ESPN-Salituro Nomination

Selection Committee.
Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

As someone who had the privilege to serve on the selection committee for the Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame, it is with great pride that I have been asked to help further the nomination of Sue Susic Ervin into the Hall.

For nearly 30 years, Sue has been at the forefront of figure skating coaching, putting Milwaukee and Wisconsin on the map in a sport whose interest level cannot be underestimated. Television ratings, something that has become a huge reality for me in my career at ESPN. prove that this truly is one of the America’s most popular sports. And no one in Wisconsin has had a bigger impact in this popular sport than Sue.

Since becoming a coach after a fine career as a skater herself, Sue has carried a reputation as one of the best figure skating coaches in the country. She has attracted skaters from Wisconsin, the Midwest and from around the nation to train with her in Milwaukee. In my experiences as a sports reporter and sports editor at The Milwaukee Journal, we chronicled the careers of Kelly Ann Szmurlo and Emily Dulde, two of Sue’s best students.

Perhaps, the essence of Sue as coach is her love for skating and the remarkable ability she has to pass this love on to her students in an instructive and compassionate manner. This in many ways has led to her success and national reputation. The recent story about gymnast Dominique Moceanu was a very disturbing one. Her parents and coaches should be wondering how much they contributed to the emotional mess that Moceanu is going through now. Those who know Sue best know that as a parent and coach, she has never exhibited this type of obsessive compulsive behavior with any of her skaters.

Sue is a class act that has made a positive impact for hundreds of young athletes. Milwaukee and Wisconsin sports are better because of Sue. She is richly deserving of your consideration to become part of the Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame.