JoAnn Schneider-Farris

Broadmoor Pair & Dance Teams Shine at Summer Competitions
            Ten Broadmoor pair teams competed at the Indy Challenge Competition held in Indianapolis, IN. The team of Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker, the 2007 Junior World Champions, placed first in both the Senior SP and FS. Finishing third in those same events was the team of Tiffany Vise and Derek Trent. Also competing in Senior Pairs, was MeeRan Trombley and Larry Ibarra, who placed 4th in both the SP & the FS, and Amber Wehrle and Nicholas Kole who finished 6th in the SP and 7th in the FS.

            Competing in the Junior Pair event were Jessica Rose Paetsch and Jon Nuss, the 2007 National Junior Bronze Medalists, who were 2nd in the SP and 1st in the FS. Also competing in this event were Lisa Moore & Justin Gaumond who placed 5th in the SP and 6th in the FS, Amanda Luchau & Andrew Speroff who were 7th in the SP, and Claire Davis & Nathan Miller who finished 10th in the SP and 7th in the FS.

             In the Novice Pair event, Brynn Carman & Chris Knierim, the 2007 National Novice Pair Pewter Medalists, placed 1st in the SP and 2nd in the FS, & in Intermediate pairs, the team of Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier finished 3rd.

             At the Lake Placid Dance Competition in Lake Placid, NY, eight Broadmoor Dance teams also competed. In Senior Dance, the new team of Jane Summersett & Todd Gilles placed first in the Yankee Polka and Argentine Tango compulsory dances, first in the original dance and first in the free dance. 

             In Junior Dance, Piper Gilles and Tim McKernan, 2007 National Junior Dance Pewter Medalists, were first in Compulsory Group A, first in the Compulsory Superfinal, 2nd in the Original Dance B, and 5th in Free Dance B. Rachel Tibbetts and Collin Brubaker were 2nd in Compulsory Group B, 6th in the Original Dance A and 4th in Free Dance A. The team of Maia & Alex Shibutani, the 2007 National Novice Dance Champions, finished 1st in Original Dance B and 2nd in Free Dance A. Lili LaMar and Zachary Donahue placed 5th in Compulsory A, 10th in the Original Dance B, and 8th in Free Dance A. Michelle Pennington and Andrew Skillington finished 5th in Compulsory B, 9th in the Original Dance B and 6th in Free Dance A.

               Competing in Novice Dance were Lauren McKernan and Matt Kleffman who were 4th in their Compulsory group, 4th in the Novice Compulsory Superfinal, and 4th in the Free Dance.
In the Juvenile Dance event, Rebekah and Joel Schneider-Farris, the 2007 Southwestern PreJuvenile Dance Champions, finished 6th in Compulsory Dance event and 9th in the Free Dance event out of 18 teams. CONGRATULATIONS to all of you for a great start to the season!
Jane Summersett & Todd Gilles

Top figure skaters train in Siouxland
By Joanne Fox

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa -- Outside was hot, a humid 88-degree, bright day.

Inside was cool and brisk, and the reflection off the ice was just as bright.

More than 20 U.S. figure skating elite athletes are taking their turns on the ice at the All Seasons Center in Sioux Center this week. Pairs teams, including the 2007 world junior champions, are the guests of the center and the community of Sioux Center, taking advantage of "ice time" and training for upcoming competition.

On Monday, Trudy Oltmanns of Sergeant Bluff sat on a ledge that surrounds the rink, her eyes darting from skater to skater. The Siouxland Silver Blades director and coach for the past 10 years offered suggestions to those who approached her.

"Nice and tight," she said, gesturing with her hands close to her chest. "Keep those hands tight in the loop."

As quickly as one skater glided away, another pair successfully accomplished a throw triple loop, and Oltmanns and fans in the stands broke into appreciative applause.

"Lovely, just lovely," Oltmanns said.

Oltmanns explained that the skaters had lost their ice time in the Colorado Springs World Arena because the State Games of America was using all the space, including the ice. When the skating coach realized their need, she approached the folks at All Seasons Center, and they donated the use of the ice rink for the athletes.

"I've worked with their coach, Dalilah Sappenfield," Oltmanns said. "She thinks the All Seasons Center is just beautiful and said she couldn't believe something like this facility is in Iowa."

Exhibiting control, grace and poise beyond their teenage years, the skaters spun, leaped and moved effortlessly across the ice. Some mirrored each other precisely in breathtaking side-by-side elements.

Sappenfield was on the ice with the young skaters as Oltmanns remained on the ledge.

"Much, much, much, much better!" Oltmanns insisted softly, never raising her voice over the blare of the music.

With her hands and subtle body language, Oltmanns illustrated what a skater needed to correct.

But the skaters are still kids and, well, kids will be kids. There was laughing out loud and pushing and wrestling around a bit between stopping to catch their breath or take a swig of water. But then they quickly returned to the serious work of landing the moves and running through a routine.

In the background the music was as versatile as Beatles tunes, Bon Jovi's "Bad Medicine" and a Mannheim Steamroller medley of "Carol of the Bells," which was the most appropriate for the wintery setting.

Among the skaters is Jon Nuss, 20, of Colorado Springs and his partner, Jessica Rose Paetsch, 14, of Denver. They are preparing for an upcoming competition in Indianapolis and Lake Placid, N.Y.

"I wanted to play hockey, but I couldn't skate. So my mom signed me up for learn-to-skate classes," Nuss confessed about his introduction to ice skating, adding, "and I decided I would keep with figure skating."

"I just took to it immediately," Paetsch said.

The pair have been skating for almost three years, and in 2006 were the novice U.S. National champions and in 2007 the junior U.S. National bronze medalists.

"It's so much fun!" Nuss insisted of his continued association with figure skating. "I can't imagine not skating with Jess."

Neither skater was interested in a solo approach.

"Pairs is better," Paetsch said. "It's great to be doing different things with a partner. It's not as stressful."

"I tried it for a while and it wasn't for me," Nuss said about skating solo. "With a partner, the pressure isn't all on one person."

Nuss and Paetsch have set a goal of competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. They've even developed a signature move to catch the judges' eyes.

"It's called an inverted star," Nuss explained. "I lift Jess over my head, grab her behind the back ..."

"And I lay back over and look up at the ceiling," Paetsch interjected. "We took it real slow to when we first started but have it down pretty well now."

Also on the ice were Oltmanns' daughter, Olivia, 10, and her partner, Tyler Broderick, who lives just outside St. Joseph, Mo., but practices in Sioux City.

"This is such a great opportunity for them to work with this level of competitor," said Oltmanns, referring specifically to Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker, who won the world junior pairs championship during the World Juniors held earlier this year in Oberstdorf, Germany.

State Games of America Comes to the World Arena
    The State Games of America figure skating competition will be held at the World Arena August 1-5th, 2007. This competition plays host to both USFS & ISI skaters who have qualified to participate by placing in the top three at their local state games competitions. Colorado residents may also participate without qualifying. Entries topped out this year at 1186 entrants. Competition will include compulsories, freestyle, pairs, dance, footwork, synchro, and showcase events.The competition is co-hosted by the Broadmoor SC, the centennial SC, and the Colorado College SC. Volunteers are needed in all areas. If you would like to help please contact Lisa Landon, Kim Hennessy, or Ed Martinez. All volunteers must complete a Volunteer release form. This form may be obtained from Kim Hennessy or Barb Bradley & returned at Registration when you report for your first shift.