November 8-9, 2025
Arizona State University, Mullett Arena
Tempe, Arizona

This past weekend, the Stanford Figure Skating Club (SFSC) team soared into Arizona for its first intercollegiate competition of the 2025-2026 academic year and walked away with a 4th place finish among 19 teams! With an influx of new freshman and grad talent, SFSC earned 207 points, edging out UC San Diego by 9 points. Building on last year's success, Stanford's goal is to place among the top four teams overall in the Pacific Conference and to qualify for the National Intercollegiate Finals in Utah in April 2026. Shout out to our host, Arizona State University, for organizing a great competition. Special thanks to our volunteer mentor and SFSC alumni member Jonathan Ko.  

SFSC danced its way into the pattern dance events on Saturday morning with Rhett Hounsell, Clara Finkelstein and Audrey Tai performing the Cha Cha in their Pre-Bronze Solo Pattern Dances Groups A and B. In their first ever competition as part of the SFSC team, these dynamic freshmen placed 2nd, 2nd, and 6th respectively among a competitive field. Next up was Stanford graduate student Katherine Cao, who in her third year with the team, showed off her wonderful edges, placing 2nd in the Preliminary Solo Pattern Dance Group A. In her first time competing as a member of the SFSC, graduate student Emily Leung placed 5th in Preliminary Solo Pattern Dance Group B. Next up, graduate student Kaila Coimbra won gold and 12 points for the team with her excellent skating skills while performing the Canasta Tango in Preliminary Solo Pattern Dance Group C. Graduate student Alea Delmastro placed 2nd, with her rendition of the Austrian Waltz in International Pattern Dance, the most difficult of the pattern dances at the competition. Alea, with a very expressive performance of the Argentine Tango, also earned a 2nd place finish in the Gold level pattern dance. 

In the Day 1 free skate categories, Katherine Cao glided gracefully to Alan Turing's Legacy (soundtrack from The Imitation Game), placing 2nd in Pre-preliminary Group A and earning the top score from one of the three judges in both of her events. In Aspire 3, Vic Hempstead, skating confidently to Jenny Jenkins by Mt. Joy, placed 2nd and earned their first ever intercollegiate medal. Gia Mukherjee won gold in the Preliminary Women's Group B with her dramatic skate to Adele's Skyfall. 

Ending the day with the short programs, Audrey Akkerman landed all her jumps in her wonderful skate to Greensleeves on piano and placed 4th. Alea skated to Florence and the Machine's Cosmic Love in Junior Women's Short Group A, placing 5th. Clara earned the bronze medal in Junior Women's Short Group B, highlighting her great extensions in her Charlotte spiral to Jackie Evancho's version of Caruso. Gia placed 7th in a dramatic Juvenile Women's short to Voilà. Elizabeth Hong skated to Hurt by Christina Aguilera in the Senior Women's short program. Liz's beautiful spins and difficult jumps were rewarded with a 3rd place medal. Despite an injury, Warwick Lloyd dazzled both the judges and audience in Novice Men's short program to Sarabande (by Handel), placing 3rd. Stanford ended the day in 2nd place with 127 points, closely behind the University of Washington.   

Sunday was an early start with free skates, free dances, and championship events. Audrey Tai was enchanting in her Cinderella free skate, and Emily skated beautifully to Christina Aguilera's We Remain, both placing 4th in their respective Juvenile free skate groups. Kaila's new free skate program to Mamma Mia! was a huge hit with the crowd, earning 1st place in Juvenile free skate Group C. Liz impressed the judges with her fantastic Junior free dance to the Soundtrack from Evita, placing 4th. Kaila quickly returned to the ice for her Juvenile free dance to a lively and theatrical version of Champs Élysées, placing 4th. Rhett earned a well deserved 2nd in a very competitive Junior Men's Championship event, skating a clean program to Eleanor Rigby. Liz was back on the ice for her elegant Senior Women's free skate to Piano Concerto in A minor, Op16, placing 2nd. In the Junior free skate, Alea debuted her new program to a mix of Coldplay's O (Fly On) and Arrival of the Birds/Transformation by The Cinematic Orchestra, earning 3rd place and her third medal of the event. Warwick landed all of his jumps, earning 2nd place during his Novice free skate program to I Spy by Pulp and Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush. In the last free skate of the day, Audrey Akkerman showed off her artistic skills in performing to The Jeweller's Hands by Arctic Monkeys. She placed 4th overall, while earning a 1st place score from one of the five judges. 

After a long two days, Stanford hung on to 4th overall place in the final events, the team maneuvers, a fun event that requires skaters perform individual elements. The skaters were divided into three levels based on their testing placement. In the low team, Gia, Katherine, Vic, and Audrey Tai executed their compulsory elements with ease and placed 8th. The intermediate team of Kaila, Warwick, and Audrey Akkerman skated their elements flawlessly earning 5th place and last but not least in the ultra competitive high team event, Liz, Alea, Clara and Rhett placed 11th. The 2025-2026 SFSC team really came together for a true team finish, bonding while making posters, at team dinners, and a very late flight home. Intercollegiate skating is a great way to make new friends and demonstrate sportsmanship as teams cheer for each competitor.  

Next up is the second intercollegiate event, Skates on the Bay Classic, co-hosted by SFSC and Cal Figure Skating Club at Sharks Ice in San Jose.  Save the dates of January 30th - February 1st, 2026!  SFSC welcomes all Stanford students, friends, family and fans of figure skating to come to the event and support our skaters.  

Medal Summary (17 medals in total):

• 1st: Gia Mukherjee (Preliminary free skate), Kaila Coimbra (Preliminary pattern dance and Juvenile free skate), 
• 2nd: Rhett Hounsell (Pre Bronze pattern dance and Junior Men's Championship), Clara Finkelstein (Pre Bronze pattern dance), Alea Delmastro (International pattern dance and Gold pattern dance), Katherine Cao (Preliminary pattern dance and Pre-Preliminary free skate), Elizabeth Hong (Senior free skate), Vic Hempstead (Aspire 3), Warwick Lloyd (Novice Men's free skate)
• 3rd: Alea Delmastro (Junior Women's free skate), Clara Finkelstein (Junior Women's short), Elizabeth Hong (Senior Women's short), Warwick Lloyd (Novice Men's short)

Full results can be found here: 
https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/sports/collegiate-skating/schedule/2025-26?grid=true