Hoffman parks' skaters shine in world team competition
The Chicago Wolves coming to practice in Hoffman Estates was the big news three years ago, when the Hoffman Estates Park District's Community Center & Ice Arena opened.
However, what has happened since then may surprise some people. Along with the steady development of its youth hockey program -- including the Wolf Pack, its in-house hockey league -- the center has seen its figure skating program take off.
Not only has one of its coaches, Lane Walker, left to star in Disney On Ice's version of "High School Musical," but its up-and-coming skaters are turning heads in the figure skating world.
At this summer's Ice Skating Institute's World Recreational Team Championships, held in Bensenville and Franklin Park, the Hoffman Estates team earned one of six new trophies awarded this year, called the Percentage Placement Trophy.
It recognized the high placements earned across the board by individual skaters from the entire Hoffman Estates-based team.
"Because the girls placed so well, their percentage was higher than any other team," explains Patti Brinkley, skating manager.
Specifically, among the 21 skaters who competed in 29 events, including six special needs skaters, 17 earned first place medals, while four took second place, three placed in third place, three took fourth place and one skater earned a fifth place.
Overall, the team placed 37th out of the 126 teams from across the country that competed.
"This is an outstanding accomplishment for a program that is not quite three years old," Brinkley adds. "It's a true testament to the quality of our program and coaches, as well as the dedication of our skaters."
The Ice Skating Institute has been encouraging ice skating as a recreational sport since 1959, with its educational skating programs and ice competitions. Its skating levels generally are seen as a springboard for aspiring figure skaters who want to take their skating to the next level, the U.S. Figure Skating Association.
Just to underscore that relationship, at this summer's world championships, the reigning national champion, Evan Lysacek -- a Naperville native -- performed during a benefit performance at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville.
Winning one of the tournament's team trophies made Brinkley's skaters feel as if they were national champions, she adds. Beginning next week, however, they will come back down to earth, when the fall session starts.
For now, hats off to Emily Lorch, Olivia Gualano, Taylor Swanson, Nivedita Sriram, and Ashley Jones all of Hoffman Estates; Julia Niziolek and Stefanie Dreksler of Schaumburg; Melissa Penny, Jeanelle and Jeashelle Baldric of Streamwood; Yelin Ha of Palatine; Jamie Brooks of Arlington Heights; Kaho Yamaguchi of Inverness; Ashley Swims of Hanover Park; Kristin and Karri Bellamia of Chicago; Kelly Scheer of Romeoville; Courtney Norgren of Bolingbrook; and Hope Vevers of Elmhurst.
Their team of coaches included Therese Phillips, Lane Walker, Jill Jonkouski, Deb Jenssen, Patty Hermann and Danielle Koscielak.