Coaches
Katie Bratberg
Years Skating: 18
Years Coaching: 12
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: Freestyle 4
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications:
ISI Professional Membership, ISI Gold Certified Judge, LTS USA Instructor, SafeSport certified
Where do you work or go to school:
Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment. I am also pursuing my Master of Administration in Nonprofit Management through USD.
Competition experience:
I have coached and prepared skaters for ISI competitions throughout District 10 and at national events for 10 years. I have experience both coaching and competing in a wide variety of events, including technical programs, rhythmic events, spotlights, artistic programs, team events, and partner events.
Specific coaching interests:
I enjoy working with skaters of all ages and skill levels, from basic skating skills through freestyle levels on both a recreational and competitive basis. I especially enjoy preparing skaters for competitions and helping them build confidence as competitors. I am passionate about creating unique choreography that highlights each skater’s individual strengths, personality, and abilities.
Professional goal(s): My goal as a coach is to help each skater reach their fullest potential while developing a lasting passion for figure skating. I believe every skater learns differently, so I tailor my coaching approach to meet the individual needs and goals of each skater. I strive to create a positive and supportive environment where skaters can build confidence both on and off the ice while developing strong foundational skills and learning valuable life lessons.
Ava Paulson
Years Skating: 15
Years Coaching: 7
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: Freestyle 8
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications: Bronze and Silver ISI certification
Where do you work or go to school:
I attend SDSU.
Competition experience:
I've been personally competing for about 9 years.
Specific coaching interests:
I love taking my passion for figure skating and using it to help other skaters find their love for it, not just being a part of it because they have to but because they want to be at the rink. And to help them reach their personal goals within the sport.
Professional goal(s): My goal is to work my way up to getting my gold and/or platinum certification, and gain as much experience as possible while coaching in Brookings.
Braxton Adams
Years Skating: 15
Years Coaching: 3
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: Freestyle 5
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications: Bronze Judge
Where do you work or go to school:
I am a nursing student at SDSU with a Biology Minor.
Competition experience:
I competed for 5 years.
Specific coaching interests:
I am interested in taking skaters to competitions
Professional goal(s): Graduate with my nursing degree.
Dana Martins
Years Skating: I skated for 5 years as an adolescent., and recently I came back to the ice 4 years ago when my daughter started.
Years Coaching: 4
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: Freestyle 3
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications: ISI professional membership, safe sport certified
Where do you work or go to school:
I’m a clinical social worker and currently work at as the school social worker at the Brookings school district.
Competition experience:
I had two seasons of personal competitions in high school. New to competitions as a coach, I learned a lot last year.
Specific coaching interests: I am particularly interested in helping skaters learn the fundamental skills of ice skating as well as build confidence and joy in the sport.
Professional goal(s):I would like to private coach at a limited capacity, and help with the ice show as time allows.
Morgan Kohl
Years Skating: 10
Years Coaching: 6
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: USFSA Adult Gold Skating Skills - USFS Gold Medalist
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications: USFS Coaching Certification, Member of USFS, Learn to Skate Certified Coach, and LTS Hockey Coach
Where do you work or go to school:
Syngenta Seeds
Competition experience:
I competed at various different competitions across South Dakota, Minnesota, and North Dakota throughout my skating career. I have choreographed several competition routines with skaters of all ages who have attended various competitions in the Midwest throughout my years of coaching.
Specific coaching interests: My goal is to help skaters build a strong foundation to help them achieve success while having fun. I enjoy working with skaters of all ages and helping them to achieve their skating goals and advance their skating skills. I enjoy teaching others what someone once taught me. As a private lesson coach, I enjoy working with skaters focusing on basic skills, freeskate, and moves-in-the-field.
Professional goal(s): I still continue to test through USFS. I mentor under a master-rated coach to further myself as a coach and to keep up with the ever-changing world of figure skating. A professional goal of mine is to serve as a club director or head coach in the future.
Rylie Raverty
Years Skating: 13
Years Coaching: 5
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: USFSA Free skate 6
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications: I am qualified to coach and pass students into new levels.
Where do you work or go to school:
I work as a figure skating coach and at the veterinary clinic and will be attending SDSU this fall.
Competition experience:
None
Specific coaching interests: I love coaching in my hometown and love skating myself. Being able to help younger kids learn how to skate and have a passion for skating like I do/did makes me feel very good. I have worked with a lot of ages of kids and did an adaptive skate with students with disabilities so I feel I’m pretty well rounded.
Professional goal(s): I do not have professional goals related to figure skating.
Shonteera Haas
Years Skating: 10+
Years Coaching: 4
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: ISI Freestyle 4, USFSA Juvenile
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications: Safe Sport, ISI Coaching credentials with Liability Insurance
Where do you work or go to school:
Owner/Stylist of Willow and Mane Salon
Competition experience:
I competed as a skater for 8 years. Competed at both ISI and USFSA competitions.
Specific coaching interests: I have always loved this sport. I have missed not skating and after helping with the 2023-2024 ice show, I made the decision to come back to private coach and share the love that I have for this sport even further.
Professional goal(s): My main goal is to share my love and knowledge of figure skating with the younger skaters. I have always loved this sport and all that it has to offer. Another goal I have is to create a fun and safe learning environment for my students, so they continue to have the dedication to learn and grow.
Brittney Drew
Years Skating: 20
Years Coaching: 7
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: Freestyle 4
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications:Bronze test credentials
Where do you work or go to school:
Avera McKennan
Competition experience:
Both as a skater and a coach
Specific coaching interests: This is my home rink so I am excited to help grow the club.
Professional goal(s): Just to help my skaters reach their goals and have fun while achieving them.
Ella Steffl
Years Skating: 14
Years Coaching: 4
Private Lessons: Yes
Highest personal skill levels passed: Freestyle 9, Gold Skating Skills, Gold Solo Free-dance, Gold Singles, Pre-Gold Follow Partner Ice Dance
Coaching/Testing credentials/certifications: ISI Professional Membership, Safe Sport Certified, CORE Certification, USA LTS Coach Certification, Gold Coaching Certification, RQI BLS Certification
Where do you work or go to school:
I'm a pharmacy student at SDSU. I work as a pharmacy intern at the VA hospital. I also coach in Sioux Falls and Mitchell, South Dakota.
Competition experience:
Performed at Northfield Ice Arena's Grand Opening, Performed at Northfield Skating School’s 20th Anniversary Exhibition, Performed in ISI World’s Benefit Show, 1st Place at ISI Worlds in the Platinum Plus Event, Attempted ISI Freestyle 10 test, Guest skater at Northfield Skating School Exhibition, Performed in Scott Hamiliton's Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer Twin Cities
Specific coaching interests: I love coaching both figure skaters and hockey players and helping them reach their full potential.
Professional goal(s): My goal is to help skaters of all levels achieve their personal goals, whether that be to play hockey or pursue figure skating. I focus on building a proper foundation that will be able to take them in many directions in their skating career. Lessons are personalized to a skater's learning style, and fostering a joy in skating is the most important goal.
