The Olympics officially started competition yesterday. If your family is anything like ours you will be glued to the competition for the next 14 days. My kids love watching and learning about all the countries and people. Of course we’ll be cheering for the TEAM USA when we watch but there is quiet a large contingent from Illinois this year. In fact there is a whole lot of Lake County represented on the US Olympic Team. So keep your eyes peeled from some of these names and maybe tune in for something you don’t normally watch and tell your kids, they’re from our town!
One of the brightest stars from Lake County you will see at these games is Jason Brown from Highland Park}.
Jason has been skating at the Highland Park Park Distct’s Centennial Ice Arena since he was 3 years old. The Park District and the community wil be celebrating Jason Brown Day on February 7. The Park District of Highland Park will be hosting a Community Viewing party at Centennial Ice Arena (3100 Trail Way) on Friday, February 14 from 9am-1pm to watch Jason skate in Sochi! Watch the performance on the big screen while you enjoy free open skate or cheer him on from the bleachers! Refreshments will be provided by our friends at Sunset Foods.
Mayor Nancy Rotering proclaimed Friday, February 7, 2014 Jason Brown Day as the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremonies begin. The City of Highland Park has printed ribbons for tying around trees or hanging from doors. Ribbons are available for pick up at City Hall, 1707 St. Johns Avenue, Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm. A special thanks to The Ribbon Print Company for providing these special decorations.
Highland Park High School will show their Giant pride by wearing “Good Luck Jason Brown!” stickers provided by the high school on February 7. The high school will announce other upcoming activities.
The Highland Park Public Library created a giant community card in which hundreds of members of the community signed and wished Jason “Good Luck”.
Do you know what Curling is? You probably only think about every 4 years when the winter Olympics come around but Lake County is a hub for Olympic Curlers. With two world class clubs, The Exmoor {Highland Park} and The Chicago Curling Club {Northbrook} we have quite a few locals to cheer on!
Meet the locals:
Jim Wilson while he was born in Madison he currently lives in the Winnetka. Sean Silver resides in Chicago, and curls out of the Exmoor Curling Club {Highland Park}. For the Rahn’s of Lake Forest curling is a family adventure with three on the teams, Spencer, Grant and Laurie. Also from Lake Forest is Deborah Moultan. Barrington native Stephanie Martin came in fifth at the World Championships in 2012 and curls out of the Chicgao Curling Club. Also out of the chicgao Curling Club Julie Denten {Northbrook}, Kevin Deeren {Chicgao}, and born in North Chicago now residing in Mt. Prospect Joni Cotten. Rounding out the Lake County Curlers are Tracy Lawless {Hawthorn Woods}, Lesile Earls {Lake Bluff}, Matt Brown {Deerfield}, Ann Swisshelm {Chicago}, Russ Armstrong {Highwood} and Max Armstrong {Wildwood}
Follow along with their progress and see when you can watch on TV {or online} at the NBC Olympics Curling Page.
There are actually quite a few Olympians that were either born in or call Illinois their home. Here are a few other “local” Illinois Athletes to cheer on!
- Champaign born speed skater and previous Olympic medal winner Katherine Reutter
- Naperville’s hometown hero gold medal winning figure skater Evan Lysacek.
- Bobsledders Theron Johnson {Wheaton}, Jesse Beckmon III {Chicago}, NIU Alum Michaele Damas {Chicago}, and U of I alum Aja Evans {Chicago}.
- Ice Dancer Ben Agosto was born and lived in Chicago before moving to Detroit to train.
- Speed Skater Emery Lehman is a student at Oak Park River Forest High School and trains at Franklin Park Speedskating Club.
- Speedskater Johnathan Kuch was born in Champaign and has returned to Champaign to attend U of I while training.
- Speed Skater Shani Davis is the pride and joy of The Robert Crown Ice Rink in Evanston and he grew up and lives in Chicago.
- Brian Hansen and Lana Gehrig are both speed skaters from Glenview.
- Figure Skater Gracie Gold, while not from Illinois trains in Glen Ellyn.
Of Course we can’t forget our hometown All-Star, Blachawks Patrick Kane representing USA Hockey.
Will you be watching the Olympics? What’s your favorite sport? Share it with us in the comments!
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