October 1, 2025
Toby Scofield
In 2018, the inspiHER Girls Leadership Foundation was founded in Fairfield County, Ohio, with the mission of empowering middle and high school girls by building their confidence and developing leadership skills. Since then, the foundation has impacted hundreds of young women—and for Bloom-Carroll student Kaitlynn Mauck, it opened the door to an unexpected future.
“Two years ago,” said her mother, Jennifer Mauck, “Kaitlynn attended the inspiHER Leadership Foundation retreat and met Olympic and Junior National level luge athletes Ashley Farquharson and Maggie Richardson. She was really inspired by them and went to try a wheeled version of luge at the White Castle Slider Search in Columbus, a recruiting event open to local kids every summer.”
The Slider Search, designed for athletes ages 10-13, introduces participants to luge basics. Kids ride wheeled sleds down a paved course and complete fitness tests. Promising participants are then invited to USA luge training sites to experience the real thing. Kaitlynn, who “fell in love with the sport” at the event, was one of the lucky few selected to train at the luge track in Lake Placid, New York.
“After experiencing luge on a real track on the ice, she knew this was her passion,” her mother said. “She was thrilled to find out she had been accepted to the Youth National Team in May of 2024. Kaitlynn was chosen as a new member of the team based on her performance during her screening camp in December of 2023.”
Kaitlynn has since completed her first year on the Youth National B1 Team, a group of 17 athletes from across the country. She recently qualified for another year with the team, which begins in June 2025.
“Right now she competes in national competitions in Lake Placid and Salt Lake City,” her mother explained. “Next year she’ll begin international competitions, which means traveling to tracks around the world.”
Training for luge is demanding, requiring both physical and technical preparation. Kaitlynn spends June and two weeks each month from October to March at the Olympic Training Center, where she and her teammates focus on core strength, balance, agility, mobility, endurance, and reaction time. They also learn sled maintenance and refine their movements to match the physics of each run. At home, Kaitlynn follows her own regimen, including weightlifting and running.
“Kaitlynn makes a lot of sacrifices because of the time needed not only for travel and training, but for fundraising efforts as well,” her mother said. “Luge is definitely her passion, though, so she’s been more than happy to make those sacrifices. Overall, she still manages to enjoy her favorite activities and hobbies and maintain a traditional pre-teen life.”
Those who wish to support Kaitlynn can donate through her Give Butter.
One encounter with two luge athletes changed the course of Kaitlynn’s life, igniting her dream of someday competing in the Olympics. Her journey is just one example of how inspiHER helps young people discover their strengths and pursue greatness. With three retreats already scheduled for 2026, plus the addition of a brand-new FORGE Boys Leadership Summit, inspiHER is preparing even more youth to face the future with confidence and resilience.
