CHAMPION

Continued from page 1 and just completed her second season with the combined Anderson/Gabriel Richard varsity team, the highest level in which she has skated.

The state championship came in the free skate category called excel prejuvenile-plus, competing against seven other skaters in the finals. Skaters were judged on their jumps, spins and footwork.

Godbout said that while she hoped to fare well in the event, she was “actually shocked” that she won the gold medal.

“I competed at that level in an individual competition,” she said. “I knew what I had to do to place. But skaters at the state competition are coming from all around the whole state. I knew what it took, but I didn’t know how good the competition would be.”

In all, there were 34 schools from around the state in the competition.

The runner-up medal came in presilver solo dance against five other skaters, who were judged on certain patterns while performing to music. Godbout competed in a 14-step dance.

The junior-to-be is coached by Goddard and Annette Bowman.

Goddard, who is the Southgate parks and recreation director, has been coaching Godbout since she learned to skate and “is the foundation for what Bridget knows now,” Bowman said.

Godbout “is way more than just a student to me,” said Goddard. “She is family – another daughter. I am so proud of her for pushing herself this past season to achieve so much. It’s why I coach: for skaters like her. Her win at states was so well deserved and it proved to her that she could do it –just like I always tell her she can.”

Bowman is a figure skating coach based at the Southgate Ice Arena. Before her 30-year coaching career, she skated in national competition, something Godbout strives to achieve at the senior level – “the highest possible.” Her husband was the late Christopher Bowman, a two-time Olympic skater.

Bowman said figure skating is a subjective sport that is reviewed by judges, but there was no doubt in her mind that Godbout deserved the gold medal.

“Bridget skated beautifully,”

Bowman said. “I was really not surprised how she skated. She trains that way every day she’s at the rink… I knew after watching the entire skate, she no doubt was the clear front runner in that flight.”

Bowman said she isn’t surprised that Godbout was “shocked” to win the state championship.

“That explains Bridget to a tee,” Bowman said. “She’s a very humble young lady. She’s one of these ladies that comes into the rink, is always positive and is always cheering for her fellow skater… She is a wonderful, wonderful young human being. She is thoughtful in everything she does.

“I like kids to have skills when I take them on, but in over 30 years of coaching, I know that work ethic supersedes that. In the long run, these kids with that kind of work ethic end up being more successful in the sport.”

Godbout was impressed that Southgate Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Sharon Irvine also was in attendance for the state finals, saying “it was super cool for her to be there.”.

Mom Jennifer said Bridget skates an average of five hours a week. She is part of the varsity figure skating B team at the school, which narrowly missed the state finals. She also plays varsity tennis and junior varsity volleyball.

Godbout has a 4.0 grade point and is a member of the National Honor Society. She has served on the Student Council and Student Congress, holding the secretary’s office in the Congress. She has a reputation for being kind, trustworthy and organized and plans to pursue a career in nursing after high school.

As a junior, Godbout said she plans to “move up a couple levels” in figure skating competition.

“The future is anything she wants it to be – and I say that confidently,” Bowman said. “Anything she has put her mind to has come to fruition.”

Looking back, Godbout said she is grateful her parents taught her to skate. She said her dad skated with “Disney on Ice” in 2001 and 2002 and still coaches. He also took specialty lessons from Bowman and her late husband. Godbout said her mother skated until 2010.

And Bridget passed on her skating talent by teaching her three-year-old sister Stella how to skate.