Raritan NJ
7-10-2023 11:01pm

BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2023 GRADUATE SKATED TO ELITE NATIONAL HONORS

A kids’ birthday party that offered ice skating 13 years ago turned into a national honor for Lauren Allenspach. Lauren was a 4th Grader back when she laced on some ice skates at a friend’s birthday party.“I really liked it,” Lauren recalled. And today the recent graduate from Bridgewater-Raritan High School has earned the highest achievement from the U.S. Figure Skating. Lauren was named the Platinum Level Graduating Seniors Award for her spectacle on ice as a figure skater.

According to Chloe Roberts, who is Manager, School and Alumni Programs for the U.S. Figure Skating, which is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Graduating Seniors Award recognizes the hard work of student-athletes who have participated in figure skating throughout high school. 

Awards are given at the Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze levels based off a skater’s level of competitive achievement in high school. Selection for this award speaks to a skater’s continued commitment to succeeding in their athletic and academic endeavors.This year, according to U.S. figure Skating, over 800 student-athletes received level awards.

Little did U.S. Figure Skating—or Lauren—would know that her first-time experience on the ice at the Bridgewater Sports Arena 13 years ago would result in an elite honor.“When I heard that I won the award, I was really excited and appreciative, but I didn't even know there was this award,” Lauren admitted. “Winning this award puts in perspective on how far I came in skating.”That career took off for her when, as a 6th Grader, she began skating on a competitive level. Two years later, she joined a higher level, she said, and became a member of a high-profile team that was based in Yonkers, New York, and was called Team Image.“We had girls from seven different states on the team, including a girl from California,” Lauren reported.While the team was out of Yonkers, her practices and training occurred in New Jersey at the Ice House, a rink that is located in Hackensack.Team Image would not only showcase the girls’ talents around the country but Lauren and her skating mates also traveled to Switzerland, Sweden, Netherlands and Croatia.In order to become eligible for the U.S Figure Skating awards, Lauren had to perform tests for judges. Her tests were virtual performance and submitted by her team coach.“I reached the highest level,” Lauren said about her Platinum citation.While Lauren would breeze and perform on the ice, it was her parents, Carl and Louise, who would be the drivers and her companions on the trips.“They put in a lot of time for me,” Lauren said. ”They came with me on my trips and drove me to my practices.”But, now an owner of a driver's license, she said “I can drive myself now.”Those ventures featured “six team wards each year since 8th Grade,” Lauren revealed about her and her teammates' success in the rink.Lauren explained her passion for when she steps on the ice.“I enjoy the feeling when you first get on the ice and everyone is cheering you on. And I like pushing myself and my teammates besides me.”

Now that Lauren graduated from Bridgewater-Raritan High School on June 22, her focus is to concentrate on her studies at the University of Tennessee. She is planning to major in Engineering.

She revealed that while she may not continue to perform on ice, she is considering coaching.“There are three ice rinks down at the University of Tennessee,” she shared. “Maybe I can start a team and bring awareness of figure skating down there.”Another frequent traveler with Lauren was her sister, Natalie, who will enter her junior year at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.Does she skate, too?“We tried, but no, she plays tennis,” Lauren admitted.About the only slip Lauren has made in regards to skating.

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