When most Warriors think of
winter sports, basketball, wrestling
or gymnastics come to mind.
A few select Warrior students
focus on a lass traditional winter
activity, however—figure skating.
One of those students is senior
Ann Marie Messerschmidt, who has
been competitively figure skating
since she first started in elementary
school.
“The Sioux Falls Figure Skating
Club is part of the ISI (Ice Skating
I n s t i t u t e ) , ”
Messerschmidt
explained. “It’s
the recreational program for skaters
to learn and compete in figure
skating.”
Like many sports that are not
school-sponsored, figure skating is
not exactly a mass phenomenon. In
fact, one could say that figure skating
is a bit of a rarity among South
Dakota high school students. This
fact proved to be true for the WHS
senior—Messerschmidt had to go
out of her way in order to join.
“I got started because one of my
friends when I was five wanted to
try it,” she said. “I told her that I
would try with her, even though I
didn’t really want to. She actually
ended up quitting after awhile, and
I kept going.”
Messerschmidt is joined by
other WHS students in ISI competition.
Freshman Riley Klein,
sophomore Sydnee Alexander and
senior Kathleen Senden all perform
alongside Messerschmidt in
competition. Talk to any of those
students, and they will most likely
share Messerscmidt’s enthusiasm for
the sport.
After weeks of grueling training,
hard work and a commitment to
perfection, Messerschmidt explained
the thrill of putting all the work to
the test in a competition.
“My favorite part is performing
in shows and competitions, because
that’s when all of the hard work
and all the practice really pays off,”
she said.
Messerschmidt is currently putting
her spare time into preparing
for her next big competition.
The skaters from her group will be
traveling to New Ulm, Minn., to
compete this weekend.