St. Francis High sophomore earns National Solo Ice Dance Championship

St. Francis High School sophomore Chloe Ryan of Geneva is the 2017 U.S. Figure Skating Association USFSA National Solo Ice Dance Champion in both the Pre-Gold Pattern Dances and the Junior Combined Dances categories.

The championship competition was held Sept. 7-9 at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs.

This is the third consecutive year that Ryan has competed and double-medaled in this competition.

Ryan qualified for two events in the series, which began in February and concluded in August.

In the Pre-Gold Pattern Dances category, Ryan scored higher than any other contestant in the United States, and was the only skater to achieve the maximum point total.

In the Junior Combined Dances category, she was one of three skaters to achieve the maximum point total.

In the championship rounds last weekend, Ryan finished in first place for both events.

Coached by Jamie Whyte, a 13-time National British Ice Dance Champion, Ryan trains every morning before and after school at the Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva.

"She is proud to represent the Midwest and especially her school, St. Francis High School, Wheaton, in U.S. Figure Skating Ice Dance," said her mom, Nancy Ryan.