McHenry native Brooke Gewalt to compete at this week’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships
Brooke Gewalt, who represents Wagon Wheel Figure Skating Club and skates out of Crystal Ice House, will compete at the 2024 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Columbus, Ohio.
The McHenry skater learned late last week that she earned a spot among the top 18 women vying for the national title.
This is the 19-year-old’s first appearance at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships after earning first place in the Senior Women Texas Trophy National Qualifying Series event, she went on to earn fifth place at the 2024 Sectional Finals for the Midwest Region.
“I was the first senior women alternate for this year’s Nationals event,” Gewalt said. “My coaches continued to encourage me that anything could happen, and a call could come at any time. ... Getting that call from U.S. Figure Skating the week before the event was beyond my wildest dreams!”
Gewalt began figure skating at Crystal Ice House at age three through the Learn To Skate program, competed for the first time at age four, and began taking private lessons shortly after. Over a decade ago, Gewalt turned to Lars Jensen — a national and international men’s competitor for Denmark — as her head coach. She continues to train under Jensen at Crystal Ice House.
“I am very excited and proud to take Brooke to her first Nationals,” Jensen said. “She and her family truly deserve it.”
In addition to training under Jensen, Gewalt’s coaching team includes choreographer Rohene Ward and spin coach Amber Gill.
“Having Rohene and Amber on my coaching team has allowed me to take my skating journey to the next level,” Gewalt said.
Citing her determination, natural skating ability, and dedication to developing her technical skills, Jensen explained that the four-time sectional qualifier is, “a bit of a perfectionist,” but, despite the ups and downs of a relationship built over the many hours of training nearly every day, coaching Gewalt has been easy for him. “She has a very kind heart,” he said.
Gewalt credited that skater-coach relationship she has developed with Jensen as, “key to our success.”
Gewalt is a four-time sectional qualifier who enjoys a close relationship with U.S. National Champion and Olympian Bradie Tennell. Both skated together at Crystal Ice House and continue to skate together when Tennell returns home.
Parents Karl and Ellen Gewalt have supported their daughter’s journey. “Being a figure skater brings many challenges — not only physically, but mentally as well. Brooke faces those challenges with a true-grit mindset,” Ellen said. “Her dedication, drive and commitment to her sport started early on and has only grown throughout the years. ... Crystal Ice House has given Brooke a very comfortable environment to train at — she refers to it as her second home.”
Crystal Ice House General Manager David Lichterman agreed.
“Watching Brooke train all year and seeing her passion for the sport reinforces the belief that hard work pays off,” Lichterman said. “You can’t help but feel proud that the environment here at the Crystal Ice House played a part in her success.”
Gewalt will compete in the Women’s Short Program airing at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, on Peacock and 7 p.m. on USA, and the Championship Women’s Free Skate will air at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 26, on Peacock and at 7 p.m. on NBC.
In addition to Gewalt, Jiaying Johnson, who trains under Olympian Susie Wynne at Crystal Ice House, also will be competing in the Junior Women National Championship Short and Free Skate Programs in Ohio.
ABOUT:
Crystal Ice House, owned by Fire Wagon Hockey, Inc. a registered 501(c)(3), is a three-sheet ice facility — and the only indoor ice rink in McHenry County. It is home to Yellowjackets Hockey Club, Wagon Wheel Figure Skating Club, Crystal Lake Stingers Hockey Club, and five high school teams. Crystal Ice House celebrates thirty years in the community and has become a premier location sought out to host over 650 hockey and figure skating events, tournaments, and competitions annually.
Former Crystal Ice House skaters include U.S. Figure Skating National Champion and Olympian Bradie Tennell, national competitor, Disney On Ice cast member, and current Shattuck-St. Mary’s figure skating co-head coach Kyle Shropshire, World Junior Champion and two-time U.S. Senior Champion and Olympic alternate Rockne Brubaker, and U.S. National Junior Silver Medalist Collin Brubaker.
Crystal Ice House’s team of Olympic figure skating instructors including U.S. Ice Dancer Susie Wynne, France’s Pairs and Singles skater Nico Osseland, and Singles competitor Tennell.
Hockey director Steve Martins played in the National Hockey League for 14 years before his decadelong tenure with the Chicago Wolves. Skating director Kim Johnson has been with Crystal Ice House since the rink opened in 1994. She holds Professional Skaters Association Master Ratings in Skating Skills, Group Lessons and Program Director.
Crystal Ice House offers public skating, group lessons, and competitive training and team opportunities in both hockey and figure skating.
For more information, contact David Lichterman at (815) 356-8500, ext. 8508.