Young St. Louis Skaters Named to the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships Sweeper Team

The St. Louis Sports Commission, the local organizing committee for the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships, is pleased to announce the local skaters who have been selected to be ice sweeper volunteers at the Championships in January.

Sweepers are young skaters (aged 8-14) who will collect the stuffed animals and soft gifts thrown on the ice after a skater’s performance during the five-day event. More than 50 skaters from the St. Louis region were chosen for their skating ability, personality, and positive attitude. The volunteer sweeper positions are considered a privilege and honor for young skaters as they are able to share the ice with the best of the best on the biggest and brightest stage in figure skating.

Representing five regional skating clubs, the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships Sweeper Team includes St. Louis residents:

· Riley DeRolf, 13, from the St. Peter’s Figure Skating Association

· Eloise Foster, 9, from the Metro Edge Figure Skating Club

· Evelyn Fussner, 11, from Metro Edge Figure Skating Club

· Kodi Raizo Herrera, 12, from the St. Louis Skating Club

· Clara Jane Hick, 12, from the Metro Edge Figure Skating Club

· Erin Insler, 9, from the Metro Edge Figure Skating Club

· Max Matveyev, 12, from the Creve Coeur Figure Skating Club

· Cabeanne Miller, 10, from the Metro Edge Figure Skating Club

· Josie Nara, 10, from the Creve Coeur Figure Skating Club

· Mitzi Nara, 10, from the Creve Coeur Figure Skating Club

· Madelyn Tham, 13, from the Creve Coeur Figure Skating Club

· Addie Zha, 10, from the Metro Edge Figure Skating Club

We asked the Sweepers and their parents how they feel about being chosen for this coveted position:

Riley DeRolf: “Riley is excited to be part of the Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships,” said Marjorie DeRolf, Riley’s mother. “She has had the honor to meet several figure skating Olympians throughout the past several years, and is excited to be able to share the ice with additional current and future Olympians!”

Eloise Foster: “Eloise is excited to be on the ice and around such accomplished skaters who are pursuing their dreams,” said Janie Foster, Eloise’s mother. “She's also looking forward to representing St. Louis Synergy and St. Louis at large.”

Kodi Raizo Herrara: “Kodi got to participate in a mini class held by his favorite figure skater Jason Brown which helped in his excitement to be a sweeper and getting the chance to see more competitive skaters,” said Maria Taylor, Kodi’s mother.

Clara Hick: “While most people admire skaters’ sharp technical skills, Clara finds their mental and emotional strength just as impressive,” said Holly Hick, Clara’s mother. “The focus needed to perform under pressure and the resilience to rise after setbacks can be a tough landscape to navigate, especially for adolescents, including for Clara. What Clara respects and what inspires her more than anything else, is sharing the ice with the best of the best, as they demonstrate empathy & compassion for one another even while still striving for excellence.”

Erin Insler: “Erin is thrilled to be on the same ice as some of the best skaters in the world and is looking forward to the magic of the competition,” said Caitlin O’Connell, Erin’s mother.

Max Matveyev: “Max is so excited to be a sweeper and observe and skate on the same ice as someone of his idols,” said Severina Dimova, Max’s mother. “His hope is that one day he can inspire young skaters just like his idols inspire him today.”

Cabeanne Miller: “Cabanne is excited to skate on the ice with future Olympians and friends in her hometown,” said Jessica Miller, Cabeanne’s mother.

Josie and Mitzi Nara: “Josie and Mitzi are excited to represent their club as Sweepers,” said Stephanie Nara, Josie and Mitzi’s mother. “They enjoy writing and researching about US figure skating champions and is excited to meet some of them.”

Madelyn Tham: “She’s very happy that she got the opportunity to become a sweeper and she’s super excited to skate on the same ice as her idol,” said Qinghong Chen. “She dreams that one day she would be able to compete at the championships.

Addie Zha: “Addie is very excited to skate on the same ice as her skating idol, Jason Brown, Alysa Liu. Addie dream of one day competing at USFS Championships,” said her Fang Wang, Addie’s parent.

The 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships features 180 athletes and attracts fans from across the nation. All-session, weekend, and single-session tickets for the championship-level events at Enterprise Center January 7-11, including Sunday’s Olympic Team announcement showcase event, are available to purchase at SkateStLouis2026.com.