Watertown Figure Skate Club Shines at Red River Valley Classic and Prepares for Exciting May Ice Show
- Steve Jurrens
- Feb 20
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown Figure Skate Club is riding a wave of momentum following a standout performance at the 28th Annual Red River Valley Classic in Moorhead, Minnesota. Coach Taylor Johnson, along with skaters and assistant coaches Savannah Sovell and Sarah Hahn, recently shared insights into the club’s achievements and their rigorous preparation for upcoming events.
Excellence in Moorhead
The Red River Valley Classic is a prestigious event sanctioned by both U.S. Figure Skating and Skate Canada, drawing top talent from across the border. Despite “crazy weather” and a challenging drive, the Watertown team delivered some of its best performances of the season.
“We did hit some personal bests,” Coach Johnson noted. “We had a couple of kids make it to the final round showcase, where they competed for scholarship checks”.
Spotlight on Savannah Sovell
One of the weekend’s major highlights was Savannah Sovell’s performance in the Final Round Showcase. Competing against the top 12 skaters from the entire competition, Sovell secured second place.
Coach Johnson praised Sovell’s “spin program,” calling it “probably the best spin program I have ever seen her put out all season”.
A Diverse Range of Skills
The competition tested skaters across multiple categories, including:
· Compulsory and Free Skate Programs: Standard technical routines of varying lengths.
· Showcase Events: More creative categories like comedic, character, or lyrical pop.
· Jump and Spin Programs: Focused specifically on these high-level technical elements.
Skaters Sarah Hahn and Savannah Sovell highlighted the mental discipline required for these events, noting that they often focus on “beating themselves” and improving their personal bests rather than just the competition.
Upcoming Events and Community Engagement
The club is now preparing for a busy spring season:
· Wahpeton Competition: A “learn to skate” level event where Sovell and Han will take on leadership roles as judges and coaches.
· Bingo Night: A fundraiser in collaboration with the Lions Club on March 10th to support the Theatre on Ice national team.
· Annual Ice Show: The season’s grand finale will take place on Saturday, May 2nd (1:00 PM and 6:00 PM) and Sunday, May 3rd (2:00 PM). The show will feature approximately 100 skaters and professional-level sets and costumes.
