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. Jesse has more than 13 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 and the Aspire Academy coach for four years.
In addition to competing and coaching, Jesse is a filmmaker and music composer. She 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 and followed up with a second degree in Music/Piano Perfomance, also graduating Summa Cum Laude. 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 the president of 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 in Wichita.
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
- Gold Level Achievement of USFS Graduating Seniors Award Program
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
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
Hannah Mills
Hannah started ice skating at the age of nine and from the start fell in love with the sport. She started with ISI doing competitions and exhibitions to entertain the audience and tell stories through her skating. Later on, she switched to USFSA to start gathering her credentials and awards. At 17, she auditioned for Disney On Ice and a few other shows. She received her Disney On Ice contract and started tour at 18. After tour she realized she wanted to share the love of the sport and switched to coaching to help others find the spirit and love for skating.
Hannah began private coaching in 2022.
Hannah’s accomplishments:
ISI
- Ice Dance: Level 7
- Freestyle: Level 8
USFSA
- Ice Dance: Pre-Gold
- Free Skate: Novice
- Moves In The Field: Gold
- Solo Free Dance: Gold
Skating Experience:
- Disney On Ice: 1 year
- Nutcracker On Ice: 7 years
- Exhibitions: 7 years
- Pro Skaters: 6 years
- Synchro: 4 years
Dance Experience:
- Ballet - 6 years
- Hip Hop - 8 years
- Lyrical- 2 years
- Jazz - 1 year
- Tap - 1 year
- Modern - 1 year
Awards and Extras:
- USFSA Gold Level Distinction
- Professionalism and Dedication Award
- Noble Spirit Award
- ISI Competition: 7 years
- USFSA Competition: 4 years
- American Sign Language
Briana Bollinger
Briana grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, where she began skating at the age of eight. After transitioning from group classes to private lessons at age 12, she quickly developed a passion for the sport and dedicated herself to competitive figure skating. Over the next eight years, she completed all of her skating tests under the ISU system, competed extensively, and came within a few points of qualifying for the South African National Team.
To further her skating career, Briana moved to Colorado Springs to train. Although the COVID-19 pandemic brought her competitive career to an end, it also sparked her passion for coaching. She began coaching at age 16 and has now spent over 12 years helping skaters of all ages build confidence, develop strong fundamentals, and achieve their goals. During her coaching career, Briana has coached at South Suburban Ice Arena, Monument Ice Rinks, and the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Cadet Ice Arena. She also expanded her coaching knowledge by attending the Jump On It Camp at The Broadmoor World Arena.
Outside of skating, Briana enjoys working with children and families and has extensive experience supporting individuals with disabilities. She is passionate about creating a positive, encouraging environment where every skater can grow, both on and off the ice.
Briana began coaching in 2014.
Briana offers lessons in:
- Free Skating (Singles)
- Skating Skills/Moves in the Field
- Power Skating
- Edge Development
- Choreography
- Off-Ice Conditioning and Strength Training
- Beginner through Advanced Skating Skills
Briana’s experience includes:
- Competitive Figure Skating (ISU System)
- Ballet
- Synchronized Skating
- Solo Figure Skating
- Power Skating
- Off-Ice Conditioning and Training
- Choreography
Briana’s accreditations:
- Figure Skating Coach Certification
- U.S. Center for SafeSport Certified
- Learn to Skate Instructor