Hodag Highlights: Local skaters show off their skills

The Rhinelander Figure Skating Club recently hosted two events, offering local skaters an opportunity to learn new skills. On Saturday, April 12 young skaters participated in a test session sanctioned by the United States Figure Skating Association with professional judges. Professional male skaters gave ice dance lessons from Thursday to Saturday until the testing began at noon. Coaches from the area were also on hand instructing skaters on moves for passing other tests on the ice.
The professional dance partners were Alex Gamelin, Jake Fearnley and Collin Brubaker.
On Sunday, April 13, the Hodag Skate Classic was held, drawing athletes from northern and central Wisconsin as well as skaters from Green Bay and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
The Rhinelander club skaters performed well as Mia Gignac had two first-place finishes, level 2 jumps and Aspire 3 program, Maddie Cline scored a first-place finishin the Aspire 1 program, Cassidy Leseburg was first in her group of Aspire 4 program skaters, while Morgan Cahee took first in the Showcase Emotional performance and level 2 compulsory. Cahee placed second in level 2 jumps and level 2 spins. Julia Eakes, a Three Lakes High School junior who skates with the Rhinelander Club, finished first in the Pre-Preliminary Well Balanced Freestyle.