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NHS student named national, state adult female athlete of the year
The National Congress of State Games (NSCG) on Oct. 8 announced Ashlynn Moore, student at Northside High School, was selected as the national 2020 adult female athlete of the year. In addition, Virginia Amateur Sports (VAS) also announced Moore was the Virginia 2020 adult female athlete of the year.
Moore, who was born with Spina Bifida, has been a long-time wheelchair athlete on the Northside High School unified track team. She also has competed in basketball, baseball and track and field events, winning a gold medal in the 100-meter wheelchair dash at the Commonwealth Games in 2019 and 2020. Moore has been a long-time participant in Special Olympics and has volunteered at many Little Feet Meet events hosted at Northside High School, often leading the athlete’s oath during the opening ceremonies.
“Ashlynn finds tremendous joy in participating in her various sports and wakes up every morning with a smile and a commitment to live life to the fullest. She always is pushing herself as an athlete, challenging her limitations, and refuses to settle,” said the NCSG in a news release.
“I’m so proud of Ashlynn,” said Wanda Flora, teacher and coach of the NHS unified track team. “She is very positive, fun loving, energetic and loved by all. I can’t think of a better person to be named athlete of the year,” Flora said.
In a news release, VAS said of Moore, “Words fail to express the excitement she felt and displayed as she powered down the track and the pure joy on her face as she crossed the finish line was indescribable! It would be so easy for her to settle for a lesser activity, one less challenging, one that would require less commitment, but that wouldn’t be Ashlynn.”
Moore will be recognized at the NCSG Virtual Annual Symposium and TEAMS Virtual Conference and Expo, which starts next week.