Coaches
Katie Bratberg
Years Skating: 16
Years Coaching: 10
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: Freestyle 4
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications:
ISI Professional Membership, ISI Gold Certified Judge, LTS USA Instructor, SafeSport certified
Where do you work or go to school:
I work at SDSU and am also taking graduate classes through USD.
Competition experience:
Competitive as a skater for over 5 years. Has 7 years of experience coaching and preparing students to attend various ISI competitions throughout District 10. I have experience coaching and competing in a wide variety of events including technical programs, rhythmic, spotlights, artistic, team ensembles, and partner events.
Specific coaching interests: I am interested in becoming a BFSC Coach for the 2024-2025 season because I want to continue coaching in Brookings and build on the strong relationships I have developed with my skaters. I am passionate about helping skaters progress and achieve their goals, and I am dedicated to fostering a positive and supportive environment for them to thrive.
Professional goal(s): My goal as a coach is to help skaters unlock their fullest potential and passion for the sport by developing a strong foundation of skills; all while learning valuable life lessons. I prioritize not only the correct execution of elements but also teach my students the why and correct techniques behind each element, helping them to become smart skaters. I believe in tailoring my approach to meet the unique needs of each skater I work with.
Beth Wainman
Years Skating: 14
Years Coaching: Private lessons for 2 years and annual ice show for 6 years
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: I have passed freestyle 4
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications:
ISI Bronze
Where do you work or go to school:
I am a sophomore at SDSU!
Competition experience:
I competed in solo, duet, and groups. I've coached skaters in two different competitions, only solo events.
Specific coaching interests: I love working with kids and teaching them new things. I love seeing the progress they make and how they become more confident in themselves. Something I do like doing that I haven't been doing much lately is off ice training, and power on ice.
Professional goal(s): I want to help my skaters develop individually and as athletes. I want them to be confident in themselves and learn that they can do hard things. Lastly, I want my skaters to be able to find community and friendship within the club.
Rylie Raverty
Years Skating: 13
Years Coaching: 5
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: USFSA Free skate 6
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications: I am qualified to coach and pass students into new levels.
Where do you work or go to school:
I work as a figure skating coach and at the veterinary clinic and will be attending SDSU this fall.
Competition experience:
None
Specific coaching interests: I love coaching in my hometown and love skating myself. Being able to help younger kids learn how to skate and have a passion from skating like I do/did makes me feel very good. I have worked with a lot of ages of kids and did an adaptive skate with students with disabilities so I feel I’m pretty well rounded.
Professional goal(s): I do not have professional goals related to figure skating.
Morgan Kohl
Years Skating: 10
Years Coaching: 6
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: USFSA Adult Gold Skating Skills - USFS Gold Medalist
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications: USFS Coaching Certification, Member of USFS, Learn to Skate Certified Coach, and LTS Hockey Coach
Where do you work or go to school:
Syngenta Seeds
Competition experience:
I competed at various different competitions across South Dakota, Minnesota, and North Dakota throughout my skating career. I have choreographed several competition routines with skaters of all ages who have attended various competitions in the Midwest throughout my years of coaching.
Specific coaching interests: My goal is to help skaters build a strong foundation to help them achieve success while having fun. I enjoy working with skaters of all ages and helping them to achieve their skating goals and advance their skating skills. I enjoy teaching others what someone once taught me. As a private lesson coach, I enjoy working with skaters focusing on basic skills, freeskate, and moves-in-the-field.
Professional goal(s): I still continue to test through USFS. I mentor under a master-rated coach to further myself as a coach and to keep up with the ever-changing world of figure skating. A professional goal of mine is to serve as a club director or head coach in the future.
Brynn Grommersch
Years Skating: 15
Years Coaching: 3
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: USFSA Intermediate
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications: USFS coaching certification
Where do you work or go to school:
South Dakota State University
Competition experience:
As a skater I competed in competitions 1-2 times a year.
Specific coaching interests: Skating has been a big part of my life growing up and I want to be able to share my passion of skating with younger skaters and help them feel confident in themselves!
Professional goal(s): Gain more students each year
Liz Kelm
Years Skating: 14
Years Coaching: 3
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: Freestyle 5
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications: I have my silver judging credentials.
Where do you work or go to school:
South Dakota State University
Competition experience:
I competed as a skater for about 11 years and have been coach for competitions for 2 years.
Specific coaching interests: I am interested in being a coach for the BFSC this year because I loved skating growing up and I want to continue that passion as a coach. I am grateful for the opportunity to help skaters develop their skills and achieve their goals. Watching skaters grow, overcome challenges, and succeed is super rewarding, and I want to support them every step of the way.
Professional goal(s): My professional goals related to skating is to help my skaters improve their skills and technique. My goal is to create a supportive environment for skaters to express themselves and help grow their love for skating. Also, I want to be a helpful resource for skaters and parents about different aspects of skating like competitions. I want skaters to reach their skating goals and help in any way I can!! Professionally, I want to gain more judging experience and to expand my knowledge on different techniques to help better myself in order to be a better coach for skaters. I am also interested in being a competition coach and helping skaters work on routines and express themselves artistically, and supporting them at competitions. I loved them as a skater and I wanted to be there for skaters that are interested in attending competitions.
Clare Strong
Years Skating: 9
Years Coaching: 1
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: Freestyle 6
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications: ISI, and LTS
Where do you work or go to school:
Brookings High School
Competition experience:
I’ve been a coach for Brookings and Sioux Falls for a year and a skater in Brookings since age 7
Specific coaching interests: I love skating and helping young skaters discover their passion for it.
Professional goal(s): I hope to coach throughout my life.
Haley Patrick
Years Skating: 20
Years Coaching: 10
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: Freestyle 7
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications: Bronze, Silver, & Gold
Where do you work or go to school:
Sioux Falls
Competition experience:
I started competing in 6th grade and I have continued to coach at competitions in the years following high school
Specific coaching interests: I have a passion for figure skating & I want to pass it along to the next generation.
Professional goal(s): I would like to continue to help my students achieve their goals & create programs that instill fond memories. I also dedicate my practice to my late skating partner whom I lost in 2019.
Shonteera Haas
Years Skating: 10+
Years Coaching: 1
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: ISI Freestyle 4, USFSA Juvenile
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications: Safe Sport, ISI Coaching credentials with Liability Insurance
Where do you work or go to school:
Sunflower Salon and Spa
Competition experience:
I competed as a skater for 8 years. Competed at both ISI and USFSA competitions.
Specific coaching interests: I have always loved this sport. I have missed not skating and after helping with the 2023-2024 ice show, I made the decision to come back to private coach and share the love that I have for this sport even further.
Professional goal(s): My main goal is to share my love and knowledge of figure skating with the younger skaters. I have always loved this sport and all that it has to offer. Another goal I have is to create a fun and safe learning environment for my students, so they continue to have the dedication to learn and grow.
Sam Hovey-Stubbles
Years Skating: 11
Years Coaching: 2
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: Passed ISI 6, Passed USFSA Bronze singles and Pre-Silver skating skills (MIF) passed pre silver
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications: None yet, building this year
Where do you work or go to school:
Culver's and Brookings high school
Competition experience:
As a skater I compete at 3-5 events in the Midwest every year.
Specific coaching interests: I want the next generation to enjoy skating as much as I do!
Professional goal(s): I want to see other skaters improve and share my knowledge.
Ava Paulson
Years Skating: 12
Years Coaching: 4
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: Passed FS 8
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications: I'm in the process of getting my professional membership and my bronze certification.
Where do you work or go to school:
I'm attending SDSU starting in August
Competition experience:
I've been personally competing for about 9 years
Specific coaching interests: I love taking my passion for figure skating and using it to help other skaters find their love for it, not just being a part of it because they have to but because they want to be at the rink. And to help them reach their personal goals within the sport.
Professional goal(s): My goal is to work my way up to getting my gold and/or platinum certification, and gain as much experience possible while coaching in Brookings.
Brittney Drew
Years Skating: 20
Years Coaching: 7
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: Freestyle 4
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications:Bronze test credentials
Where do you work or go to school:
Avera McKennan
Competition experience:
Both as a skater and a coach
Specific coaching interests: This is my home rink so I am excited to help grow the club
Professional goal(s): Just to help my skaters reach their goals and have fun while achieving them