SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Twenty-four figure skaters from Minnesota are scheduled to compete at Midwestern Sectionals, Nov. 17-21 in Strongsville, Ohio. Skaters from more than 20 states will attempt to qualify for the 2016 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which will be held Jan. 15-24 at Saint Paul's Xcel Energy Center and Bloomington Ice Garden. Skaters who finish in the top four from each level will qualify for the U.S. Championships. Coverage will be provided by icenetwork.com.

The local skaters competing are:

Name / Event / Hometown / Skating Club

Alexander Johnson / Senior Men / Minnetonka / Broadmoor SC, Inc.
Ryan Santee / Senior Men / Rochester / Rochester FSC
Colton Johnson / Junior Men / Stillwater / FSC of Bloomington
Julia Hussian / Junior Ladies / Minneapolis / FSC of Bloomington
David Kaufmann / Novice Men and Intermediate Dance / Rochester / Rochester FSC
Silvia Hugec / Novice Ladies / Lake Elmo / FSC of Bloomington
Madalyn Moree / Novice Ladies and Juvenile Dance / Minneapolis / Starlight Ice Dance Club
Jonathan Yang / Intermediate Men / Woodbury / St. Paul FSC, Inc.
Wren Warne-Jacobsen / Intermediate Ladies / Saint Paul / St. Paul FSC, Inc.
Berit Cummings / Intermediate Pair / Minnetonka / Lake Minnetonka FSC
Mitchel Markkanen / Intermediate Pair / Spicer / Northern Blades NSC FSC
Anika Olson / Intermediate Pair / Elk River / Northern Blades NSC FSC
Janet Kang / Intermediate Dance / Eden Prairie / Dakotah FSC
Makenna Leik / Intermediate Dance /Blaine / Northern Blades NSC FSC
Sunny Choi / Juvenile Girls / Maple Grove / Three Rivers FSC
Vedanth Jonnalagadda / Juvenile Pair / Eden Prairie / Dakotah FSC
Samhita Jonnalagadda / Juvenile Pair / Eden Prairie / Dakotah FSC
Nila Cooper / Juvenile Dance / Afton / St. Paul FSC, Inc.
Marcellus Krueger / Juvenile Dance / Eagan / St. Paul FSC, Inc.
Nathan Rothenberger / Juvenile Dance / Prior Lake / Dakotah FSC
Megan Thomas / Juvenile Dance / Prior Lake / Dakotah FSC
William Thorne / Juvenile Dance / Lino Lakes / St. Paul FSC, Inc.
Zige Wang / Juvenile Dance / North Oaks / St. Paul FSC, Inc.
Jim Wang / Juvenile Dance / North Oaks / St. Paul FSC, Inc.

The U.S. Championships, serve as the final qualifying events to make the U.S. World Figure Skating Team and the U.S. Olympic Team. The U.S. Figure Skating Championships attract more than 1,600 athletes, coaches, officials and over 110,000 fans annually to the host community and have generated up to $30 million in economic impact for recent host cities. The annual event, held since 1914, is the nation's most prestigious figure skating event, with past winners include Michelle Kwan, Kristi Yamaguchi and Scott Hamilton. The city of Saint Paul also hosted the 2008 U.S. Championships. Champions included 2010 Olympians Mirai Nagasu, Evan Lysacek, and Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto.

Single-session tickets, Championship Weekend Packages and All-Event Ticket Packages can be purchased online at 2016uschampionships.com or the Xcel Energy Center Box Office. Groups (12+) call 651-312-3486.

PR CONTACTS

Jora Bart

651-312-3498

Ellen McNair

651-265-4819

U.S. FIGURE SKATING

Renee Felton

303-717-7749