Louisville Figure Skaters to Compete for National Title

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The ice dancing teams of Christopher Elder and Sophia Elder and JT Michel and Josephine Hagan will compete for national titles at the 2013 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Omaha, Nebraska in January.

Medalists from the three sectional championships (Pacific Coast, Midwestern and Eastern) advanced to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The Elders, who are a brother and sister team, won the gold medal at the U.S. Figure Skating Midwestern Sectional Championships in November, while while the team of Michel and Hagan won bronze.

Christopher and Sophia Elder are sixth and fourth graders, respectively, at Kentucky Country Day. Michel is a sixth grader at Highlands Latin School and Hagan is fourth grader at Tully Elementary. Both teams represent Louisville Skating Academy, a local figure skating club and member club of US Figure Skating.

“I am very proud of how hard these teams have worked to achieve their goals this year,” says Sarah Neal, the Elders' coach. “Winning Sectionals is a huge accomplishment for Sophia and Christopher and an important milestone for them and for skating in our community. They are excited to represent LSA at the national level and look forward to the challenge.”

Michel and Hagan are coached by Susan Caudill.