Over the last few months, Josh Webster, Bobby Harris and Carl Heckmann have been holding in a secret.
Last Tuesday, the surprise was sprung — when, courtesy of a major donation from Technica Group and Roller Blade USA, nine sets of pads/helmets/skates were delivered to Wildcats at the Way.
For weeks, and through a series of classes taught by Webster and Harris, these athletic youths from middle and high school learned the skills necessary to blitz the boardwalk, grind some rails and stay balanced on the thinnest of wheels.
Those who completed four, or more, sessions earned more than $500 each in necessary equipment, and now, kids like Aubree Wright, Tirion Cundiff, Kingston Reynolds, David Shirley, Gabby Ochoa and others feel more than ready to let it rip.
Webster, who recently arrived as Cadiz Baptist Church associate pastor, was himself a big-time blader when he was younger.
After moving his family to Trigg County, he was seeking a non-profit connection that would better ingratiate himself with elders and students alike.
This opportunity, along with a Technica partnership, was something he couldn’t let slip away.
Through the years, Heckmann said programming at Wildcats at the Way has only continued to blossom, and this was a welcomed addition.
Many of the kids noted that — outside of The Way, some sidewalks, West Cadiz Park and some slower neighborhood roads — Cadiz, and in general Trigg County, don’t really have a lot of safe places to skate effectively, and that trips to Hopkinsville, Clarksville or Murray are required for true skate parks.
Still, Webster said he would like to see this hobby grow.
Others who participated in at least one class include: Bentley Adams, Cory Boone, Kylen Lanier, Marcial Gallegos, Alissa Garcia, Jaxon Skinner and Paityn Waters.
This past semester, Heckmann added that Wildcats at the Way offered more than 20 different classes, and many of the students who embraced rollerblading have put efforts elsewhere over the years.
