McHenry County News FRE
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Volume 6 Issue 6
February 4, 2016
To Advertise In This Space Call 815-654-4850
Figure skaters at championships T
By Anne Eickstadt Correspondent
he 2016 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships took place from Jan. 15 to Jan. 24, 2016 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Ladies’ events were completed on Saturday, Jan. 23. Two students from the Wagon Wheel Figure Skating Club in Crystal Lake absolutely shine during the event. Gracie Gold, age 20, landed seven triple jumps cleanly and earned high artistic scores with her free skate to earn 147.96 points. This score is only 1.02 points off the highest women’s free skate score ever awarded at the U.S. Championships. Added to her short skate event, her total came to 210.46. This total is the third highest Total score in U.S. Championship history. Gold is expected to be named to the U.S. Team for the 2016 World Figure Skating Championship along with the silver and bronze medalists, Polina Edmunds and Ashley Wagner. These three represented the U.S. at the past two World Championships and in the 2014 Olympics where Gold became an Olympic Team Gold Medalist.
Saturday’s U.S. championship gold medalists will continue on to March’s world championships in Boston—the first time the event will take place in the United States since 2009 in Los Angeles. Gracie Gold has attracted corporate interest and is currently supported by Nike, Smucker’s, EDEA and John Wilson Blades. With competition like this, Bradie Tennell, age 17, and also a member of the Wagon Wheel Figure Skating Club of Crystal Lake, did an excellent job. She placed 6th with a total score of 181.33. “First time in Senior Ladies’ and 6th place finish! Thank you everyone for cheering me on,” Tennell rejoices. Tennell has been skating since she was 2 ½. She has been wanting to skate in the Olympics since she was 5. She earned a bronze medal in the 2013 U.S. Novice Championships. She competed in the junior level for the first time at the 2014 U.S. Junior Championships and took the bronze there also. She skated in the 2014 Junior Grand Prix, Japan, and finished 8th. In Val Gardena, Italy, Tennell placed 3rd. During the
2015 U.S. Junior Championships, Tennell won the gold medal by over 16 points. She has skated her way to numerous first place finishes and is a possible contender for the Olympics in the near future. Tennell is a member of Team USA. Bradie Tennell is well on her way and has worked hard to hone her skills on the ice but is beginning to hit a snag in her dreams. She does not, as yet, receive any corporate support and her mother, a single mom of three, is at the end of her family funds. In order to continue to represent the USA, Tennell is in need of financial assistance. Anyone who would like to show Bradie some support and help make her dreams come true, can sponsor her by going to www.gofundme.com/ bradietennellUSA and donating. Be a part of her success as she joins the legion of champions whose communi-
Photo courtesy of Bradie Tennell and Gracie Gold
Bradie Tennell during her free skate program at the Prudential U.S. Championship.
ties have contributed to their journey. If you would like more information on Crystal Lake’s Wagon Wheel Figure Skating Club, visit www.wwfsc.com.
Toys to make one think By Anne Eickstadt Correspondent
“A
t Marvin’s Toy Store, you will find toys that spark children’s imaginations and fun that fosters their creativity. We strive to offer every customer a superb shopping experience by helping them find a unique toy or gift with awesome customer service from our knowledgeable staff.” Owned by mother/daughter team Lori and Kate McConville, Marvin’s Toy Store holds both cutting edge toy technology and quality toys from the past. “The customers tell us what they want, what they like, what we should have more of,” Lori continues. “The kids ask for more strategy games at every level of development. One mother said, ‘We don’t want
what they are selling in the other stores. We want something with quality.’ “ “Love, love, love this store and the staff! My son didn’t want to leave!” says Kim Lichthardt-Hively in her online review. “Without a doubt, one of the best toy stores anywhere,” raves Beverly Taylor. “The selection of quality toys, games, puzzles, and other items are sure to delight parents, grandparents, and children of all ages. It is definitely the best place to buy a gift for a special child in your life. Just walking through the store makes me happy!” “Kids are still in love with the basics: building and crafting, and parents love to share that with them. Laser Pegs can be constructed to build cars, spaceships and much, much more. But, all instructions can
only be found online, blending the toy with technology. The kids are blending technology with their play, using imagination, which is what we want them to do,” says Lori. “We love the I-Loom Bracelet Maker by Style Me Up! Using an I-pad, you can follow a pattern along step-by-step and make awesome friendship bracelets. You can watch how the bracelet is woven together, following the movements of the on-line demonstration.” “We just had a group of boys come in to buy a puppet so they could make their own videos,” Kate tells me. “Again, blending the toy with technology.” “Retro classic is big, too,” says Kate. “Parents want the same quality toys they remember as children.” Yes, they
See TOYS, Page 3
Photo by Anne Eickstadt
Lori and Kate McConville seek out the fun, high quality games and toys which can be found at Marvin’s Toy Store.