The Lady Flames led by Head Coach Courtney Kirschke (front, center) feature 20 team members this season. (Photos by KJ Jugar)
Lady Flames figure skaters set to open Southeast Sectional season at University of South Florida
10/23/2025 2:55:00 PM | Figure Skating
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With 20 team members and a depth of veteran leadership, Liberty enters Southeast Sectional competition with aspirations of qualifying for the U.S. Figure Skating Collegiate National Championships.
Liberty University's figure skating team has a bright forecast as it prepares to start its season at the Sunshine Classic this Friday through Sunday at the University of South Florida, in their first Southeast Sectional competition. The Lady Flames feature a 20-member team, larger than previous seasons, after welcoming seven freshmen.Â
They have high hopes of qualifying and attending the April 10-12 U.S. Figure Skating Collegiate National Championships in Salt Lake City for a fifth season in a row.
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Team, captains Taylor Nordquist and Emma Zajonc
Liberty is led by team captains Taylor Nordquist and Emma Zajonc, fourth-year team members who are looking to have stand-out senior seasons. Zajonc has shown strong progress and growth from her freshman year according to third-year Head Coach Courtney Kirschke, who was her teammate as a senior. Â
"Emma started out with not a lot of skating experience — she actually started with roller skating in high school — but she has grown in how she can present herself on the ice, the way that she handles choreography and musicality as well as lthe technical aspect with jumps and spins," Kirschke said. Â
Zajonc has also added a new discipline since starting her skating career at Liberty. Along with free skate, she will also represent the team in pattern dance. Â
Nordquist is known for being the team's voice of encouragement and support.
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"She's a huge cheerleader for everybody," Kirschke said. "She pumps people up when they need it. She can be loud when she needs to, but she can also have the serious conversations."Â
Team members have already built community with each other throughout practices and Bible studies, according to Kirschke.Â
"We pair up rookies with returners, to encourage and mentor," Kirschke said. "We also see community growing through regular Bible studies held by our Disciple Makers. It is a great way to get everyone to spend time together outside the rink in a meaningful way."Â
The team is looking forward to its first competition and the opportunity to grow in community through the time it spends together on the road and down in Florida. Representing Liberty and being ambassadors for Christ are the Lady Flames' primary goals as they travel to competitions this season. Â
"Our job is to encourage and uplift and support everybody else on the ice," she said. "Even if we might be competing against them, at the end of the day, it's all under Liberty University."Â
The trip to USF is the team's only fall semester competition. Upon returning, the Lady Flames will focus on preparing for spring semester Southeast Sectional performances at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland on Feb. 27 and at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, on Mar. 13, less than one month before nationals.
