Ku qor sii wadida cutubkan - Hughes wuxuu ku guuleystay horyaalka da'yarta ee 1998 US Championships xilli ciyaareedkii 1997-1998. Xilli ciyaareedkii xigay, waxay ku tartantay ISU Junior Grand Prix waxayna ku guuleysatay billad qalin ah Final-ka Junior Grand Prix ee 1998-1999. Waxay sidoo kale lacag ku qaadatay 1999 World Junior Championships oo la qabtay bishii Nofeembar 1998. Horyaalka Mareykanka ee 1999, Hughes waxay ku guuleysatay billad bir ah markii ugu horeysay ee heer sare ah. Iyada oo kaalinta afaraad gashay, Hughes caadiyan ma helin mid ka mid ah saddexda boos ee haweenka Mareykanka ee tartanka adduunka ee 1999
, si kastaba ha noqotee, Naomi Nari Nam, oo ah billaddii lacagta ahayd, uma aysan qalmin da'da dhacdada iyadoo loo eegayo xeerarka ISU. Hughes sidoo kale ma aheyn da'da u qalma, laakiin waqtigaas waxaa jiray godad loogu talagalay ciyaartooyda ku guuleysatay billadaha adduunka ee Junior. Hughes waxaa loo diray tartanka adduunka ee da'da weyn waxayna ku dhameysatay kaalinta 7aad markii ugu horeysay.