Around Town: McHenry's Brooke Gewalt, 10, reaches figure skating milestone

McHenry’s Brooke Gewalt recently competed in her 100th figure skating competition.

Impressive, but even more so considering Brooke is 10 years old.

She reached the milestone at the WIM Skating Competition March 26 to 29 in Milwaukee.

Brooke also had a solo performance at Epic Concert Tour On Ice, the annual Crystal Ice House ice show May 15 to 17 in Crystal Lake.

Skating in the show was a lot less stressful than competing, Brooke said.

“It’s more fun to do,” she said. “At competitions you have things that are required. If you mess up at the show, it isn’t important.”

In addition to her solo, Brooke also was in several group numbers that were even more varied, and enjoyable, than her competition routines.

“It was fun,” she said. “I was involved in many things that were different.”

And in a coach’s dream scenario, Brooke likes the training even more than competing.

“The best part is the technique and the things that you would be able to do moving forward,” she said. “I like the training that goes into the competition. I don’t really get nervous at competitions.”

She trains four to five days a week and most days before school. The early practices are something Brooke never had to be hounded to do, said her mother, Ellen.

“Even as a little girl she had that [desire] to get up,” Ellen said. “She just finds such joy in it. It’s her love.”

While she likes the training, the competing part has been pretty good, too. Her mother estimates that in about 90 percent of her competitions, Brooke came out on top of the podium.

“The pressures of competition, she handles it so well,” Ellen said. “She’s a really well-balanced kid. She’s modest about it and very gracious.”

Brooke began skating at the age of 3 at a Mommy and Me class with her mother and began competing at age 4.

“[Brooke] skated every week after that from the first time she was up on skates,” Ellen said. “She just loved it. She kept wanting to go back.”

Skating has proved beneficial more than just being able to jump and twist on the ice.

“It’s really given [Brooke] confidence in how to face things,” Ellen said. “If she approaches something that’s not known to her, she’s used to having courage. It has really shaped her into such a great kid.”

And Ellen wants it to be known that figure skating isn’t just for the elite or wealthy.

“A lot of people think that it’s very expensive and out of their means,” Ellen said. “We’re just your basic working folks. It’s not out of reach and a fun thing for them to learn.”

• Rob Smith is a sports writer for the Northwest Herald. Write to him at rsmith@shawmedia.com.