IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WZMQ) – As Thanksgiving break begins in Dickinson County, students from Woodland Elementary gathered at Mountain View Ice Arena for an open skate session, revealing the diverse interests within their world of skating.
Six-year-old hockey enthusiast Wyatt Wickmen expressed his love for the sport, and the camaraderie with his friends on the ice.
“Hockey,” Wyatt shared with excitement as he prepared to make his way to the ice. When asked what he likes about the sport, he responded, “That it’s fun, and some of my friends play it,” adding “and I do some games.”
Aria Schultz, a nine-year-old figure skater, eagerly shared her excitement about making new friends and preparing for a holiday charity performance.
When asked what she likes best about figure skating, Schultz replied:
“That two of my best friends do it with me, and I get to make a lot of new friends. I don’t know how much are in the whole club, but in my group, for my lessons I have her, [pointing to Ellah Wickmen] and then I have. So that’s Ella, and then I have another girl named Lily, and Levayah, Maddie, Sienna.”
Ellah Wickmen, another figure skater, praised their standout coach, Emmy, and hinted at the club’s special project—a Christmas routine with a theme of giving toys to needy children.
“Her name is Emmy, and she’s really nice, she does really cool stuff with us, and she’s really nice and calm,” she stated. Wickmen agreed that aside from having a great coach, being around friends who share similar interests is something she enjoys. “It’s a Christmas song called ‘All I want for Christmas is you, and I’m doing it with my friend.”
The figure skaters, including Aria, Ellah, Lily Buck, and others, are gearing up for a free holiday show on December 16th at Mountain View Ice Arena. Not just a showcase of their skills, the event aims to spread holiday cheer with a toy drive for children in need. In lieu of admission, supporters are encouraged to bring a toy for needy children to place in the donation box.
As they hone their figure skating skills, Aria and Ellah emphasized the joy of creating their own routines for the holiday performance, and the anticipation of the upcoming spring show on St. Patrick’s Day. This annual event allows them to perform in a group, showcasing their talents to a delighted audience.
Schultz shared what makes the Holiday showcase unique: “We get to create our numbers for this show, not any of the other shows.”
Ellah Wickmen expressed: “Yeah, we get to create our number for the show, like pick your own song. [We] get to dance,” she said, adding, “It’s really fun. You get to hang out with all of your friends. At the end of the year, you get to do the spring show with everybody and have cool costumes and songs. You also get to do – if you’re in private lessons – you get a really cool coach, and you do private lessons, and then there’s a competition.
The spirit of friendship, creativity, and community echoes through the ice rink, making the students of Woodland Elementary truly glide into the spirit of the holiday season.
For more information about skate sessions and sports at Mountain View Ice Arena, visit:
https://www.dahahockey.com/page/show/240400-mountain-view-ice-arena
