D’Yon Padgett

Background:

I began skating at age 5 and have since competed in freestyle events, the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships, exhibitions, showcases, and theater-on-ice workshops. A highlight of my skating career was performing in Stars on Ice in Detroit, Michigan, in 2018.

During my time at Skyline High School, I co-founded the Skyline Coed Varsity Figure Skating Team in 2016. Under my leadership, our team won several competitions and state championships over a three-year span. I graduated from Skyline in 2018 and went on to attend Central Michigan University, where I majored in Entrepreneurship with a minor in Communication. I earned my Bachelor of Applied Arts degree in 2022 and later completed a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurial Ventures.

In 2019, I founded a university figure skating club at CMU, bringing together fellow students and skating coaches. The club remained active until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Today, I am an active coach and member of the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club. My skating skills include proficiency in Moves in the Field, Pre-Silver Skating, Freestyle, and Pre-Bronze Singles.

Experience:

My name is D’Yon Padgett, and I began my figure skating journey in 2005 at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. With 20 years of skating experience and four years of coaching through the “Learn to Skate USA” program, I bring both passion and expertise to the ice. I have competed in Singles, Synchronized Skating, and Exhibitions. Figure skating has always been a safe and expressive space for me. From a young age, I was drawn to the sport not only for the fun but also for the opportunity to express myself artistically.

As a coach, I design lesson plans that are both engaging and tailored to each skater’s learning style. I focus on developing foundational skills for beginners while also challenging my advanced skaters to push their limits. My goal is to create a safe, supportive, and fun environment for all skaters to grow—physically, emotionally, and artistically.

Passion and Values:

I develop lesson plans for my skaters to make the process fun and easier to learn at their own pace. The lessons are designed to build basic skills for beginners and challenge my advanced skaters. My goal is to provide a safe and caring environment for my skaters as well as myself. During my college career at Central Michigan University, I started a university figure skating club in 2019. The club consisted of fellow schoolmates and fellow ice skating coaches. We remained active until the pandemic of 2020. 

Company Name:

Jay’s Champs, LLC