Watertown Figure Skaters Haul Gold from Mitchell, Set Sights on Nationals

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown Figure Skate Club is celebrating a massive victory this week after bringing home over 30 gold medals from the Ice Palace competition in Mitchell.

Coach Taylor Johnson and skaters Abby Reeves, Savanna Sovell, and Madison Johnson visited the studio to discuss their successful weekend and their ambitious plans for the rest of the season.

“My crew did amazing,” Coach Johnson said. “We actually ended up taking home over 30 gold medals... it was a pretty great weekend for us.”

The team is currently in the midst of qualifying for the National Showcase, which will be held in Denver, Colorado, this August. Skaters are working to qualify routines across various categories, including Comedic, Emotional, Character, and Lyrical Pop.

The routines are as diverse as they are technical. Skater Madison Johnson has already qualified for five events, while other team members are performing unique acts ranging from “Weird Al” Yankovic parodies to skating in full inflatable Sumo suits.

“It brings back the heart of figure skating—the artistry on the ice,” Coach Johnson noted regarding the “choreographic” category, which emphasizes storytelling through movement rather than jumps.

Up next, the club is preparing for a major road trip. Next Thursday, 20 families will travel to Minot, North Dakota, to compete against Canadian teams. The trip is designed to provide the skaters with international competition experience and to secure benchmark scores ahead of the National Showcase.

The team is also perfecting a large production number based on the Descendants movies, featuring elaborate costumes hand-pieced by local skating mom Becky.

For more information on the club’s upcoming events or how to join, visit the Watertown Figure Skate Club on Facebook.