Traverse City Record-Eagle

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  • Jan-Michael Stump

    PHYS ED ICE SKATING

  • Jan-Michael Stump

    PHYS ED ICE SKATING
February 28, 2008

Skating through physical education

BY VANESSA McCRAY

TRAVERSE CITY -- He's a P.E. teacher whose nickname is "Mr. Iceman."

So why wouldn't Mark Fries (pronounced "freeze") offer ice skating during gym class?

At Traverse City East Junior High School, a trip to the ice rink can be part of the fitness routine. Students in the class can skate once weekly at the nearby Centre ICE Arena, located nearby off of Hammond Road.

Fries joins his students on the nearly one-mile, round-trip hike from the school to the rink. The trek follows a snowy path through the woods, over a creek and up a hill to the indoor skating complex. The allure of getting off campus is always a big hit with junior high schoolers, he said.

"It's nice to have a little break in the day. We were just sitting through math saying, 'When do we get to ice skate?''' said Kennedy Cullen, 14.

Kids have 50 minutes bell-to-bell to walk to the rink, skate and return for their next class. It's a well-choreographed outing. When they get to the rink, students count out quarters and hand over dollar bills for the $1 skate charge and $1 skate rental. Some bring their own gear.

Centre ICE Executive Director Terry Marchand greets students as they arrive. He notes that they range in abilities, from novices to rink regulars.

Groups of boys sit on benches, lacing up. A few girls get out on the ice and link arms or form trains as they make circles, sticking close to the wall.

There are 43 skaters in this group of eighth-graders. The more advanced confidently glide around. A figure skater spins in the center of the rink. Her friends clap and cheer as she cleanly lands a jump. Some beginners wobble a bit on the thin blades.

"You would be amazed at how much they improve," said Fries.

There are rules of the rink. No tag. No pushing. No "crack the whip." Be respectful.

Activities like this make use of Michigan's long winters and free students from being cooped up in the gym. The school also has 45 pairs of cross country skis and 45 pairs of snow shoes that offer more variety for physical education classes.

Maddi Togrul, 13, and Kelsie Costello, 14, both wanted to give the school skating sessions a try.

"I thought it would be fun," said Kelsie.

A whistle signals the end of skating, and the students trample to the exit, pull off their skates and brace for the sharp air and cold walk back to school.

"As you can see from the smiles on their faces, they really do enjoy it," said Fries.

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