August 28, 2002
Teens receive skating advice from Olympic silver medalist Paul Wylie
Skating lesson cool graduation gift for cousins
By LISA PERKINS
Herald staff writer
Cousins Katie Sanderson and Caroline Stephenson received a high school graduation present from their aunt and uncle that they will never forget.
Last Friday, Sanderson and Stephenson were given an hour long skating lesson by 1992 Olympic silver medalist, Paul Wylie - not to mention the chance to see Wylie spin and jump.
Barb and Denny Fedorinchik, the girls aunt and uncle, had purchased the lesson last spring at the Traverse Symphony Orchestra's Spring Swing Auction.
"When we heard about this, we thought it would be a great graduation gift for our nieces since they both skate," Denny Fedorinchik said.
Sanderson and Stephenson, who both graduated from Traverse City West Senior High School this spring, have been skating since the age of seven. Both girls were members of the West varsity skating team and a synchronized skating team.
"When I found out about this back in June, I was really surprised. It was really a great present," Stephenson noted.
Wylie, though no longer a performer, jumped at the chance to get back on the ice when he was asked to donate a lesson by friend and former Traverse City resident and TSO supporter, Penny Milliken.
"I was glad to do it because it is for such a great cause. I listened to a CD of the TSO and was impressed by the quality, it was better than some of the orchestras from much larger cities that I have been involved with. It was also a lot of fun," said Wylie who traveled to Traverse City with wife, Katie from their home in Cape Cod.
Sanderson and Stephenson weren't the only ones feeling lucky about their visit with Paul Wylie.
"He is into giving back to the community, it is so amazing he chose our community to give back to," said TSO general manager, Susan Schnerer.