Merrill Ice Reflections skaters make good showing at Badger State Games

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Leah Freyer competes in another BSG event. Photo courtesy of Merrill Ice Reflections Figure Skating Club.
Brooklyn Kraegenbrink competed in an amazing nine figure skating events over the course of the four-day event. Her best performance was her first place finish in the Solo Pattern Dance – Gold. Her other events earned her four second-place finishes, one third-place finish, two fourth-place finishes, and one fifth-place finish. Photo courtesy of Merrill Ice Reflections Figure Skating Club.

BY TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR

The Badger State Games (BSG) Winter 2024 Figure Skating Competition was held this past weekend Jan. 25-28, 2024. Hosted by the Mosinee SilverBlades Figure Skating Club, the event was held at the Mosinee Recreation Center Ice Rink in Mosinee and was a qualifying event for State Games of America and National Showcase. BSG events are open to residents of Wisconsin, Illinois, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The BSG Figure Skating Competition is United States Figure Skating (USFS) sanctioned, the USFS being the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States. However, while the USFS, founded in 1921, has 750+ member, school-affiliated, and collegiate clubs, the BSG Figure Skating Competition does not require membership in either the USFS or the Ice Skating Institute (ISI). Anyone who is a member of one of the organizations, however, must be in good standing.
Twenty-five members of the Merrill Ice Reflections Figure Skating Club (MIRFSC) competed in this year’s BSG over four days of competition, with competitors ranging from 5-year-old Lydia Hoffman on up to 21-year-old Madison Altman-Wendt. Merrill area figure skaters competed in individual events ranging from Basic Elements to Advanced Free Skates and some also competed in duets and team production events.
Medals were presented to the top three places in each event, and placing first, second, or third in any event qualified the skater to advance and compete at the State Games of America being held in San Diego, Cal., this coming summer. Those who placed first, second, third, or fourth in any Showcase Event at preliminary level or higher also qualified the Showcase skater or team for National Showcase being held this summer.
MIRFSC figure skaters made a great showing at the BSG, with 22 of the 25 competitors placing in the top three in at least one of their events. Complete results for MIRFSC are as follows:

SkaterLevels/Competing Badger StateResults
Alexis HoeftBasic 3 Elements6th
Aubree GrundBasic 5 ElementsBasic 5 Program with Music4th3rd
Brooklyn KraegenbrinkSolo Pattern Dance – GoldStep Sequences to Music – SeniorJumps – Juvenile/Open JuvenileCompulsory Moves – Juv/Open JuvFree Skate – Excel JuvenileShort Program – Open JuvenileSpins – Open JuvenileShowcase Duet/Trio – OJ/Int/Jr w/ McKenna Showcase Ensembles – Production1st2nd4th5th2nd2nd3rd2nd4th 
Caelyn BelantAspire 1 w/ MusicAspire 1 Compulsory Moves3rd4th
Emilee WoodwardBasic 4 Elements5th
Emily FreyerFree Skate – Excel Pre-PreliminaryCompulsory Moves – Excel Pre-PreliminaryShowcase Duet/Trio – No Test / Pre-Prelim w/ Ruby7th5th2nd 
Haley RindtJumps – Juvenile/Open JuvenilePre-juvenile compulsory movesPre-juvenile spinsExcel Pre-Juv free skate 4th3rd6th6th
Kambyl MattkeSolo Pattern Dance Pre-SilverFree Skate Excel PreliminaryCompulsory Moves Excel PreliminaryJumps PreliminarySpins PreliminaryShort Program PreliminaryShowcase Ensembles – Production2nd1st5th4th4th6th4th
Kelsey RindtAspire 1 Compulsory MovesCompete USA Program (w/ music) Aspire 1Showcase Character Performance Aspire 1-44th4th3rd
Korina KraegenbrinkSolo Pattern Dance Pre-GoldStep Sequences to Music – NoviceFree Skate Excel PreliminaryCompulsory Moves Excel Preliminary Jumps PreliminarySpins PreliminaryShort Program PreliminaryShowcase Ensembles – Production3rd1st5th5th4th5th5th4th
Lauren ZuelsdorffCompete USA Program (w/music) – Aspire 3Jumps – Aspire High4th1st
Leah FreyerStep Sequences to Music – JuniorFree Skate – Excel Pre-Juvenile PlusCompulsory Moves – Pre-JuvenileSpins – Pre-JuvenileShowcase Duet/Trio – Preliminary/Pre-Juv w/ BridgetteShowcase Ensembles – Production1st1st1st2nd1st
4th
Lilly HoffmanCompete USA Program (w/music) – Aspire 2Jumps – Aspire LowShowcase Duet/Trio – No Test / Pre-Prelim w/ MyaShowcase Ensembles – Production6th3rd2nd4th
Lizzy Hinz Basic 6 elements Basic 6 program w/ music2nd3rd
Lydia Hoffman (5 years old)Basic 1 Elements2nd
Madison Altman-Wendt (21 years old)Adult Free Skate – Adult SilverAdult Spins – Adult Silver5th3rd
Mariah JacobyAdult Free Skate – Adult Bronze Adult Compulsory Moves – Adult SilverAdult Jumps – Adult BronzeAdult Spins – Adult SilverShowcase Ensembles – Production1st1st1st2nd4th
McKenna MeyerSolo Pattern Dance – GoldFree Skate – Excel JuvenileShowcase Duet/Trio – OJ/Int/Jr w/ Brooklyn Showcase Ensembles – Production2nd3rd2nd4th
Mya MeyerSolo Pattern Dance – Pre-SilverCompete USA Program (w/music) – Aspire 2Compulsory Moves – Aspire 2Jumps – Aspire LowShowcase Duet/Trio – No Test / Pre-Prelim w/LillyShowcase Ensembles – Production3rd3rd3rd5th2nd4th
Ruby FreyerFree Skate – Excel Preliminary PlusCompulsory Moves – Excel PreliminarySpins – PreliminaryShowcase Duet/Trio – No Test / Pre-Prelim w/ Emily4th1st1st2nd
Ruby NanceSolo Pattern Dance Preliminary Compete USA Program (w/music) Aspire 3Compulsory Moves Aspire 3Jumps No TestShowcase Ensembles – Production1st3rd3rd4th4th
Sawyer Tucker Basic 2 elementsBasi 2 elements with Music 1st5th
Sophia SchmidtAspire 1 w/ MusicAspire 1 Compulsory Moves6th6th
Sophia VolpeCompulsory Moves – Aspire 1Solo Pattern Dance – BronzeCompete USA Program (w/music) – Aspire 2Jumps – Aspire Low2nd1st2nd3rd
Willow BathkeBasic 6 elements Basic 6 program w/ music1st1st
Badger State Games results.
Mya Meyer competed in six events, scoring no less than a fourth place and most were third place finishes; however, she placed second in the Showcase Duet/Trio – No Test / Pre-Prelim w/Lilly Hoffman. Photo courtesy of Merrill Ice Reflections Figure Skating Club.
Korina Kraegenbrink competed in eight different figure skating events at the BSG. Her best event was a first place finish in Step Sequences to Music – Novice. She fniished third through fifth in her other events. Photo courtesy of Merrill Ice Reflections Figure Skating Club.


Founded in 1995, MIRFSC follows USFS guidelines. Their season runs November through March each year and the Club’s Mission is: To provide a fun and positive experience that will instill a lifelong love of skating. They begin with the FUNdamentals to develop basic skills, agility, balance, coordination, speed, excitement, and a love for skating. Each skater progresses at his or own pace to master the skills. Lessons are Wednesday evenings (two sessions that start at 5:30 p.m.) at the Smith Center in the Merrill Area Recreation Complex (MARC). Additional classes and advanced sessions are available on Sunday evenings, and all skaters have the option to perform in the annual Ice Reflections skating show held the second weekend in February, as well as to compete in events like the BSG.
With 92 members, 2 professional figure skating coaches (Lea Beckman and Montana Grabowsky), 2 junior coaches (Madison Altman-Wendt and Brooklyn Kraegenbrink), and 3 intern coaches (Chloe Belant, McKenna Meyer, and Leah Freyer), MIRFSC is dedicated to giving families the opportunity to enjoy quality figure skating instruction in a positive environment that encourages each student’s individual growth and success so that skaters of all ages and abilities can learn and enjoy the sport of figure skating. Private coaching is also available to members.
Mark your calendars for the MIRFSC annual show: Happiest Place on Ice coming Saturday, Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10 and children 3 and under are free. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at the Merrill Chamber of Commerce or online at merrillskate.org. A Live stream is also available for purchase.
It is never too late to learn to skate! For more information about MIRFSC, go to merrillskate.org or email [email protected].

Kelsey Rindt competed in three events, taking fourth place in Aspire 1 Compulsory Moves; fourth place in Compete USA Program (w/ music) Aspire 1; and third place in Showcase Character Performance Aspire 1-4. Photo courtesy of Merrill Ice Reflections Figure Skating Club.
Leah Freyer competed in six events, landing a first place in Step Sequences to Music – Junior; Free Skate – Excel Pre-Juvenile Plus; Compulsory Moves – Pre-Juvenile; and Showcase Duet/Trio – Preliminary/Pre-Juv with Bridgette. She took second in Spins – Pre-Juvenile and fourth placed in Showcase Ensembles – Production. Photo courtesy of Merrill Ice Reflections Figure Skating Club.
Sophia Volpe competed in four events and took second place in Compulsory Moves – Aspire 1; first place in Solo Pattern Dance – Bronze; second place in Compete USA Program (w/music) – Aspire 2; and third place in Jumps – Aspire Low. Photo courtesy of Merrill Ice Reflections Figure Skating Club.
Aubree Grund competes at the Badger State Games. She entered in the Basic 5 Elements and Basic 5 Program with Music events and took a fourth and third place, respectively. Photo courtesy of Merrill Ice Reflections Figure Skating Club.
McKenna Meyer competed in four events – Three solo events and a duet. She took second place in the Solo Pattern Dance – Gold; third place in Free Skate – Excel Juvenile; second place in the Showcase Duet/Trio – OJ/Int/Jr with Brooklyn Kraegenbrink; and fourth place in the Showcase Ensembles – Production. Photo courtesy of Merrill Ice Reflections Figure Skating Club.
Korina Kraegenbrink competed in eight different figure skating events at the BSG. Her best event was a first place finish in Step Sequences to Music – Novice. She fniished third through fifth in her other events. Photo courtesy of Merrill Ice Reflections Figure Skating Club.
Leah Freyer competes in another BSG event. Photo courtesy of Merrill Ice Reflections Figure Skating Club.
Brooklyn Kraegenbrink competed in an amazing nine figure skating events over the course of the four-day event. Her best performance was her first place finish in the Solo Pattern Dance – Gold. Her other events earned her four second-place finishes, one third-place finish, two fourth-place finishes, and one fifth-place finish. Photo courtesy of Merrill Ice Reflections Figure Skating Club.
Mya Meyer competed in six events, scoring no less than a fourth place and most were third place finishes; however, she placed second in the Showcase Duet/Trio – No Test / Pre-Prelim w/Lilly Hoffman. Photo courtesy of Merrill Ice Reflections Figure Skating Club.

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