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Regional roller skating championships coming to Port Richey

Photo provided by Angela Serini

Erica Sheley, 16, will be one of many local skaters competing in the USA Roller Sports Southern Region championships at Port Richey's Spinnation's Skating Center. Erica has skated in events both nationally and internationally during her young career.

By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: June 3, 2009

PORT RICHEY - Nearly 200 figure skaters representing seven states will descend upon Spinnations Skating Center here for the Southern Region USA Roller Sports Championships from June 13-15.

Among the competitors will be 25 skaters from the Spinnations-based Florida Skating Academy. The event is sponsored by the Pasco County Tourist Development Council.

Those who place high enough in their designated classifications will qualify for the U.S. Championships, in Peoria, Ill.

Erica Sheley, 16, is one area skater with high hopes come regionals. She has competed both nationally and internationally, including a recent trip to Freiburg, Germany, that resulted in a sixth-place finish in the Junior Women's Figures at the 37th Annual German Cup. According to a recent press release, Sheley is striving for a spot on the U.S. Junior World Team this year.

Another young local skater, Nicole Ogloza, will be look to repeat her success from 2008. She won the national "C" singles title then and will now jump up to "B" singles. Ogloza will also skate in solo dance and figures.

Caroline Bell, Peggy Bellia, Benny Gatto, Jan LeGassick, Kaitlyn Shaw, Paige Stevenson, Fred Wheeler, Siobhan Boismier, Dennis Turner and Jo Ann Turner are other Florida Skating Academy members with high hopes for national qualification.

Admission to the event will be $5 per segment. Doors open on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and competitive events run until 11 p.m. World Class and Junior World Class events, along with Standard Adult and Youth events, take place on Saturday.

Sunday begins earlier, at 6 a.m. and run until 4:30 p.m. After a break, doors reopen at 7:30 p.m. for Standard and World Class finals.

Monday's events begin at 5:30 p.m.

For a look at the full schedule, go to www.soregskate.com.

Spinnations Skating Center is at 8345 Congress St., Port Richey.

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com.

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