In the high-stakes world of competitive figure skating, the "Junior" level is often misunderstood by outsiders. It isn't just a stepping stone; it is the official start of the Olympic trajectory. For Christian Heritage Academy senior Kaitlyn Oh, that trajectory has been a whirlwind of international travel, high-pressure jumps, and a recent, life-changing pivot.
Coming off a stellar season where she and former partner Michael Chapa qualified for the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and earned a spot on the U.S. National Team, Oh is now navigating the most pivotal year of her career.
Photo by Melanie Heaney
The Art of the Pair
While most skaters begin as individuals, Oh transitioned to pairs during high school, a discipline that requires as much trust as it does technical skill. "My favorite elements are the throws," Oh says, referencing the breathtaking moments where a male skater launches his partner into the air. However, those moments don’t come without a price. She notes that mastering the double twist and the triple throw remains some of the most difficult work she has ever done.
That work paid off this past season. Competing internationally at the Challenge Cup in Tilburg, the Netherlands, Oh and Chapa represented the United States on the world stage. They peaked at the U.S. Nationals, posting a career-best combined score of 127.84—a testament to years of grueling 4:00 AM wake-up calls and elite-level coaching.
Photo by Melanie Heaney
A Team of Champions
Oh’s success is bolstered by a "dream team" of coaches that reads like a who’s-who of American skating. Her training is guided by Olympic medalists and national champions, including Chris Knierim, Alexa Knierim, Timothy LeDuc, Sean Marshinski, and David Santee.
But for Oh, the support system starts at home. She credits her mother, father, and late grandmother as her primary pillars, alongside a deep-seated Christian faith that keeps her grounded. "Skating is a gift from God," Oh says, "but it isn't my entire identity." In a sport often defined by perfectionism, she relies on daily prayer and the support of a sports psychologist to maintain a healthy perspective.
A New Chapter: The Felberbaum Partnership
The biggest question mark of Oh’s senior year was her skating future. With Chapa aging out of the junior circuit, Oh was left searching for a new teammate who could match her skill and ambition.
The search is over. In March, Oh officially announced her new partnership with Aaron Felberbaum. The pairing is a "power couple" of sorts in the junior ranks; Felberbaum is also a U.S. National Team member who competed alongside Oh at this year’s National Championships.
Looking Ahead
As graduation approaches, Oh will stay local to continue her training. While she is finalizing her college plans—balancing the rigors of academia with the demands of a National Team athlete—her eyes remain on the ultimate prize. With the next Winter Olympics four years away, the new partnership with Felberbaum marks the beginning of a fresh climb toward the podium.
Oh is an embodiment of CHA’s expected student outcome—excel in your gifts. For the younger athletes at CHA and beyond, her advice is simple: don't let perceived limitations stop you from trying. "The main thing that prevents people from achieving big dreams," she says, "is stopping or losing faith."
With a new partner, a world-class coaching staff, and a community at CHA cheering her on, Kaitlyn Oh is certainly not stopping. She’s just getting started.
.jpg&command_2=resize&height_2=85 "From the Pitch to the Thunder (a CHA Senior's Journey to Wheaton College)")
