The Great Skate Wolverines began in 1988 when Coach Robb Dunn established the team at The Great Skate in Roseville, Michigan. Before that, Robb had skated competitively for 16 years, the last 7 being coached by Virgil Dooley. He began his coaching career with the Striders, located in Livonia, Michigan after Virgil's departure to Florida. Robb coached the Striders with Dennis McLeod for three years before forming the Wolverines.
The Wolverines began as an all-quad team as there were no inlines at that time. When inline skates were introduced the team had to learn many new techniques. The Wolverines got a late start on the inlines, but within a year had climbed towards the top of the national scene.
The Wolverines rose to prominence in the early 1990's and have continued to develop winners to this day. Some Wolverines who have, or are continuing to excel are Jennifer Boschman who was the first World Team member in the 1990-91 season. Julie Brandt won the first World Gold Medal in 1995. The first Jr. World Gold Medal was won by Jessica Smith in 1996. The Wolverines are the home team of Theresa Cliff, the most decorated medal winner in the history of Women's World Championship racing. The team is a perennial top five finisher in National Championship point standings. One of the most storied programs in the U.S., the Wolverines Team landed 5 members on the U.S. World Championship teams in 2001, 3 in 2002, and 2 in 2003. Members of the Wolverines have earned over 60 World Championship Gold Medals. The Wolverines offer competitive skating to all levels of skaters - Recreational, Junior Olympic (beginning racers), Standard and Elite-Pro.
Robb Dunn, who was U.S. Coach of the Year in 1988, and is a member of both the Athlete and Coach's Hall of Fame coaches the Wolverines. Jay Ingram began coaching with Robb in the 1990-91 season. Jay was Developmental Coach of the Year in 1999, and is a former four time Classic Men's National Champion. The Captain of the Wolverines is Terry Palmer who has skated with the team for 8 years, the last 2 as Captain. Terry has 33 Regional, and 8 National placements.
In 2001, the Tarry Hall Roadrunners of Grandville, Michigan joined forces with the Wolverines. Doug Kraai coaches with the assistance of Lee McCormick and former Jr. World Medallist and National Champion Candace Rosekopf. Tarry Hall has at one time or another housed such standouts as Theresa Cliff, Julie Brandt Glass, and Candace Rosekopf.
The Wolverines motto is that nothing replaces hard work, a theory Dunn learned under Coach Virgil Dooley as a skater.
In 2005 Coach Robb Dunn retired after 20 years of competitive coaching. Jay Ingram has now assumed full coaching duties. Jay has over 30 years of championship racing and coaching experience. The Wolverine Tradition lives on!
Quote from Coach Robb Dunn: "This program ain't for everybody. We tend to go at it pretty hard here. Some may think it's a bit too much, but that's what we do. I think the results have been pretty good.....but if you are going to skate here, you are going to work."
