Nationals - Wausau, WI (Mar 11-13, 2011)

[Laura (Lori)]

This thread will be used for discussion and trip-planning for the National Age Group Championships - Wausau, WI (March 11-13, 2011).

This event is combined with the American Cup Final, and much of the trip-planning info will be the same for both competitions.

Discuss any topics related to these events - pre-competition, post-competition, or Game Day!

Before making travel arrangements, double-check with USS and ISU official schedules!

For those who are planning to attend, pertinent information gathered here (as it becomes available) will be summarized and posted for quick-reference at Rocker-U.net - www.rocker-u.net/nationals.htm - for the following topics:

Media Links - TV Coverage; Webcasts; Live Fan Chat, Etc.
Participating Skaters
Event Schedule and Time Zone Conversions
Venue Info
Ticket Info
Hotel Suggestions & Info
'Practical' Info - Clothing, Cameras, What to Bring, What NOT to Bring...
How To Meet Up With Other Fans
Transportation Tips (Ground and Air)
Sightseeing Ideas
Weather Reports
Carpooling/Room Sharing Connections
Links to Watch for More Info
Links To Results When The Event Has Concluded

Please share any info that you have about the above topics!

[Laura (Lori)]

Major sporting events will return to Wausau area
By Colby Robertson / WAOW.com / Sept 29, 2010

The Wausau area will once again host two major sporting events this winter. This is the result of the newly formed Sports Authority, a committee whose goal is to use sports to boost tourism.

Two major sporting events will return to the Wausau community for the second year: The Midwest Freeze Hockey Invitational and U.S. National Short Track Speedskating Championships.

Richard Barrett, Director of Sales for the North Central Convention and Visitors Bureau says, "The Olympic Committee was so pleased with it and the people who attended, athletes and their families made lots of comments, they loved it and they awarded us, which is unprecedented, two years in a row to get these events."

That means, once again, thousands of athletes and spectators will travel to the area, and put money directly into the Wausau area economy. Last year, the Midwest Freeze generated an economic impact of more than $400,000.

This year, they're expecting just this tournament alone to bring in more than $1 million. The Short Track Speed Skating Championships are expected to bring in athletes from 26 different states and add another $600,000 to the local economy.

Bruce Miller says, "This type of event will spread out throughout the entire community, Wausau, Schofield, Rothschild, Weston and it's the type of event that can fill up all of these communities, rather than just one area, so in that regard, I would say this type of event is special."

Read More: www.waow.com/Global/story.asp?S=13241073

[Laura (Lori)]

HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 1 OF NATIONALS

The Winners (skaters with BB threads in bold):

Pony (10 and under)
Ladies 333M: Maame Biney
Men 333M: Cooper McLeod

Midget (11-12)
Ladies 777M: April Shin
Men 777M: Thomas Insuk Hong

Juvenile (13-14)
Ladies 1000M: Sally Chea
Men 1000M: Evan Opeka

Juniors (15-16)
Ladies 1500M: Katie Welsh
Men 1500M: Josh Cummings

Intermediate (17+)
Ladies 1500M: Julie Gehring
Men's 1500M: Jared Wood

Masters 30-39
Ladies 1500M: Katie Bladon
Mens 1500M: Kevin Geminder
Ladies 1000M: Katie Bladon
Men's 1000M: Anthony Barthell

Masters 40-49
Ladies 1500M: Maria Hopp
Men's 1500M: Kimon Papahadjopoulos
Ladies 1000M: Maria Hopp
Men's 1000M: Kimon Papahadjopoulos

Masters 50-59
Ladies 1000M: Karen Verrone
Men's 1000M: Kenneth M. Mastrianna
Ladies 777M: Karen Verrone
Men's 777M: Brad Kuzik

Masters 60-69
Ladies 1000M: Carole Moore
Men's 1000M: Ron Halcrow
Ladies 777M: Carole Moore
Men's 777M: Ron Halcrow

Masters 70-79
Men's 1000M: Robert Samuels
Men's 777M: Robert Samuels

Relay Semifinals
Ladies: 4 teams advance - Ohio; Michigan; Wasatch; and CA/Pitt Combo
Men: 4 teams advance - Wasatch; Michigan; Pittsburgh; and CA/Ohio/Virginia/Direct Combo

--------------------------

From USS: NINE National records were broken today!

THOMAS INSUK HONG - Midget Men (777M)
SALLY CHEA - Juvenile Ladies (1000M)
EVAN OPEKA - Juvenile Men (1000M)
SHANER LEBAUER - Juvenile Men (1000M)
APRIL SHIN - Midget Ladies (777M)
JOSH CUMMINGS - Junior Men (1500M)
KEVIN GEMINDER - Master Men 30-39 (1500M)
ANTHONY BARTHELL - Master Men 30-39 (1000M)
BRAD KUZIK - Master Men 50-59 (777M)

Looks like Kevin Geminder and Anthony Barthell have left the Seniors division behind to compete (very successfully) in the Masters division - awesome job today, guys!

Congrats to all - and good luck tomorrow!

Also, hoping that Stella Yi (Virginia) heals quickly. She was transported to the hospital as a precaution after a back injury in the relay, and we hear that she's doing well!

[Laura (Lori)]

HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 2 OF NATIONALS

The Winners (skaters with BB threads in bold):

Pony (10 and under)
Ladies 500M: Maame Biney
Men 500M: Brian Rhim
Ladies 222M: Maame Biney
Men 222M: Cooper McLeod

Midget (11-12)
Ladies 500M: April Shin
Men 500M: Thomas Insuk Hong
Ladies 333M: April Shin
Men 333M: Thomas Insuk Hong

Juvenile (13-14)
Ladies 500M: Sally Chea
Men 500M: Evan Opeka
Ladies 777M: Sarah Warren
Ladies 777M: Evan Opeka

Juniors (15-16)
Ladies 500M: Katie Welsh
Men 500M: Josh Cummings

Intermediate (17+)
Ladies 500M: Julie Gehring
Men's 500M: Keith Carroll

Masters 30-39
Ladies 500M: Katie Bladon
Men’s 500M: Anthony Barthell
Ladies 1500M Superfinal: Katie Bladon
Men’s 1500M Superfinal: Kevin Geminder

Masters 40-49
Ladies 500M: Maria Hopp
Men's 500M: Scott Schuyler
Ladies 1500M Superfinal: Maria Hopp
Men's 1500M Superfinal: Scott Schuyler

Masters 50-59
Ladies 500M: Karen Verrone
Men's 500M: Brad Kuzik
Ladies 1500M Superfinal: Karen Verrone
Men's 1500M Superfinal: Kenneth Mastrianna

Masters 60-69
Ladies 500M: Carole Moore
Men's 500M: Craig Pielechowski
Ladies 1500M Superfinal: Carole Moore
Men's 1500M Superfinal: Ron Halcrow

Masters 70-79
Men's 500M: Robert Samuels
Men's 1500M Superfinal: Robert Samuels

Relay Semifinals
Ladies: 1) Michigan; 2) CA/Pitt Combo; 3) Ohio; 4) Wasatch (did not start)
Men: 1) Wasatch; 2) Pittsburgh; 3) Michigan; CA/Ohio/Virginia/Direct Combo (did not start)

--------------------------

From USS: FOUR National records were broken today!

THOMAS INSUK HONG - Midget Men (333M)
ANTHONY BARTHELL - Master Men 30-39 (500M)
KEN MASTRIANNA - Master Men 50-59 (1500M Superfinal)

Note: ANTHONY BARTHELL initially broke the 500M record in the Semifinals – then he went on to break his own record in the 500M Final!