Club figure skating wraps up its first competitive season

Club figure skating coach Riley Block had one goal for the competitive season: Make it to collegiate events and skate, or as she puts it, “get there and do it.” So, when the skaters surpassed expectations and placed in the top ten of their first competition at Trine University, Block was beyond proud. 

Block hoped to help the women overcome their anxiety about performing in front of an audience. A couple of athletes had never skated before, while some had been skating and competing for years. Because of this, each skater had individual goals.

Senior Sophia Eisma has skated for 16 years and played a key role in establishing the program as co-president of the club, but she prefers recreational skating to competitive skating.

“I get very nervous, even after so long,” Eisma said. “I thought of [the competitions] more as a side quest.”

For her, skating is an escape more than anything else.

“It’s as if my worries and anxieties don’t exist anymore when I’m at practice,” Eisma said.

She skated with the International Skating Union growing up, which focuses on the basic elements of skating and is more casual than competitive skating. Moving on to the collegiate level was an adjustment, but Eisma feels that she and her teammates did well.

For junior skater Jenna Ebert, the most challenging part was the uncertainty rather than stage fright. She has 12 years of skating under her belt and was eager to compete again. 

“We weren’t exactly sure what competitions would look like, but I would say it was all very successful,” Ebert said.

Securing third place in Preliminary Plus Freeskate, she started her season strong at Trine University. 

Each member competes individually in at least one event, and they all compete in a team event. The points earned by each go cumulatively toward the team's standing. The team competed at three collegiate events this season, beginning in Indiana with 18th place, moving on to two podium finishes at Texas A&M, and ending in western Michigan with 12th place overall and one podium finish. 

“The girls improved with each competition,” Block said. “By the time we got to Western Michigan, the nerves were much better.”

Collegiate events can be overwhelming as a team of six competing against what Block calls “powerhouse colleges.” The pressure feels palpable at times, but she feels this will improve as time goes on.

As for the future, Block, Eisma and Ebert all hope to see the team compete in more events.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the program grow,” Ebert said.

Eisma will be graduating this spring, but she would love to see the Midco Arena host an event in the future.

For now, the team can say, as Block hoped, that they “got there and did it,” which is a good place to start.