MARQUETTE – The United States Olympic Education Center’s short track speedskating team had a strong performance at the American Cup 1 Oct. 3-4 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Six of the 10 USOEC skaters competing placed in the top 10 at the event.

            Northern Michigan University freshman Chris Creveling (Kintersville, Pa.) took second overall in the men’s division with 2,752 points. Senior Levi Kirkpatrick (Hills, Iowa) followed in third with 2,592 points.

            Creveling said, “My experience level just hit the roof. Everything’s starting to pay off. We skated our hearts out this weekend.”

            Barry Winslow (Midland, Mich.), a freshman at NMU, finished seventhwith 835 points, followed by junior Kyle Carr (Atlanta, Ga.) in eighth with 811 points. Earning 13^th place in the men’s division was NMU sophomore Daniel Fiorenza (Wausau, Wis.) with 406 points. Marquette Senior high school junior Brett Perry (Midland, Mich.) came in 19^th place with 125 points.

            For the women, NMU sophomore Kristen Biondo (Broadview Heights, Ohio) took seventh overall with a total of 1,299 points. Freshman Erin Barlett (Lakewood, Ohio) placed 10^th with 614 points. MSHS senior Sarah Burg (Alpena, Mich.) finished 14^th with 292 points. Earning 19^th place was NMU sophomore Kelsey Schiel (Midland, Mich.) with 121 points.

            This was the first competition for the team since the USOEC hosted the Olympic Trials in September and with Tony Goskowicz as temporary head coach. “Tony rose to the occasion. He took us under his wing and guided us through the competition,” said Creveling.