Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Kelsey Schaub

Each week, Marple Newtown Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. This week, we highlight second grade student Kelsey Schaub for her recent achievement as the Tots Free Skate Champion at the 2012 South Atlantic Regional Nonqualifying Competition.

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Kelsey Schaub

Whiz Kid's Age: 8

Whiz Kid's School:

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Kelsey took first place in the Tots South Atlantic Regional Ice Skating Championship and competed from Oct. 17-18 held in Aston at Ice Works. This year is the first year Kelsey has ice skated competitively. This was her third competition and received

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: According to Kelsey's mom, Kristi Schaub, no one in the family actually ice skates, plays ice hockey, or has even seen an ice show before.

"She came to me in pre-k and says to me, 'When am I getting an ice skating coach? I want to ice skate,'" recalls Kristi. "Well, no one in our family ice skates. She came to me about it and she was pretty persistent. We figured we'd try and three years later we're here and competing."

Though it may be random for her parents, to Kelsey it was a passion that she somehow just picked up while watching it on the small screen.

"I think I saw it on TV once and I just really wanted to do it," says Kelsey.

The first time she got on the ice she wasn't nervous, she says, but simply "really excited to do it."

In the beginning, Kelsey admits she's fallen down many times but now? "I don't fall too much anymore," she says. Her personal motto she follows: "If you fall down, you just get back up."

Kelsey wakes up and leaves the house at no later than 6 a.m. on some days to practice before school and on other days in the evening or weekends.

What motivates her to wake up early and practice for several hours, three or four days a week? "I'm going to be in the Olympics," she says.

But Kelsey says she doesn't get sick of it and enjoys the fun costumes she gets to wear, despite the amount of time she's on the ice.

"I don't get tired of it," she says. "I can do really neat stuff that you can't do on the ground. I like playing on the ice–I feel free as a bird."

Other than finding Kelsey on the ice, she's playing piano or dancing. Since her recent birthday, Kelsey will be moving up in the age category and will start competing in an older level at the Keystone Games in January.

Kelsey's commitment to ice skating has now inspired her family members, where Kristi, her husband and Kelsey's 3-year-old brother are all taking ice skating classes now.

Editor's note: Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout or did your local soccer team take the championship? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kid honoree. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid.