On Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, the figure skating community lost 28 athletes, coaches and parents, including eight from the Skating Club of Northern Virginia, in a tragic plane crash as they traveled home from the National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas.
To honor their memory, we pay tribute to those members of the Skating Club of Northern Virginia. They all had bright futures in life and in skating, and they will be forever missed.
Brielle Beyer
Brielle Beyer, 12, was described as spunky, polite and talented. Skating came naturally to Brielle as she was born into a family who loved being on the ice, including her brother, who is a hockey player. Earning a bronze medal in the juvenile girls division at the 2025 Eastern Sectional Singles Final helped secure her invitation to her first National Development Camp. Shortly before the National Development Camp, Brielle accomplished her goal of consistently landing her triple jumps.
Her mother, Justyna Beyer, also died in the accident.
Cory Haynos
Cory Haynos, 16, was invited to participate at National Development Camp after finishing as the intermediate bronze medalist at the 2025 Eastern Sectional Singles Final. A skater with limitless potential, on the final day of camp, Cory landed a clean triple Axel – a feat he had been working toward for months. He dreamed to one day qualify for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
His mother and father also perished in the crash.
Edward Zhou
Edward Zhou, 16, started skating as a child. He had a fearless attitude and was always eager to try new things with a smile on his face. He was an enthusiastic supporter of his fellow skaters. Edward advanced to the National Development Camp with a fourth-place finish in the novice division at the 2025 Eastern Sectional Singles Final.
His parents, Yu Zhou and Kaiyan Mao, also died in the crash.
