After honing her skills on Longmont tennis courts, athlete Ashlee Wood is upping her game with a trip to the national stage.

The Niwot woman is one of roughly 100 athletes who will represent Colorado in the Special Olympics USA Games next year. The games, which will be held in June, will bring athletes from all 50 states to the competition in Minnesota. Wood is one of four tennis players — two women and two men — on the Colorado team.

Wood became eligible for the USA Games when she clinched the gold medal in doubles at the state Special Olympics tennis competition earlier this month. She said it “means the world” to get to compete against athletes from around the country.

“I’m very excited,” said Wood, who is 20. “Hopefully, it will take me up to the next level.”

Wood plays for the Lon

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