Canton Skaters Roll Past Their Opponents
By Ross Graber

The Canton Speed Team, operating out of Skateland Roller Rink, is literally rolling by opposition as evidenced by its victory at North Canton last week. Paced by young Tim Cottrell, a rollerskater of much prowess, the Canton squad whipped invaders from seven states, ranging from as far away as Florida, at the meet.

Racking up 30 points for an individual first place, 20 for second and 10 for third, the team had over 600 points. Their closest foe, from Clawson, Michigan, had less than 450, a typical lopsided victory for Canton according to Mickey Sullivan, team coach and Skateland owner. The team is little more than one year old and was organized chiefly by Sullivan, a professional skater. The team is accepting new members. If a prospective skater wishes to race, but has limited experience on skates, he can enter beginner's classes. After about a year of practice, he may transcend the novice tanks and join the team.

According to Sullivan, the speed skating competition is growing in populatiry across the nation as a family participation sport. So far, the families of Marvin Cottrell and Tom Sommers have contributed 11 of the 24 members on the Canton squad. The Cottrells, headed by father Marvin, are seemingly the terrors of the tracks. In the North Canton meet, all five family members placed. And, of course, from the Cottrell family comes Tim, marvel of the sport who won four firsts and one third in North Canton. Tim, 14, was also the leading local skater in last year's national racing meet at Lincoln, Nebraska, finishing third. His dad made the semi-finals before succumbing.

Others from Canton making the national finals were Tom, Jean, and Vickie Sommers, Jim Streby and Diane McFarland, supporting Sullivan's claim that "the team is really strong." The Canton squad also sports an ace trio of Marvin and Tim Cottrell and Tom Sommers which swings in the 10-mile relay races. At North Canton, they triumphed after lapping the field one-and-a-half times. Individual skating competition is divided into age categories with racing ranging from one lap for the youngest to 80 laps (five miles) in the men's division which starts at age 14. Twenty-five teams in Ohio provide competition for the Canton squad. They also make jaunts out of the state as in a few weeks when they will travel to Michigan.

Sullivan explained that the skaters must compete in at least three races in each emet. The men have 440 and 800-yard and one-, two- and five-mile events. Besides the North Canton victory this season, the Canton squad won a similar meeting three weeks ago in Cincinnati. "So far we've beaten every team in the state," noted Sullivan. "And last week we had 43 entries at North Canton and we brought home 43 trophies. The competition at these meets is really tough, too," he said. "There are a lot of national champions, the best skaters in the country, that enter them."

The Canton team ranks included skaters from 3 to 40 years of age. They come from Canton, Kent, Mogadore and Akron. Sullivan said if anyone is interested in joining the team, they should attend one of the three weekly practice meetings. They are held before the Wednesday evening practice and after the Friday evening and Sunday afternoon sessions.

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