Overland Park rink hosts top ice skaters

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas - A big ice skating competition in Overland Park is providing a testing ground for Olympic hopefuls.

The Heart of America Invitational is taking place at Pepsi Ice Midwest at 135th and Quivira. The two-day event features 143 ice skaters from seven different states. Competitors from Omaha, Des Moines, Dallas and Arkansas are there. Participants range in age from 2 to 40 years old.

“It was kind of fun because I’m with everybody and everybody is there for me,” synchronized ice skater Alaura Gage said.

The event featured the Sunflower State Synchronized Skating team, which is made up of 12 members in the Kansas City area and is looking to grow.

“It’s good because I’m with my friends and I get to be with my friends all the time when I get to compete in practice,” synchronized ice skater Ashlyn Carlson said.

The team has been together for 1 1/2 years. It’s training twice a week this summer at Pepsi Ice Midwest in Overland Park.

“The synchronized skating team is really neat because it takes the loneliness out of the sport,” Sunflower State Synchronized Skating team head coach Leah Karchin said. “You’re always there with someone behind you, someone next to you, someone holding you up so it makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger than you are.”

The Heart of America Invitational continues on Sunday from 8 a.m. CT to 5 p.m. CT at the Overland Park rink.