Raleigh girl begins Carolina Hurricanes' games

Katherine Fritsch is a fourth grader at St. Timothy's School, 4523 Six Forks Road in Raleigh. But, on the ice, in front of thousands of screaming fans, is where she stands out the most.

“This is my second home, basically,” Katherine said.

Before every Hurricanes game, the spotlight shines on Katherine as she sings the national anthem.

“She's really awesome,” Hurricanes' fan Justine Vandermel said.

“Being on this stage, and being able to belt it out every single time, it's unbelievable,” Hurricanes' fan Marta Kuyser said.

Katherine, 10, sung her first national anthem at the RBC Center when she was 7 years old. Even with thousands of people watching, she says she doesn't get nervous.

“I have a trick and I always think of people in their underwear, just standing in the underwear and it makes me feel a lot better,” Katherine said.

Another trick to avoiding stage fright is her dad.  He is by Katherine's side as she rehearses in a dressing room before each appearance.

“She is very humble and has handled this all very well in our opinion, and that's why she's able to continue,” father Tom Fritsch said.

Her mom is there too. Katherine gives her a hug before show time.

“I guess, I'm just used to being here and the gift has really brought me in different places,” Katherine said.

Katherine got her start for the Hurricanes by singing at an awards banquet in front of the hockey club's general manager and other executives.

Katherine has sung for the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons.  Her father says she has also preformed for troops at Fort Bragg.