The Pettit National Ice Center, a U.S Olympic Training Site, recently held two competitions that chose both the short track and the long track World Cup Teams. The teams feature skaters that train at the Pettit Center and/or are from Wisconsin.
Already skating against the rest of the world is the short track team and Hales Corners, Wisconsin’s own Alyson Dudek. Dudek, a member of the Pettit Center Short Track Team, earned a spot on the short track World Cup team that is currently competing in Asia.
Dudek, a 16 year-old student at Divine Savior Holy Angels, is making her first appearance on the short track World Cup team and gaining some valuable international experience.
“I, along with the entire Pettit Team, are very excited for Alyson. She has worked very hard to get where she is now,” said Tony Goskowicz, the Pettit Short Track Team coach. “The experience alone of skating internationally will be a huge step in Aly’s development as a skater.”
The long track World Cup team will be in action as well as they travel to Europe to take on countries from around the globe. Catherine Raney of Elm Grove, Wisconsin leads the women’s side along with Maria Lamb of River Falls, Wisconsin, Elli Ochowicz of Waukesha, Wisconsin and Jessica Smith, a former in-line skater who now calls the Pettit Center and Milwaukee home.
Shani Davis and Chad Hedrick, both 2006 Olympic medalists, will take to the international ice along with other 2006 Winter Olympians. Wisconsin natives Tucker Fredricks of Janesville, Wisconsin and Kip Carpenter from Brookfield, Wisconsin join a strong field that is a mix of both new and veteran talent on the men’s long track team.
Along with Fredricks and Carpenter, Ryan Charles Leveille will be making his return to the international skating scene. Leveille, who is also a member of the Pettit Center’s Short Track Team, will continue to skate long track and short track as he attempts to become the first person ever to skate both skating disciplines at the same Olympic Games.
“I am ecstatic for this World Cup season because it’ll be my chance to figure how to juggle both long track and short track at the same time,” Leveille said. “ It’s going to be an exciting year for the team along with myself as I continue to chase my dream.”
Below is a complete listing of US Speedskating’s World Cup Teams:
Ladies Long Track
* Catherine Raney – from Elm Grove, Wisconsin
* Elli Ochowicz – From Waukesha, Wisconsin
* Rebekah Bradford
* Jessica Smith – Trains daily at the Pettit Center and lives in Milwaukee
* Maria Lamb – from River Falls, Wisconsin
* Anna Ringsred
Mens Long Track
* Shani Davis
* Chad Hedrick
* Tucker Fredricks – from Janesville, Wisconsin
* Kip Carpenter – from Brookfield, Wisconsin
* Chris Needham
* Mike Blumel
* Tyler Goff
* John Loquai
* Paul Dyrud
* Ryan Charles Levielle – trains daily at the Pettit Center, is a member of the Pettit Center’s short track team and lives in Milwaukee.
Ladies Short Track Team
* Cherise Wilkins
* Tina Koenig
* Kimberly Derrick
* Alyson Dudek – from Hales Corners, Wisconsin and is a member of the Pettit Center’s short track team.
* Katherine Ruetter
* Lana Gehring – Trains at the Pettit Center
Mens Short Track Team
* Jordan Malone
* Ryan Bedford
* Shani Davis
* Anthony Lobello
* Travis Jayner
* Jeff Simon
For more information on any of the skaters listed above or a Fall World Cup schedule, please contact Rob Multerer at the Pettit National Ice Center by phone at 414.266.0100 ext. 132 or by email at rmulterer@thepettit.com.
Contact: Rob Multerer
Director of Marketing
Pettit National Ice Center
414.266.0100 ext. 132
rmulterer@thepettit.com
