In The News

February 15, 2006
Future Olympians Will Compete At Pettit Center

The Pettit National Ice Center, a U.S. Olympic Training Facility, will play host to the ADT American Cup Final and the U.S. Junior Sprint Championships February 18-19, 2006.

These two competitions rolled into one large meet will feature some of the best young skaters in the United States. Competing in one of the final tune-ups before the start of world competition is the U.S. Junior National Team. The Junior Team will compete in Germany at the end of the month.

The U.S. Junior National Team is comprised of four men and four ladies. Five of the eight skaters on the Junior Team; Brent Aussprung of Wanakee, Wisconsin, Mitch Whitmore of Waukesha, Wisconsin, Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jr. from Wheaton, Illinois, Ericka Hawke of West Allis Wisconsin and Lana Gehring from Glenview, Illinois; train out of the Pettit Center.

“We usually train and compete against the Senior National team, but now they are in Italy for the Olympics,” says the 17-year old Aussprung. “This meet will give all of us Juniors a chance to see what it’s like to have the spotlight on us.”

The U.S. Juniors will compete in the sprint races of 500-meters and 1000-meters. The Juniors hope to earn a spot on the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team and will look to be fast just like Joey Cheek. Cheek won a gold medal in the 500-meters on Monday at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Along with the Junior Sprint Championships is the American Cup, one of the last competitions of the year for skaters of all ages. The American Cup will include nearly 100 skaters from across the nation competing in various distances with overall champions
being crowned.

For more information on the American Cup or the Junior Sprint Championships 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