(6/18/2012, Sun Sentinel) Andrew Torgashev doesn’t feel pressure having former competitive skaters as his parents and coaches.
Torgashev, who recently turned 11, is excelling in the sport, having won more than 60 medals in nearly six years of figure skating, including gold as a Juvenile Boys Division performer in the 2012 South Atlantic Regionals and the 2012 U.S. Junior Nationals.
The Coral Springs resident also had first-place finishes at the South Florida Challenge, the Florida Open and, most recently, the Sunshine State Games Figure Skating competition at the Saveology.com Iceplex in his hometown. The latter event featured nearly 400 skaters, a record field, from around the state.
Torgashev, who recently completed the fifth grade at North Broward Preparatory School, topped the scoring charts in the Intermediate Men’s Freestyle (Unrestricted) Division and the Intermediate Men’s Short Program.
Training under the watchful eyes of his mother, Ilona Melnichenko, and father, Artem Torgashev, the rising star got his start at age 4, when he saw other children skating and wanted to give it a try.
Torgashev, who trains twice a day Monday through Friday, is grateful for his parents’ help.
“They took me skating one day for fun and I liked it,” Andrew said. “I really don’t care what place I get. If I don’t get first, it is OK as long as I tried my best and did what I could.”
His sister, 5-year-old Deana, also is a competitive skater and came home with runner-up recognition in the Beginner 5 Girls Free Skate Group at the Sunshine State Games.
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June 18, 2012|By Gary Curreri, Special Correspondent