their programs and their skills before adding difficulty to their programs and getting them competition-ready.”
She and assistant coaches Claire Cook and Sarah Embry, both also former Lady Flames figure skaters and team captain and manager, respectively, will look to complete the roster for the 2023-24 season at tryouts in late August or early September.
“It is never too late to start recruiting,” Kirschke said. “We had a lot of seniors that graduated and left the program, but I am excited to fill the gap, keeping the team numbers high and keeping it competitive.”
She plans to incorporate community outreach opportunities into the team’s schedule, as Harter has over the past seven seasons.
“When we have done outreaches and mission-type activities, they were super impactful to me, (and) to be a part of that is really fulfilling,” Kirschke said. “We are ultimately representing Christ. Yes, we can go and skate at a competition and represent Christ, but if we can also go out into that community and represent Him, why not?”
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
