2008 Great lakes Regional Championships
The Michigan Wolverines inline speed skating team did an outstanding job at the 2008 Regional Championships the weekend of May 24 and 25th 2008. Again we proved to be the most spirited and loudest team there though we were missing 12 athletes and a mix of parents, friends and loved ones from this event. This helped push those who competed to do so at the best of their abilities bring home 1st, 2nds and 3rds from this Regional Championship qualifying them to participate in the 2008 USARS National Championships.
Sara Reklau set the tone in the Novice Elementary girl division by winning her first race, the 300 meter and doing the same in her 500meter taking the overall win for her first Regional Championship Gold. It seemed that Nolan Misko and Michael Brant did not want to be shown up so they took first and second respectfully in their Novice sophomore mens 500 meter race. When all was said and done Nolan ended up with a tie for 1st, though he was beat in the tie breaker race so that placed him second, and the same happened to Michael, a tie for 3rd but again he was beaten in the tie breaker race and ended with a 4th, but that would get them both to Nationals.
Mandy O'Neil who has not skated in a few years has been skating very, very fast but, as luck would have it, she has been having issues with her knees and the chest cough which usually shows up earlier in the year. She basically just rolled around to make it out, no need to upset the broken ribs she had/has to try and win an event at these regional's when Nationals could be her's if she lets herself heal properly.
Gabe Hoban and Kristi Fuller; well we all celebrated their ability to make it to Nationals without even having to skate. They were so fast that no one in their division wanted to show up to skate so we all went out to Buffalo Wild Wings the Tuesday before for a pre Regional get together and toasted to their success ;). They were to skate all their races though at Regionals, but it was decided that they do all the laps of their 500 meter and just a lap each for their other races needless to say they both ended up winners :)~
Allisia whom has been skating practices with the Wolverines but skating unattached ended up second in the Novice Jr. Ladies event, she will be one to reckon with when she get herself in better shape and starts to believe in herself.
The standard division went very well for us too, the Tiny Tot Girls Reese Heatherington and Abby Steketee also set the tone for the Wolverine standard division athletes. Though they did not win place or show their just joy in just skating and having fun put smiles on all our faces. These two girls were showing that they were team mates being a bit too polite to each other Reese not wanting to pass abbey possibly for fear of taking both of them out and Abbey being polite in letting Reese go ahead of her so as that she could track down the rest of the skaters, it was pretty funny. These two ended the competition on a great note, even with a fall they did great relays and ended up having everyone in the building cheer them on as their team mates, one being Abby's sister relaying with Makayla O'Neil, whom lapped them a few times in the Primary two girl relay. They were the only two teams out there, but, it did not matter for it was fun for all to watch. For the coaches it was tough due to one team hitting super sonic speeds while the other was cruising at sub-sonic just trying to navigate the turns and make correct relays with each other.
The rest of the team did well too, Makayla taking those super sonic speeds to the Primary girls division winning hands down. We should look to see if her times are faster than her sisters who won a few years back, (LOL), if she wants it, this year can be her year for a National win.
Zac Jones showing that even though he has not been skating much this year, well he showed that he can still go fast on just will and determination, he by far had the best relays out there than any other boy in his 2 mix relay with Makayla, his folks states that he will be to all the practices and then some from now till Nationals, in that we will assume he will be ready come Nationals.
Charlie Craven who has been out of the game for close to a decade, "just wanted to make it out" you could tell he was nervous just from the drive up to midland for Regionals. He still has what it takes to be a Champion but never really challenged himself or did what it took to win a race but better it happen here than at Nationals if he gets it together he can shake things up in the Classic Mens Division.
Sarah skated the standard Elementary girls division and ended up with 3rd overall. Most of us believe that the Sara who skated Novice would have beat the Sara who had skated Standard but in either case she did great she just needs to see and believe in her abilities like the rest of us.
Gianna or better known as "G" skated well in the classic ladies division, if the person seen skating practices showed up at meet I believe she would have most of the field scared of her just in name alone, she will do well if she get her skating legs going for Nationals.
David Babbit got better with each race, he has only been skating for a short while and seems to love all this sport has to give, in the Esquire division he improved from the meet he skated at just two months earlier.
Bob Heeley would skate that same divbision as David, bob always has a strong start and it did not fail him here for his races. And Will Sullivan skated well in the Grand Classic Men Division, he took a bad fall in his 500 meter race to which for some reason he ended up with the DQ. Never seen Will that upset which just shows that he came to compete which is what this is all about.
Dr. B.J Steketee father of three held on to the Wolverine tradition established with this division by winning the Classic mens division. It was not and easy task even though there were only three skaters in that division, it was physically and mentally tough, as usual he showed he had both.
Mrs. Steketee AKA Jenny had much the same in her division though she did not win like her husband. She had many "first" both physically, mentally and emotionally happenings that I as a coach believe needed to happen here. She ended on a great note both in division and in relays skating to two finishing wins and a placement. Mrs. Steketee too will be ready to reach here goals come Nationals if she believes in what she can do and does what it takes to win.
As all competitions would have it there is always a bit of drama, tears, upsets, frustration, happiness, sadness, wants missed, should haves, could haves, etc. etc. etc. but then that is life in everything we do. Without all of this everything would be a bit boring. I for one loved all that had happened for I believe it was suppose to be, we all need to move on and learn from the negative and positives of all that had happened here to make this team live on and become stronger.
The Wolverines Parents, friends and spectators were the best, very loud, supportive and a great asset to a tradition of speed skating on wheels in every aspect possible that has made this club and those before it a power house in every way possible for two decades of Great Lakes Regional Championship skating.
Until next year's Regional Championships we the Competitors Thank You for your Support and Encouragement.
Skates on to all of you
