Kettle Moraine Skaters hit the ice in Wausau!

Athletes from all around Wisconsin gathered in Wausau to compete in Wisconsin’s Olympics – the 21st Badger State Winter Games during February 6-8.  Hundreds of people from all over Wisconsin filled the stands at Marathon Park and Greenheck Field House over that weekend to watch 683 figure skaters compete in the Badger State Winter Games.  The figure skating competition is the second-largest of the 20 different sporting events for winter game competitors and it draws the most spectators of the Games 28 venues.   Kettle Moraine Figure Skating Club was again represented for the fourteenth year by 21 of its talented skaters.  Coming together in Wausau as a team they gathered for the Olympic style activities, to have fun and skate in 51 events.  Back in West Bend they celebrated everyone’s effort and the 26 medals they brought back! 

Further celebration was in order as eleven of the 2009 skaters, having placed in the top three for an event, additionally qualified to participate in the State Games of America.  Joining them are four others that qualified in 2008.  The State Games of America is the premier national multi-sport event for athletes of all ages and abilities held every biennium under the banner of the National Congress of State Games. Medal winners from 49 State Games nationwide earn the right to compete against other winners and match their skills and competitive desire in a national arena in Colorado this summer.  Qualifying for the national games this year were Sheri Breuer, Alexandria Christensen, Meredith Kent, Katie Lippe, MacKenzie Neuendorf, Kirby Reehl, Andie Schibline, Kaitlyn Woo, and sisters Gemma, Giovanna and Guilannna Sutkiewicz.  2008 qualifiers included Samantha Archer, Shelly Breuer and Becky Lemminger.

Bringing home two gold medals and a bronze was Sheri Breuer, West Bend, skating in Pre-juvenile restricted events.  Also stepping onto the first place podium twice was St Francis Cabrini student, Meredith Kent to earn her first BSG gold medals!  Oakfield’s Kirby Reehl doubled up on the gold’s as well competing in Pre-preliminary unrestricted qualifying and the final event round.  Katie Lippe of Fredonia participated at juvenile unrestricted events where her double jumps earned her both a gold and silver medal.  Barton Elementary student, Andie Schibline, skating at the Pre-preliminary restricted level, also scored a gold with her precise moves on the ice and a silver medal with her long program.  MacKenzie Neuendorf of West Bend captured a gold in her Pre-preliminary long program event and topped it off with a bronze with her short program.   It was a gold and a bronze for first time Badger State Games competitor, Alexandria Christensen, who was entered at the Limited Beginner level.  Earning double bronze medals competing at the Pre-preliminary restricted level, was Allenton's  Kaitlyn Woo.  All three of the Sutkiewicz sisters, Gemma, Giulianna and Giovanna, of Sheboygan kept it fun while earning gold medals for the club skating to in a number based upon Snow White in their platinum level entertainment event and stepped on the podium in other events to also receive bronze medals. Earning a bronze medal in her qualifying event at that Preliminary level was Richfield’s Darcie Drahus.  First time BSG competitor, Emma Sievers of Slinger, also earned a bronze medal with her basic high restricted solo qualifying round.   Skating her long program at the basic graduate restricted level, Hartford’s Alyssa Stachura won a gold medal in the qualifying round.    Skating in the games for the third year was West Bend East Senior, Rachel Sanabria.  Keeping the field of competition friendly in basic high restricted events were McLane third grader Anna Wawrzyn, Sadee Helms of West Bend, Campbellsport’s Kaitlyn Doyle and Germantown’s Addison Watkins.    Gabrielle Zuern traveled with the group from West Bend to perform her basic low restricted long program.  And, rounding out the club’s competitive group at the games was Mary Babcock of Port Washington who participated in multiple events as well.  

The Kettle Moraine Figure Skating Club takes great pride in these dedicated, hard working young skaters for the manner in which they represent our community and for stepping forward to compete in one of the largest figure skating competitions.  In appreciation, it is proud to feature each of them in its 16^th annual ice show, “Skating Around the Clock,” in April. 

Please visit the Badger State Games Website for complete results and pictures!