Ashley Wagner comes off a strong season. Highland Park native Jason Brown comes off a wasted one.

Both Americans are at different junctures in their careers as they begin the Grand Prix season this weekend at Skate America in Hoffman Estates.

Wagner brought home the first U.S. women’s medal in a decade at the world championships this year when she grabbed silver. The three-time U.S. champion and 2014 Olympic team bronze medalist believes she needs to build off of that silver medal, not gloat about it.

“My focus is getting to worlds and getting back on that podium,” the 25-year-old Wagner said.

Skate America, which begins today at Sears Centre, is a good place to start. She’ll face current U.S. champion Gracie Gold and three-time world winner Mao Asada of Japan as the six-event series begins. For Wagner — and Gold — the goal is to perform well enough to get to the Grand Prix Final in Marseille in December. A win this weekend would nearly assure that.

Brown’s quick rise through the figure skating ranks — from the junior level in 2013 to Olympic team bronze medalist at Sochi to U.S. champ in 2015 — took a detour. He barely competed last season because of lower back pain.

“I look at it as more experience,” said the 21-year-old Brown. “What’s it like missing out on part of a season, when you don’t get to do as many consistent drills because your body is rehabbing? At the same time, you’re having the confidence you can do it. So you are finding other places to get that confidence.”

He won the U.S. International Classic last month in Salt Lake City. The Skate America field is stronger, with Shoma Uno and Daisuke Murakami of Japan, Maxim Kovtun of Russia and Jin Boyang of China.

Brown is from the suburbs and has been doing work with Ronald McDonald House in the Chicago area. Not only is he thrilled to be competing, but he’s extra jacked-up that it’s a “home game.”

“I’m excited to get to perform at home and head home, and get to perform in that hometown environment,” he said.