Hoover residents to perform in national figure skating championships

Before traveling to Saint Paul, Minn., next week for the 2016 Prudential United States Figure Skating Championships, Hoover residents Alyssa McDougal and Paul Schatz plan to perform closer to home this weekend.

McDougal and Schatz, residents of the Riverchase community, plan to perform their short program as an exhibition on Sunday, Jan. 17, at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena. The performance also serves as a send-off party before the pair leaves for the championships.

The public is invited to the performance, which will take place at 1:30 p.m., and sign the duo’s competition banner.

McDougal and Schatz have skated as a team since 2012 and have competed in the last three USFS Eastern Sectionals Championships. The pair placed third in 2014-15 and seventh in 2015 as junior pairs. This will be their debut as a senior pairs team.

McDougal and Schatz will leave for Minnesota on Tuesday with their head coach Eric Mumper and their coaching team, which includes Heather Mumper, Doug Mattis and Danny Tate.