Big Turnout for Skaters...Um, Practice?
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It’s true. That many people turned out for a simple practice. The staff at the Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex can’t recall a crowd that large ever at the arena in its decade-long life, even for holiday exhibitions. The ice rink only seats 500 people, and they were packed like sardines. Others were standing around the glass and snack bar areas. The general manager, Tom Lindemuth, actually opened up his rinkside-view office for more spectators. The turnout was overwhelming but welcome, said coach Jim Peterson. “I had absolutely no idea it would be this big,” he said. “But whatever we can do to support the community and really the promotion of figure skating as a sport, we’ll do it.” The community also showed they were standing behind the athletes. A hat was passed and the audience donated hundreds of dollars to the Southwest Florida Figure Skating Club. The pairs, Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett, and Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig, typically stop their routines frequently during practices. But because they also have a morning practice, closed to the public, they decided to give short performances for the enormous crowd. Mark has taken on a “give the people what they want” attitude, and Amanda said the audience helps break the doldroms of practice. Herald Tribune
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