Meet the Coaches from the Wichita Ice Center
Samantha Wells
Growing up on the cattle ranch all of her early years, Samantha fell in love with the sport of figure skating while watching skaters perform on television. Her grandmother put her in Learn to Skate at the age of nine where she quickly excelled through all of the levels. She then began private lessons and skating competitively. Samantha has competed at many competitions across the Midwest including Regionals and Showcase Nationals. Her hard work and dedication earned her a gold medal at Showcase Nationals at an intermediate level.
Samantha has been on the ice for over 25 years and loves every second of it, but her true passion is for teaching young skaters the same love and dedication she has had for the sport over the last two decades. You can see her love for the sport in the way she carries herself both on the ice and while coaching rink side. Samantha brings skills and knowledge to the ice with a personality that is easy to get along with and more importantly a coach you can have fun with!
Samantha began junior coaching in 2006 and full coaching in 2008.
Samantha offers lessons in:
-Free Skate (Singles)
-Moves in the Field and Skating Skills
-Choreography
-Office Ice Conditioning and Training
-Power and Edge
-Adult
-Special Olympics
Samantha’s accreditation and experience:
-Professional Skaters Association, FULL MEMBER
-Professional Skaters Association, CER Certification
-USFS Member and Coach Compliance Non-Qualifying
-Learn to Skate USA Instructor
-Skating Director
Samantha’s skating achievements:
-Reginal Competitor – Silver Medalist
-National Showcase Competitor – Gold Medalist
Jesse Ferris Nightingale
When Jesse started skating at the age of eight, she got on the ice and never looked back. Her love for the sport has driven her to compete at Regional competitions, earn a bronze model at Nine States Championships, and achieve gold medals in Moves in the Field and Solo Free Dance. As a double gold medalist, she is currently competing at the Junior level and aiming for her Gold Medals in Free Skate and Pattern Dance. She qualified and competed at National Showcase in Florida at the Senior level in 2022. She has also qualified for National Showcase 2023 and 2024. Jesse was a recipient of the Gold Level Achievement of the USFS Graduating Seniors Award Program in 2018.
Jesse coaches low- to high-level skaters in Moves in the Field, Free Skate, Jumps & Spins, Choreography, Showcase and Artistry, Ice Dance, Off-Ice Training, Power, Edges, and Hockey Edges and Power. She is also the Aspire Academy coach. Jesse has more than 10 years of experience teaching group classes of varying ages and levels in Learn to Skate USA. She also served as the Learn to Skate Director for four years.
In addition to competing and coaching, Jesse is a filmmaker and music composer. She recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from Wichita State University in the College of Fine Arts with a Bachelors of Applied Arts in Media Arts and minors in Music (piano) and English Language and Literature. She was a member of the Cohen Honor College, a Rudd Foundation Scholar, and was named to the Dean’s Honor Roll with a 4.0 every semester.
Jesse is currently serving on the Alumni Advisory Board of CrossRoad Summer Institute. She was also on the national Student Leadership Board of OCF as the Regional Student Leader. Previously she served on the board of The Treehouse.
Through her many years of competing and coaching, Jesse has learned that figure skating teaches courage in the face of fear and setbacks, determination and perseverance when everything seems to go wrong (and right!), and the grace to accept both failure and success. Skating has brought her so much joy, and she aims to bring that joy and love for skating to every student she teaches. It is her goal to help her students not only succeed but find a lifelong joy and love of skating.
Jesse began coaching in 2013.
Jesse offers lessons in:
- Free Skate (Singles)
- Moves in the Field and Skating Skills
- Choreography
- Artistry and Showcase
- Ice Dance
- Off-Ice Conditioning and Training
- Power and Edges
- Hockey Power and Edge
- Theater on Ice
Jesse’s accreditation and experience:
- Professional Skaters Association, FULL Member
- Professional Skaters Association CER Certification
- Professional Skaters Association Foundations of Coaching
- USFS Member and Coach Compliance Non-Qualifying
- Learn to Skate USA Instructor
- Learn to Skate USA Director
Jesse’s skating achievements:
- Gold Medalist (Senior) Moves In the Field/Skating Skills
- Gold Medalist (Senior) Solo Free Dance
- National Showcase Competitor
- Bronze (Novice) Medalist Free Skate
- Passed Thru Pre-Silver, Pattern Dance and working on Silver
- Bronze Medalist, Nine State Championships
Erin Liu
At the age of 6, Erin saw her first ice rink at the Dallas Galleria Mall which captivated her interest. Her adventure began from that day, pushing her to compete in and travel to all different cities. She won multiple regional competitions as well as those in the National Qualify.
Erin coaches beginning to mid-level skaters in Moves in the Field and Freestyle. She has experience teaching at all age levels in the Learn to Skate program at the Wichita Ice Center.
Aside from skating, Erin attends Wichita East High School, participating in the International Baccalaureate program, and working towards an IB diploma. She is involved in the Speech and Debate program where she has competed in the National Circuit. She has also competed in multiple regional and state level piano competitions and has received medals in multiple. She is
also heavily involved in the Mayor’s Youth Council as the Clerk, Scrub’s Club as the Vice President, and the National Honors Society.
Erin began coaching in 2022.
Erin offers lessons in:
- Singles (Free Skate)
- Moves in the Field
Erin’s accreditation:
- US Figure Skating Member
- Professional Skaters Association, BASIC Member
- Learn to Skate USA Instructor
Erin’s skating achievements:
- Gold (Senior) Medalist Moves in the Field/Skating Skills
- Juvenile Freestyle
Victorija Litavniks
Victorija has been skating since she was five years old and has competed for six years. She is also a Learn to Skate instructor at the Wichita Ice Center where she coaches beginner to mid-level skaters of all ages. Victorija’s commitment to figure skating has driven her to compete in competitions across the midwest. She is part of the High School Figure Skating team where she serves as Vice President and competes for the team based out of Wichita.
Outside of skating, Victorija is pursuing an associate’s degree in Health Sciences Pre-Med through Butler Community College concurrent with her high school degree from Andover Central High School. She is a member of the Girls Varsity Tennis Team and National Honor Society.
Victorija began coaching in 2023.
Victorija offers lessons in:
- Singles (Free Skate)
- Moves in the Field
Victorija’s accreditation:
- US Figure Skating Member
- Professional Skaters Association, BASIC Member
- Learn to Skate USA Instructor
Victorija’s skating achievements:
- Gold (Senior) Medalist Moves in the Field/Skating Skills
- Juvenile Freestyle
Hannah Harris
Hannah began skating and competing at the age of eight. She has a passion for figure skating and wants to share that passion with the next generation. She has been a Learn to Skate Coach at the Wichita Ice Center for three years and has competed for more than 10 years in the Midwest Region of the U.S.
Hannah graduated from high school in the spring of 2023 as a Golden Key National Honors Society Graduate and is currently a freshman at Wichita State University in the College of Health Professions. Hannah is currently training for the next phase of her skating journey and in the spring of 2024, she will skate collegiately in the Midwest Conference.
Hannah began coaching in 2021.
Hannah offers lessons in:
- Singles (Free Skate)
- Skating Skills (formerly Moves in the Field) (thru Juvenile)
Hannah’s accreditation and experience:
- US Figure Skating Member
- Professional Skaters Association, FULL Member
- Professional Skaters Association CER Certification
- Professional Skaters Association Foundations of Coaching
- USFS Coach Compliance: Non-Qualifying
- Learn to Skate USA Instructor
Hannah’s skating achievements:
- Gold Skating Skills Medalist (formerly Moves in the Field)
- 2023 Excel National Finals Medalist ~ Intermediate
Aubrey Collignon
Aubrey found her passion in figure skating nine years ago and is a competitive skater at the Senior Solo Dance and Novice Free Skate levels. She is available to coach beginner to mid-level skaters while balancing her schedule as a student-athlete.
Aubrey is currently a double gold medalist in Moves In the Field and Solo Free Dance and is working towards her goals of becoming a quintuple Gold Medalist in 2024 by passing her Senior (Gold) Singles Free Skate, Gold Solo Pattern Dance, and Gold Partner Pattern Dance.
Aubrey began coaching in 2023.
Aubrey offers lessons in:
- Moves In the Field
- Singles (Free Skate)
- Choreography
- Ice Dance
- Off-Ice Training
Aubrey’s accreditation:
- US Figure Skating Member
- Professional Skaters Association, BASIC Member
- Professional Skaters Association CER Certification
- USFS Coach Compliance Non-Qualifying
- USFS Partner Compliance
- Learn to Skate USA Instructor
Aubrey’s skating achievements:
- Gold Medalist (Senior) Moves In the Field
- Gold Medalist (Senior) Solo Free Dance
- Two-Time National Showcase Champion at Pre-Juvenile Level in Emotional and Interpretive
- Top 10 Finalist in National Showcase “Parade of Champions”
- National Theater on Ice Top 10 Team Finalist in Choreographic Exercise - June 2022
- Junior Singles Free Skate
- Junior Solo Pattern Dance - 3 or 4 dances passed
- Junior Partner Pattern Dance - 3 or 4 dances passed
- Competitive Skater at the Novice Free Skate Level ~ National Excel Series
- Competitive Skater at the Senior Solo Free Dance Level ~ National Solo Dance Series
- Competitive Skater at the Senior Showcase Level
- Wichita Area Figure Skating High School Team Member & Competitor
- Wichita Figure Skating Club Junior Advisory Council Member & President
Laura Terronez
Laura (Laura Jo) began skating as an adult at the age of 20. Growing up, Laura attempted ice skating at a birthday party and ended up holding someone’s hand or the wall the entire time! Flash forward to the age of 20, and Laura was once again captivated by the idea of skating after watching some of the Mid-Continent competition at the Wichita Ice Center. That week, Laura hopped on the ice, pushing away fear and leaning into curiosity, where she discovered, “Wait…I can do this!” From there, Laura began Learn to Skate classes and her skating journey began!
Outside of skating, Laura is pursuing a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Friends University and enjoys practicing yoga and being outside.
Laura loves working with all ages of beginning skaters at the rink, particularly children. Because of her background in child development from a previous career as a Certified Child Life Specialist, Laura has unique qualifications for working with children in a developmentally appropriate way as they begin their skating journey!
Laura offers lessons for:
- Beginning skaters (adults and children)
- Skaters enrolled in Learn to Skate
Laura’s accreditation and experience:
- US Figure Skating Member
- USFS Coach Compliance: Non-Qualifying
- Learn to Skate USA Instructor
Laura’s skating achievements:
- Adult Bronze Skating Skills and Freestyle
- 10th place out of 24 in Adult Bronze at Adult Nationals in Salt Lake City, UT 2023
Allison Jabara
Allie has been skating for over 11 years and competing for almost eight years. She is a Learn to Skate Instructor at the Wichita Ice Center, where she works with kids of all ages; instructing both figure skaters and hockey players alike. Allies has loved skating all her childhood and that’s what drove her to compete for so many years while also testing as far as she can in both Moves in the Field, Ice Dance, and Freeskate. She is a part of the Wichita high school team serving as treasurer and competing in online competitions all across the nation representing Wichita.
Outside of skating, Allie is pursuing her associates degree from Friends University while also graduating high school with a 4.0. In high school she is involved in National Honor Society, Student Council, Skills USA, Drone Soccer, and is a member of the varsity volleyball team.
Allie began teaching Learn to Skate in 2024 and started private coaching in 2025.
Allie offers lessons in:
- Freeskating (Singles)
- Moves in the Field/Skating Skills
- Power and Edge
- Choreography
- Off Ice Stretching and Strengthening
Allie’s accreditation:
- US Figure Skating Member
- Professional Skaters Association, BASIC Member
- Learn to Skate USA Instructor
Allies accomplishments:
- Intermediate Freestyle
- Pre-Silver (Intermediate) Moves in the Field/Skating Skills
- Bronze Ice Dance (Solo)