Lenny Pizziola in Ishpeming sail in a nook through the competitors on the Lug World Cup. Pizziola says that his profession began at an area competition in Negaunee. (Picture with Lenny Pizziola’s kindness)
Ishpeming – Lenny Pizziola by no means thought that a man like him from Ishpeming would compete on the world stage stage and by no means imagined that he appeared from free hit on the HEIKKI Annual Competition.
“I solely slipped a month earlier than I made the crew subsequent 12 months.” mentioned the pizziola. “Folks have been laughing, as a result of I used to be there for a month,” you virtually made a whole season in that month. ” It solely slides on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then I wakened at 7 within the morning to go on the monitor and assist the shovel, then left, eat lunch, lug, eat dinner, flip and lug till the lights stopped and I’d do that on Friday, on Saturday, Sunday for a month. “
Luge shouldn’t be the one factor that pizziola is busy, he’s additionally a full -time scholar on the North Michigan College who research athletic exercises, typically works one or two jobs and trains the vault of feminine pillars at NMU.
“After I first began, I got here some worldwide folks, one from Japan and one from Canada”, “ mentioned the pizziola. “I bear in mind laughed at me as a result of I’d go to class after which return to the monitor.”
By rising up, he all the time needed to maneuver from Ishpeming, feeling small and boring.
Pizziola smiles after a World Cup Lug. And he discovered the love for sports activities through the Heikki winter competition in Negaunee, and from there he went to a prime place on the US Tem Pure Luge. (Picture with Lenny Pizziola’s kindness)
Nonetheless, now, a few years in line and after touring all around the world, typically they’re simply ready to return house after the competitors season.
“Most individuals find out about Marquette, however that is getting smaller as you go additional”, “ mentioned the pizziola. “I am going to the town and get that facet of the town and you might be like:” I believe I like (the higher peninsula) the place I’m. “ That is precisely what I get. “
Rising within the shadow of the famend corridor of nationwide ski and, with the wealthy historical past of ski jumps, Pizziola hopes that hitting might be added to Ishpeming’s fame in winter sport, in addition to within the hope that it’s going to acquire extra recognition.
“There are your important sports activities akin to soccer, basketball, monitor and all”, “ mentioned the pizziola. “However there are such a lot of others that you do not even know in highschool till you strive them. The quantity of alternatives which are round are simply loopy, you simply need to search for them. “
Pizziola was a part of the 2023 Luge Observe Observe Observe crew, together with varied different native athletes akin to Katie Cookman, Elise Palecek, Tory Cookman, Thomas Matthews and Mason Palecek. Collectively along with his coach from Negaunee and america crew, Keith Whitman and worldwide coach Jack Leslie.
“They actually assist at house”, “ mentioned the pizziola. “I’m like a second household and I owe my coaches.”
In the course of the FIL World Championship in 2025 in Kuhtai, Austria, he noticed Katie Cookman to take the sixth place, in ladies; Thomas Matthews will get 14th place in males; Leonard Pizziola wins in 20th place; And Mason Palecek reaches 23. It will likely be two extra years earlier than the subsequent World Championship Fil, and Pizziola believes she has a protracted profession earlier than him, as a result of that is his second 12 months, doing Luga and solely the third 12 months of highschool.
“I prefer to joke with lots of people I’ll do till 29 or 30.” Mentioned Pizziola. “I made a couple of jokes to make a coach,” you’ll be able to’t retire from the coach till I withdraw from the competitors. ” Then the coach would ask when this could be and I’d say, “You simply have to attend and see.”
So as to have the ability to journey for the World Cup races, Pizziola has to boost cash itself to afford hundreds of of instruments and air transport. Usually it provides native enterprises the chance to sponsor it, in order that it may well present the native assist that travels all through the globe.
To proceed to assist the LUGE crew, go to www.uploge.org/