Submitted photo/information The New Ulm Figure Skating Club poses for a photo with their President’s Award banner outside of the New Ulm Civic Center following the 2025 ISI World Recreational Team Championships, held in Blaine, Minnesota. Front row (l-r): Blair Lang, Madden Larson, Sutherlyn Lecy, Jeia Ban, Joy Ban, Avery Andrews, Alaina Beranek, Mallory Larson, Whitney Beranek, Jorja Weicherding, Ellie Andrews. Middle row (l-r): Isabella Hoffmann, Keira McCabe, Madalyn Nicholson, Ellie Hoffmann, Delaney Sellner, Adeline Hoffmann, Ruby Peterson, Elsie Weicherding. Back row (l-r): Kassidi Gomez, Gabi Rolloff, Allee Johnson, Rashelle Weicherding, Nicole Lecy, Cassy Rewitzer, Molly Berdan, Ava Pagliari, Chloe Gilles, Emma Hoffmann, Elizabeth Miller, McKenzie Lilleodden, Josie Sellner, Jordan Mosser, Katrina Berbrich, Kathy Bjorkstrand. Not pictured: Leah Dummer, Chloe Enamorado, Emilia Enamorado, Oaklynn Hart, Miranda Konakowitz, Aine McLaughlin, Olivia Naumann.

NEW ULM — From July 24-27, figure skaters from the New Ulm Figure Skating Club (NUFSC) spun, spiraled and salchowed as they put on a show at the 2025 ISI World Recreational Team Championships.

That show the NUFSC put on ended up being the best in its division as the club took home the President’s Award, given to the team with the most points for a team of 11-40 skaters.

The ISI, or the Ice Sports Industry, holds the World Recreational Team Championships every year, with anyone from around the world able to compete. This year’s competition was held at the National Sports Center Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota, the furthest skaters coming from the Philippines.

New Ulm had 35 skaters on the ice for the Championships in 143 events over the four-day competition. NUFSC coach Kassidi Gomez said in her time competing with the NUFSC and in her six years coaching, this was the best finish she’s seen from New Ulm.

“To the best of my knowledge, this is the best we have done,” she said. “I also feel this was the most skaters we have had competed at the ISI Worlds Championships. It’s great to be able to watch our skaters show off all their hard work.”

Gomez is one of 11 current coaches and counting with the NUFSC, a club that continues to look for more coaches. She started coaching as a junior at Nicollet High School before becoming a pro coach upon graduation.

Racking up the points on the way to the President’s Award, New Ulm kept the crowd and judges on the edge of their seats with a variety of different routines.

“When we found out the 2025 ISI World Championships were going to be in Minnesota, it meant starting new programs and dusting off the old ones,” Gomez said. “There were many individual skaters as well as skaters competing with their friends to make a duet, or skating in groups like team compulsory and ensembles. The nice thing about this sport is it can be both an individual and a team sport.”

The last time the World Championships were held in Minnesota came in 2021 in Blaine, making this year extra special for Gomez.

“The fun thing about it being in Minnesota this year is the last time it was in Minnesota, it was my senior year in 2021,” Gomez said. “So being able to see my skaters compete at the same place for worlds as I did is a full-circle moment as a coach.”

Not only did Gomez get to see the skaters she helped coach compete on the big stage, she also got to see them rewarded for their top-level routines.

“It is a very big accomplishment,” Gomez said. “Competing hasn’t always been very big and to be able to get more skaters involved in the competition aspect is a great opportunity. I think for a small town to be able to place in such a large competition shows that we here at the New Ulm Figure Skating Club offer a great program for a wide range of ages of students.”

Collectively, New Ulm finished sixth out of 44 teams total. The Michael Booker Trophy, given to the team with the most collective points, was won by Blaine’s NSC Super Rink team.

The NUFSC currently offers three days for private skating on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday. In the fall, winter and spring, they offer a wide variety of group lessons on Thursday evenings, Saturday morning and Sunday evenings.

“Our classes consist of Rhythmic, Adaptive, Power, Adult, and Skilled group lessons,” Gomez said. “As far as competitions, we host the Fall Festival every year at the New Ulm Civic Center the weekend before Thanksgiving, and attend many throughout the year in places like Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Blaine, White Bear Lake and Saint Paul, Minnesota.”

The annual ice show the NUFSC puts on is another big event for the club and community, with the next one taking place March 7-8, 2026. Next year’s ice show theme will be “Oz on Ice.”