Robert E. Lee graduate Ashtian Horton wins USA Jump Rope competition
Published 2:42 pm Friday, July 21, 2017
- Ashtian Horton jumps rope at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, on Thursday, July 20, 2017. Horton, a recent Robert E. Lee High School graduate who will be attending Tarleton State University in the fall, won first place in the single rope pairs freestyle competition at the USA Jump Rope Championship in Orlando, Florida, in June. (Chelsea Purgahn/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
In a room fit for racquetball, Ashtian Horton practices his jump rope routine – his half ponytail bouncing up and down.
Horton was introduced to jump roping at an early age and quickly fell in love with it and has advanced to become a national champion in the sport.
Horton’s brother was a part of the Heart Throbbers, a jump rope team that formed in 1992 as a result of participation in the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope For Heart program.
In 1995, the Heart Throbbers became members of the USA Jump Rope organization.
In 2009, the team formed the nonprofit organization, Heart Throbbers Inc.
Horton joined the team at 5 years old and has been a part of it to this day at 18.
Horton, a Robert E. Lee High School graduate, recently competed at the USA Jump Rope Championship in Orlando, Florida, where he placed first in single rope pairs freestyle at grand nationals.
Horton practices regularly at Green Acres Baptist Church and any other place he can do some jumping.
“I love jump rope because it’s fun, and it brings great opportunities. I have gotten to travel the world and have met wonderful people along the way,” Horton said.
Horton has visited Michigan, Oklahoma, Florida and other states because of his skills and the Heart Throbbers.
Horton usually practices by himself and, depending on his mood, practices between an hour and a half and two hours daily.
Technique, speed and coordination are what judges look for in competition.
Horton competed alongside J.P. Godoy of New York University and practiced for three days before the duo performed the routine to the judges.
Horton will attend Tarleton State University next fall and said he hopes he can start a jump rope team there.
“My main goal is to spread jump rope everywhere I can. I want to jump till I die,” Horton said.
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