Blake Gilman and Julia Epps got their ice-dancing skills as sharp as their skates at the Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society in Ardmore. They then parlayed that Montgomery County training into national and international success. Matteo Iadonisi reported their story at 6abc.

Gilman, 17, started skating early for fun, but a desire to compete evolved. He particularly wanted boy-girl ice dancing.

He met Julia Epps at a Delaware County skating complex, and it became quickly evident the two were well matched athletically and aesthetically.

They’ve also become close friends.

“It really helps, like, for connection… how hard we practice every day and how much time goes into it,” said Epps, who is now 13 years old. “And sometimes, we don’t even have to talk to, like, understand each other.”

Gilman, who attends Lower Merion High School, and Epps, a student at Friends’ Central School, recently shone domestically and internationally.

They competed in the U.S. Nationals, Junior Ice Dance competition in San Jose, California and the Bavarian Open in Oberstdorf, Germany.

In that latter competition, they took second place for Advanced Novice Ice Dance.

Future plans are big: “We both want to … eventually make it to the Olympics and hopefully get a medal there,” said Gilman.

More on these ice-dancing teens is at 6abc.