While many of the country’s best now train in Utah, the Pettit Center has seen a resurgence in top-level speed skating. The SWIFT Speed Skating Team, founded in 2008 by Olympic bronze medalist Kip Carpenter of Brookfield, is one reason.

SWIFT placed two of its full-time skaters on the World Cup team last fall — the first step in Olympic qualifying. Three other World Cup participants, including 2006 double Olympic medalist Shani Davis, use team resources.

Think of the Pettit as the hardware and the team as the software, suggests Carpenter, who coaches the two dozen SWIFT athletes.

"Everything I need is right here," says SWIFT’s Jilleanne Rookard, who moved from Michigan in 2006 to launch her Olympic dream. "This place gave me that opportunity."

Improvements to the ice-making equipment mean that races here produce better times. By summer, technology could be in place aimed at saving $100,000 a year in energy costs — money that will be directed into sprucing up the building and offering new programming.

According to executive director Randy Dean, such efforts enhance the Pettit’s standing as it seeks to renew its partnership with the U.S. Olympic Committee for another four years. "We are here to stay and will continue to improve," he says.

Also on Dean’s wish list are a new and expanded track surface (price tag: $75,000), a fitness center for cross-training and, perhaps, an addition to house ice specifically prepared for the sport of curling.

As for hockey and figure skating, Dean says it would be difficult to bring world-level programs into the Pettit because ice time already is booked solid. m