Anderson/Richard figure skaters cap big year

Dave Gorgon

Eight members of the combined Southgate Anderson/Gabriel Richard team earned a bronze medal in the Michigan High School Figure Skating state championship competition in the spring at the Suburban Ice Center in East Lansing.

The Level C team placed third out of 14 teams from all over Michigan. Skaters on the team were Adelynn Hales, Brianna Hales, Abbie Juco, Aidan Kennedy, Madelyn Reiss, Rebecca Smith, Lilly Truel and Maizey Urbanek.

The C team placed first, second and first and won the district championship for the 2022-2023 season with a strong lead of four points above the other teams.

In addition, the fivemember Level B team placed third at districts and just missed qualifying for states, which only invited the top two teams. B team members are Brianna Hales, Lena Hales, Bridget Godbout, Natalie Slowik and Rebecca Smith. Bridget Hales and Smith cross skated on both teams.

Along with the team competition, Anderson/ Richard also had several skaters compete individually in the state tournament:

Godbout finished first in the pre-juvenile plus excel division and earned a trophy. She also placed second in the pre-silver dance event.

Adelynn Hales was third in the initial round of preliminary plus excel and third in the final round.

Brianna Hales was fifth in preliminary plus excel. Lena Hales was seventh in prejuvenile plus excel. Kennedy was seventh in preliminary plus excel.

Reiss was third in the initial round of preliminary pre-juvenile artistic and fourth in the final round. Slowik was fourth in excel juvenile plus and fifth in the juvenile novice artistic showcase. Smith was fifth in the preliminary pre-juvenile artistic showcase.

For the past 16 years, the team has been coached by Jackie White and Julie

Goddard.

“We have taken one of our teams to states each year,” Goddard said. “We had never placed at states until 2022 with our Level B team for second place and this year with our Level C team for third place. It is a huge accomplishment for us to have placed at states this year and last year.”

“We could not be prouder of how these skaters represent their team and their school,” White said. “These are amazing young adults that are going to do great things in life. We have watched these skaters grow on and off the ice and it’s been a privilege to be part of all of their journeys.

“Congratulations on an amazing season and we can’t wait to see what’s to come in the next few years.”