College doesn't hold back figure skater from competing at top level

Through high school, Lauren Roman of Arlington Heights worked her way up to the senior ladies division of the U.S. Figure Skating Association, competing in regional and sectional competitions.

However, her career didn't end once she left for college. Roman, now a senior at the University of Illinois, earned a fourth place finish among senior ladies at the recent U.S. Collegiate Championships hosted by the U.S. Figure Skating Association.

The competition took place earlier this month at the Goggin Ice Center on the campus of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and was open only to full-time college students. Linsey Ann Stucks from Oklahoma State University took first place.

In the opening qualifying round, Roman earned the most points of any competitor for her spins and spirals. She had three spins, including a combination spin, a sit spin and a flying spin as well as a pair of intricate step sequences, however at the last minute she decided to hold out some key jumps.

"I'm happy that I was really able to maximize points under the (new international judging system) with my spirals and spins, but I'm disappointed that I left out my three-jump combination," Roman said to skating officials after the first round.

According to the official results, Roman completed a double Lutz but left off the double loop and double toe loop that would have rounded out the combination.

Nonetheless, she finished second after the qualifying round and then came back to finish fourth overall, of the 36 skaters who competed at the senior ladies division.

In Champaign, Roman is majoring in kinesiology, with the hopes of continuing on to study physical therapy. Along with her academic load, she keeps up with her figure skating, on the Illini's synchronized skating team -- which placed seventh at last year's nationals -- and her solo career.

Roman trains at Oakton Ice Arena in Park Ridge and Twin Rinks Ice Arena in Buffalo Grove, under coaches David Santee, Denise Myers and Fury Gold. Scott Brown choreographed her program.

She pursued her skating while attending Our Lady of the Wayside School and St. Viator High School, and she now coaches young skaters at the Rolling Meadows Ice Arena and Oakton Ice Arena, when she is home from college.