Champion on ice

Charlotte Loweth (pictured), 11, competed at the U.S. Figure Skating southwestern nine-states regional championship in Fort Collins, Colorado. The River Oaks Baptist School fifth grader won the first-place gold medal in her age group at the highly competitive skating championship. Charlotte practices up to 15 hours each week with coach Becky Dever at the Bellerive Ice Rink in Sharpstown. She began skating at age 5 and quickly demonstrated both a natural talent and drive. Charlotte’s proud mom, Audrey, describes her as fierce and competitive, but also a gracious competitor. “We are most proud of the way she handles herself in this cut-throat and competitive sport,” Audrey said. Charlotte’s ultimate goals are to compete internationally for Team USA and to be the first woman to land a clean quadruple rotated jump in competition.

Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behind-the-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportzBuzz, Jr. at [email protected]. Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis.