For the fourth consecutive year, the Lake City Skiers show ski team are the Division II Central Region champions.

The team won the championship with 1,566 points, beating out the Ski Broncs (1,360 points), Rockford, Ill.; The Spraymasters (1,381 points), Davisburg, Mich.; and the Silver Lake Team (1,382 points), Fenton, Mich. This also was the first year the Lake City Skiers hosted the regional tournament at Hidden Lake, Ind. 15, behind Smith Tire.

"I think it's very encouraging for Warsaw as a city and as a team," said skier Steve Wilson. "It indicates what we can do as a team and our potential as a team."

"I'm very proud of the club," said LCS President Randy Patrick. "I'm very honored to host the Central Region tournament. It's definitely a longterm dream come true. I'm really pleased all the teams that attended loved our site. It's teamwork, hard work paying off when the end result is when you win something."

Hosting the tournament at Hidden Lake is a good boost for the community, too, Randy said, because it filled up hotels, restaurants and brought a lot of business to the town. "It's good for the city's economy."

Also, the Lake City Skiers placed first in three box score categories. Joan Santamaria won first for the LCS in dock and equipment; Larry Carlson and Ty Patrick won first in sound crew; and the team won first in showmanship.

"I'm very excited," said Ty Patrick of the sound crew award. "I have a great sound technician (Carlson). He keeps the music flowing."

"They definitely did a great job," show director Jakim Wilson said of the box scores. "We won the major ones that really counted."

Of the LCS' overall show during the tournament Saturday, Ty Patrick said, "Our show went wonderful. It was good we really stepped up since the last tournament. It's always easier to perform in front of a larger crowd."

"I think the showmanship will pull us out," said Keith Farmer, after the LCS performed Saturday and before the awards were announced Sunday. The other teams had some falls, as did the LCS, but Farmer said the showmanship will pull them out on top. The regional tournament will give them an idea on what they need to polish up on for national competition in August, he said.

Chris Wilson said the highlights of the LCS' show Saturday was the opening and the 10-person barefoot line. Before nationals, Chris said the team needs to work on skiing together and not folding under pressure. But hosting the tournament was a big success for the team, Chris said.

"It was a big turn out. We really appreciate the support from the community," he said.

Jakim said the team didn't peak on their skiing, but the showmanship was outstanding. The best parts, he said, were the women's ballet line, jumping and the barefooting. "The crowd loved our show and really fell in love with Roscoe," said Jakim.

The LCS' show theme this year is "The Dukes of Hazard" and Roscoe is played by John Conley.

The division I Central Region winners included: Chippewa Lake, fourth, 1,522 points, Medina, Ohio; the Arch Rivals, third, 1,584 points, St. Louis, Mo.; Wonder Lake, second, 1,805 points, Wonder Lake, Ill.; and Backwater Gamblers, first, 1,964 points, Rock Island, Ill.

Individual competitions were held Saturday morning. In individual swivel competition, Sarah Santamaria placed ninth, Viki Hunziker placed seventh and Tracey Patrick placed fifth. All three skiers are members of the LCS team and there were a dozen women competing in the swivel. The LCS jump team also placed second in individual competition, with the team from the Backwater Gamblers besting them.

With their regional win, the LCS will advance to nationals Aug. 6-7 in Rock Island, Ill.

Lake City Skiers' free home shows are at 5 p.m. Sundays and 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays. [[In-content Ad]]