OGDENSBURG – Seven figure skaters from the Ogdensburg area will be headed to San Diego, Calif. to compete in the State Games of America July 17–21.

A fundraiser effort to help offset an estimated $2,400 in expenses is underway for the skaters who are members of the Ogdensburg Figure Skating Club.

They are Averie Farrand, a junior at Lisbon Central School and has skated for 9 years, Marina Perry, a senior at Heuvelton Central School and has skated for 15 years, Mia Downie, a senior at Ogdensburg Free Academy and has skated for 15 years, Madison Miller a senior at Ogdensburg Free Academy and has skated for 12 years, Ella Ramsdell, a sophomore at Ogdensburg Free Academy and has skated for 11 years, Brynn Morley, a 7thGrader at Ogdensburg Free Academy and has skated for 8 years, and Emma Barr, a 7th grader at Ogdensburg Free Academy and has skated for 7 years.

Unlike most high school athletes, figure skaters have no support or recognition from their respective schools. Monetary support and recognition of achievements is common practice for most high school athletes but figure skating has no affiliation with any of our area schools. This makes it very difficult to fund events like this that have such extended travel arrangements. 

Figure skaters compete at many local events throughout the year and are on practice ice almost nightly at various rinks around the North Country. With no funding for these events, skaters have no choice but to pay for skates, uniform, practice ice, registration fees, travel to and from events, accommodations when traveling for remote competitions as well as paying coaches for their time. 

Many of these girls didn’t learn they qualified for this event until they competed in Lake Placid, NY the first week of February 2024. Giving them only 5 months to prepare and plan the trip. 

The skaters are asking for the community's help to come together to help these seven girls represent NYS at the State Games of America. Airfare and accommodations alone are expected to exceed $2,400 for each skater, not counting registration and other travel expenses that will certainly occur. Any donation will be appreciated and will help us get that much closer to our goal.

If a business contributes a donation of $75 or more, either monetary or $75 worth of products, your business name will be placed on the back of the t-shirt that the girls will wear.  Monetary donations help to directly fund this goal, other donations of goods and services are also greatly appreciated and will be used to raffle or auction off to also help fund the trip. 

If you have any questions or to donate, please feel free to reach out to Lauren Morley, Ogdensburg Figure Skating Club President and Coach, (315) 854-5020, carroll13@hotmail.com. 

The State Games of America is a national level competition that sends the best athletes from individual states to compete against each other to determine the best of the best, biennially. Qualifying for this event has been a lifelong goal for these girls, preparing and competing for a chance to compete at this event. To qualify, these skaters had to compete in the Empire State Games in Lake Placid over the last two years and finish in the top 3.