CLUB NEWS
Idea Generator Award. Both boys were thrilled when their coaches, Catherine Raney Norman and Derek Parra, showed up at the science fair to cheer them on.
Chen Performs at Carnegie Hall
MY FIRST NATIONALS By Katie Oestreicher
When I landed in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the first thing I wanted to do was get
back on that plane and go home. This was my first nationals, I was worried I wasn’t ready. I had only been speedskating for about two years, and despite my seven years of competitive figure skating, I felt inexperienced. My first heat, the 777, was a blur. All I remember is skating up to that starting
line and taking a deep breath. As soon as the starter pulled the trigger, I felt like I practically leapt away from the others as I sprinted the first three laps. Crossover. Push. Pivot. Pass. Follow. Those were the only thoughts in my mind as I tried my hardest. Though I was not able to maintain my lead, I still pulled a surprising second place. When I crossed the finish line, I finally realized that I WAS good enough, and I had a fighting chance, and throughout the next races, I think I proved it! I owe my success at nationals to my coach, Hyun Jung Lee. Our club is lucky
to have such a great motivator. She always keeps us focused, and I don’t think I would have done nearly as well as I did without her there to support me. When- ever I came back disappointed about my performance, or so tired I was about to give up, she made sure that I pushed through until the end. It is because of her, my teammates, my club, and my friends and family back at home that I was able to achieve something amazing. I hope that with their support I will be able to pull of many more successes. Katie Oestreicher finished 3rd in midget girls at the recent nationals com- petition in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She started skating as a toddler in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Ever since she first stepped on the ice, all she ever wanted to do was “go fast”. She is currently in 7th grade at Joyce Kilmer Middle School in Vienna, Virginia.
Aer having taken First Place Gold Rat-
ing in the Adjudicator’s Award and Sweep- stakes Award at The Heritage Festival in San Diego last year, Matthew Chen’s Hun- tington Middle School Advanced Chamber Orchestra was invited to perform at Carn- egie Hall on April 6, 2012. Matthew Chen (San Marino, CA) a cellist who is also a short and long track speedskater, traveled to New York City for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall. At this prestigious venue, schools from around the nation are invited to perform and be adjudicated by world-renowned music judges. n
28 RACING BLADE Summer 2012
www.usspeedskating.org
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