Padua Franciscan High School’s Figure Skating Team placed second at the Ohio High School Team Figure Skating Championship on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at Thornton Park in Shaker Heights.
In addition to their second-place finish in the largest-ever field of teams (17), the Bruins earned awards in the free dance, free skate, and interpretive competitions.
Overall, the Bruins won 16 medals in five scored events, including nine gold, five silver and two bronze. Ava Schmidt ’25 (two gold, one silver) and her sister, Addalyn Schmidt ’27 (two gold, one silver), were Padua’s top high school skaters.
The team performed to music from Frozen. (The numbers are judged on illustration of character, music interpretation, costuming and audience appeal). That performance earned Padua second out of 10 teams in the Production Ensemble event. Also, the Bruins finished first in Solo Pattern and Free Dance competitions.
“To earn second place is very heart-warming for our team knowing that we can all show our greatest skills and work together to reach great records,” senior Ava Schmidt said. “I am so proud of how much dedication our team has put into the season. Winning second place is such a great accomplishment and very well deserved for every skater on our team”
The performance was especially personal for Schmidt, as she and her younger sister, Addalyn, were Anna and Elsa in Padua’s depiction of Frozen.
“I have been skating with Addalyn since I was four,” Schmidt said. “Finishing off my last high school season with her as main characters has created some of the best memories.
“It was a great finish to my high school career, and I would not have wanted to end it any other way. Knowing we could carry our sister bond into our routine was so fun, and I was so happy to share such an important role with her by my side.”
Alexandria (Miranda) Babb ‘11 and Alexis (Hipkins) Flinn ‘10 are the head coaches, and have been part of the successful program since its inception in 2007, along with team manager Lori Margevicius. GraceAnn Demarest, a former skater with Disney on Ice, is the assistant coach.
“I’m beyond proud of these young adults,” Margevicius said. “We weren’t a very big team to start with, so it was really tough for us to lose Abbey Kubit and Ruby Bentkowski to injuries this season. They’re both excellent skaters.
“In true Bruin Spirit, our remaining seven high school skaters banded together and came so well-prepared to put their all on the ice. They celebrated each other during the medal finishes and rebounded together through the rough events. No one was alone because they were all Bruins.”
Along with its fourth runner-up finish, the Bruins have won 12 state championships in school history. Past championship years include: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010 and 2008.
Padua will enter the group performance in the Kent Skating for Skills Competition (March 1-2), Michigan Showcase (March 13-16), and the Cleveland Invitational Championships (March 21-23). Also, the Bruins are set to perform at the Forestwood Skating Club’s ice shows (April 12-13), and Brooklyn Figure Skating Club’s ice shows (May 2-3).
“Knowing next year is my last year on the team, it makes me want to work so incredibly hard,” junior Isabella Higgins said. “I would love to end my journey with this team with one last state championship win. Getting second is still a huge accomplishment, but I want to train as hard as possible to help better myself and place in the top three in my individual events.”
