[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 22, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S906]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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               RECOGNIZING THE BISMARCK CAPITAL ICE CHIPS

 Mr. CRAMER. Madam President, this is a time of year when 
sports seasons wrap up and tournaments and final competitions crown new 
champions. I have the privilege today of recognizing one team of 
outstanding figure skaters from Bismarck, ND. They are the Capital Ice 
Chips, 22 high school girls under the age of 18 who this month skated 
their way to the gold medal in the U.S. National Synchronized Skating 
championships.
  The Ice Chips are not strangers to this national competition, which 
was held in Peoria, IL. They have qualified for nationals for the past 
13 years and have stood on the winners podium nine times. This year, 
they were on the top step for the first time after competing against 12 
other teams hailing from much larger metropolitan areas in California, 
New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Arizona.
  The 20-year-old Bismarck Figure Skating Club has been dominant in 
national competitions because it begins training young skaters as young 
as preschoolers. With considerable support from parents and top-notch 
teachers and coaches at every stage of learning, these young skaters 
also start synchronized skating at an early age. Most of this year's 
Capital Ice Chips are veteran skaters who have attended many regional 
and national competitions.
  I want to commend the coaches, notably Rebecca Gallion, who has been 
with the Bismarck Figure Skating Club for all of its 20 years, as well 
as Selena Morris and Hayley Trom. Previous skaters have become 
instructors and coaches and have been instrumental in helping the Ice 
Chips advance to the level of excellence on display at the national 
competition this year.
  The skaters on the Capital Ice Chips national championship team are 
Emily Appert, Elyse Bock, Nora Carlson, Gabriella Deeter, Chloe Dwyer, 
Isabelle Ersland, Brooklyn Gallion, Tatum Gietzen, Ella Haar, Miah 
Hamar, Kamri Hopfauf, Ashlyn Iverson, Nora Luckenbill, Taryn Nelson, 
Addison Rakness, Kadence Rambur, Addisen Renton, Morgan Schatz, Lexi 
Stenberg, Reece Theel, Ethnie Zahn, and Kinzie Zahn.
  North Dakota's legendary winters bring out a love of winter sports, 
including those played on ice rinks across my State. Figure and 
synchronized skating require teamwork and discipline in these young 
athletes, and I congratulate the Capital Ice Chips for their dedication 
and hard work that earned them this championship. I join the rest of 
North Dakota in thanking the Bismarck Figure Skating Club and the 
Capital Ice Chips for inspiring all of us to achieve excellence. They 
have demonstrated what can be achieved by combining faith and passion 
with determination and teamwork.

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