Lady Flames figure skaters place third at Southeast Sectional competition in Cleveland

Friday, February 27

Cleveland, Ohio

TBA

Liberty University Club Sports

Case Western Reserve University

Figure skating team Southeast Sectional Cleveland

Lady Flames figure skaters place third at Southeast Sectional competition in Cleveland

3/6/2026 7:03:00 PM | Figure Skating

Liberty opened spring semester competition at Case Western University before traveling to Miami (Ohio) University next weekend, looking to secure its bid to nationals in Salt Lake City.

In its first Southeast Sectional competition of the spring semester, Liberty University's figure skating team accumulated 246 points to land in third place out of 27 teams at the 2026 Spartan Classic, held Feb. 27-March 1 at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio.

The team demonstrated strong individual performances and an encouraging start to the spring schedule that ramps up over the next month, capped by the April 10-12 USA Figure Skating National Intercollegiate Finals in Salt Lake City.

Many Lady Flames competed in free skate events including three seniors who shined in the Aspire 3 category — Emma Zajonc and Daniela Martinez, who placed first and second, respectively, in Group B, and Anna Holloway, who finished fourth in Group A.

In the Pre-Preliminary free skate, junior Rachel Duncan placed first in Group A and freshman Lauren Weiss and graduate Katie Williams landed in second and fifth, respectively, in Group B. Junior Amber Banghart won the Preliminary free skate Group B, and in Group A, sophomore Maggie Duhaime and freshman Samantha Dimler placed third and fourth, respectively.

Ava Basler won Group B after fellow sophomore Macy Clemon finished fifth in Group A of the Preliminary Plus competition. For the Pre-Juvenile free skate, freshman Hannah Graham came in second in Group A before freshman Ellie Pennington placed second in Group B.

In the Intermediate free skate, senior Taylor Nordquist and freshman Kaitlyn Doud finished first and second, respectively, in Group A. Freshman Anna Kruger landed in third place in Group C of the Juvenile free skate.

"Our top performers from the weekend were Taylor Nordquist and Amber Banghart," Lady Flames Head Coach Courtney Kirschke said. "They were skating every single day and did really well in their Group … and earned a lot of points for the team."

The Lady Flames had three skaters compete in the short program events, with Basler finishing fourth in Juvenile Group A, and Nordquist placing third and Doud ninth in Intermediate.

Zajonc led the team in Preliminary Dance, finishing first in Group A, followed by Basler in fourth and Dimler in sixth in Group B. In Pre- Bronze Pattern Dance, Banghart came in second while sophomore Jasmine Hodnicki placed third in Pre-Silver Pattern Dance and Kruger landed in seventh in Silver Pattern Dance. Nordquist placed third in Pre-Gold Pattern Dance and Banghart finished second in Juvenile Free Dance.

The team of Basler, Duhaime, Banghart, and Graham brought home a silver medal for second place in the Low Team Maneuvers competition, while the team of Nordquist, Doud, Hodnicki, and Kruger placed fourth in the Intermediate Team Maneuvers.
Complete results are available online.

"A big thing that I've been trying to push with the team is … just taking time to analyze their mindset, since that is half the battle," Kirschke said. "While there were a lot of hiccups at this competition, our girls remained really positive (and) were encouraging one another in that, so … (that) was huge for us."

The team is currently in position to qualify for the nationals in Salt Lake City. The Lady Flames can secure their sixth Southeast Sectional bid to that competition with a top-four finish in the final sectional event set for March 13-15 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Prior to nationals, the team will take part in Praise Fest, set for April 26 at 3 p.m. in the LaHaye Ice Center, with individual performances and group routines performed in collaboration with members of Liberty's synchronized skating team.

Amory Doyle/Student Writer