Katherine Reutter’s road to the Winter Olympics included a couple of side trips to Owens Center.
The Peoria Speed Skating Club was happy to accommodate the then-rising short-track star from Champaign who now trains with the U.S. national team in Salt Lake City.
“We met her at a camp, and she said she was going to St. Louis all the time,” speedskater/coach Scott Fredrickson said, recalling how Reutter arrived at Matt Savoie Rink several years ago.
“We invited her to come and skate with us. So she did.”
Reutter, now 21, is scheduled to compete in Vancouver in the 500, 1,500 and 1,000 meters and 3,000 relay.
Her presence gives the 15 or so members of the Peoria club a rooting interest in the Olympics that also includes long-track speedskating.
“I’ll watch everything,” Michael Lang said. “If I didn’t have to work, I would probably be stuck in front of the TV watching the Olympics 24-7.”
Lang, 27, is a corporate buyer for OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. The Bartonville resident usually spends Thursday nights at Owens Center, where the Peoria Speed Skating Club has its weekly session from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
“I just came and tried it out, and then I got hooked and so I kept coming,” said Lang, who now is co-president of the club along with Bob Lapke.
Lang played hockey at Owens Center before taking up speedskating.
“I wasn’t really into getting checked by other guys, and I was all into the speed,” Lang said.
“What I love about the sport is going as fast as you possibly can,” he continued. “You get as low as you possibly can, but you don’t want to touch the ice. It’s just an amazing feeling.”
Don Rulis was in charge of the PSSC when Jay Reutter drove his daughter from Champaign to Peoria for an occasional Thursday session. Reutter’s club, Champaign Regional Speedskating, has its weekly session on Tuesdays at the University of Illinois Ice Arena, where PSSC members have access.
“It’s just a small sport,” said Rulis, a Level 1 coach who continues to compete as a Masters age grouper. “And we’re like family basically where we’ve got those resources available to us.”
Rulis anticipates club members getting together Saturday at his home in Metamora to watch the short-track women’s 1,500 – Reutter is regarded a medal contender – and men’s 1,000 finals.
They’ll also be tracking Ann Winget’s participation in the U.S. Speedskating National Marathon in Bemidji, Minn.
“That’s going to be her Olympics,” Rulis said.
Winget, 65, of Peoria is scheduled to participate Saturday in the 25 kilometer and Sunday in the 50 kilometer.
“Well, I signed up for both,” Winget said with a laugh. “Whether I’ll finish the 50K in time to get my plane or not, I don’t know.”
Gary Childs can be reached at 686-3257 or [email protected].
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