August 9, 2013 at 2:13 p.m.
Cook makes memories at 2013 State Games
Cook makes memories at 2013 State Games
The 14-year-old member of the Rhinelander Figure Skating Club came home with a pair of fifth-place finishes at the games, which ran July 31 through Aug. 4. But she said she had several other memorable experiences - from traveling to the games, to carrying the torch in the opening ceremonies and getting a chance to met people from across the country.
"It was really fun and I'd love to do it again," Cook said.
Cook took fifth out of nine entries in the Pre-Bronze Solo Dance competition July 31. She admitted there were nerves before, during and after her performance.
"During dance I did pretty good, but I had to go twice around the rink and I only went once," she said. "So the judges had me go around again. That was a lot more nerve-wracking the second time. I had a lot of nerves after I got off (the ice), more than I had going on."
Cook scored fifth again on Aug. 1 in the Pre-Juvenile CCT girls' freestyle group B category. This time she competed against 13 other skaters from across the country.
"When I did my program, I got on and did everything, but I mixed up my footwork a little bit," she said. "I actually spun too long, which I think is really funny because I love to spin. I spun way too long so I didn't have enough time for a jump."
She added a key moment in freestyle came when she forgot the next move in her program. Instead of panicking, she made something up on the fly.
"When I forgot part of my program, I think I did a lot better during State Games (than in the past)," she said. "I've forgotten part of my program before and I've stopped on the ice and covered my eyes with my hands and everyone knew that I forgot my program. At State Games, I like improvised and I thought that was pretty cool, that I could do that. Three years ago, I couldn't."
Out of the thousands of athletes to participate in the State Games, Cook was one of only four selected to carry the torch during the opening ceremonies, which took place Aug. 2.
Prior to her trip to Pennsylvania, Cook said she was nervous about carrying the torch in front of a packed house. But, she said, it turned out to be easier than she thought.
"I thought it was going to be really hot because it was fire, but it wasn't and I thought it was going to be really heavy, but it wasn't," she said. "We ran through (the ceremony) a few hours before."
Cook added the highlight of the night was the ovation she received when she carried the torch.
"I was the third person (to carry the torch) and when I got it, the announcer had a little paragraph about me," she said. "As soon as he said that I was from Wisconsin, like everyone from Wisconsin started cheering for me. That was really cool."
The four torchbearers were accompanied by Hyleas Fountain, who won the silver medal in women's pentathlon at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
"She was really nice," Cook said.
Cook traveled with her family to the State Games. They took the scenic route through Canada, stopping at Niagara Falls. She said other highlights of the trip included visits to Chocolate World and Hershey Park in Hershey and a tour of Washington D.C.
"We took a tour (of the city) where we got to see all the monuments and the National Cemetery," she said. "When we had a little bit of free time, we went to the Air and Space Museum. That was really cool."
Cook qualified for the 2013 State Games of America by virtue of medaling in dance and freestyle at the Badger State Games in Mosinee in February.
The State Games are an amateur, Olympic-style event. This year's games featured over 10,000 athletes representing 41 states in 26 events.
The next State Games of America will take place in 2015 in Lincoln, Neb. Cook said she already has set her sights on that competition and hopes to bring some friends with her.
If that happens, she said they may travel to Nebraska in style.
"In two years - I don't know if it's like a joke or not - my dad said we could get all the girls (from the club) together to Badger State Games and try to medal," she said. "At Bowen's they have a purple bus and my dad was like 'you can take the big purple bus to Lincoln, Neb.'"
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.