Lennox High School graduate Madison Stengrim found a love for figure skating when she was a first-grader.
When her family lived in Ohio, her parents took her skating at a public skating rink and she like it a lot. Now she has finished her 12th year of figure skating.
“When we moved back to Sioux Falls, they signed me up with the Sioux Falls Figure Skating Club with their learn to skate lessons,” she said.
Now she serves as a senior coach and teaches those learn to skate lessons. She has been coaching classes on Saturdays and Mondays. Stengrim teaches kids from as young as 3 years old who are just learning to skate up to Basic 4, which are 6-7 year olds.
During her skating career, she has learned a lot about what it takes to be a figure skater.
“You really have to have a love for the sport because if you don’t you’re not going to be able to keep with it because it is a very mentally challenging sport to do,” Stengrim said. “You have to be able to persevere through your challenges with learning new skills out on the ice because if you don’t do that, you’re going to end up quitting. We have a lot of girls who will quit because it gets too hard.”
While figure skating is more of a winter sport, the Sioux Falls Figure Skating Club has become more of a year-round club since the Scheels Iceplex has summer ice. Stengrim usually practices three days a week and during competition season, she would practice more often.
This year, three seniors, including Stengrim, graduated from the program. Her last skate with the club was at the club’s spring show.
This summer she will be helping with skate camps. She hopes to continue coaching. In the fall, Stengrim will be attending Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz.
During her years of skating, she said the most challenging part has been going through several different coaches when they leave and finding a new coach. Making friends through the club has been enjoyable for her.
“Something I found enjoyable was finding a good group of friends in the club because it definitely makes it a lot more worth it being in the club and having your group of friends,” she said.