Sports

Former Bloomingdale Student Qualifies for U.S. Figure Skating Championships

Ashlyn Gaughan trains in Colorado Springs, Colo.

South Brandon resident Ashlyn Gaughan and her skating partner Cody Lithco recently qualified for the 2013 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Omaha, Neb., Jan. 20-27.

Gaughan and Lithco earned their place in the championships by placing fourth in ice dance at the Midwest Sectional Figure Skating Championships last weekend in Ohio.

The two train in Colorado Springs, Col. Gaughan attended Bloomingdale High School until the middle of her junior year when she was offered the chance to train in Colorado with new coaches. Now a senior, she attends Hillsborough Virtual School and maintains a 5.6 grade point average while taking four Advanced Placement and two honors courses online.

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She is accepting donations to offset the cost of traveling back and forth between Florida and Colorado, and for housing and living expenses in Colorado.

Her parents both are school district employees.

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Gaughan skates at the Brandon Ice Sports Forum, Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex and the Ice Factory in Kissimmee when she is not in Colorado.


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