In The News

February 9, 2006
Pettit Skaters Rise To The Top At Long Track Championships

The Pettit National Ice Center, a U.S. Olympic Training Facility, is proud to announce the success of local speed skaters at the 2006 U.S. National Long Track Championships/U.S. Junior Long Track Championships.

The annual Long Track Championships, which were held at the outdoor oval in Roseville, Minnesota, February 3-5, crown champions in various age classes and also selects the 2006 U.S. Junior Long Track World Team.

Of 18 age classes, eight national titles were won by skaters who are from Wisconsin or who train out of the Pettit Center. They are:

• Midget Boys– Nick Tuscany (Racine, Wisconsin)
• Junior C Ladies – Lana Gehring (From Illinois, trains out of the Pettit Center)
• Junior C Men – Robert Lawrence (From Maryland, trains at the Pettit Center)
• Junior B Ladies – Erica Hawke (West Allis, Wisconsin)
• Junior B Men – Mitch Whitmore (Waukesha, Wisconsin)
• Senior Ladies – Erica Lanser (Elm Grove, Wisconsin
• Master Men 50-59 – Steve Desotell (New Berlin, Wisconsin)
  
• Master Men 60-69 – Vern Kappes (West Allis, Wisconsin)

The U.S. Junior World Team was also chosen and members are considered to be speed skating’s best prospects for future Olympic games. Of the eight members, the following are Pettit skaters:

• Brent Aussprung of Wanakee, Wisconsin
• Mitch Whitmore of Waukesha, Wisconsin
• Ericka Hawke from West Allis, Wisconsin
• Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jr. of Wheaton, Illinois
• Lana Gehring from Glenview, Illinois.

For more information on speed skating or any skaters that train out of the Pettit Center, please contact Rob Multerer by phone at 414.266.0100, ext. 132 or by email at rmulterer@thepettit.com.

Contact: Rob Multerer
Director of Operations
Pettit National Ice Center
414.266.0100, ext. 132
rmulterer@thepettit.com