LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — William Preece of Lake Placid, N.Y. embodies the magic and spirit that make up the Empire State Winter Games. Many athletes and families travel to Lake Placid and the Adirondack region to be a part of the event, but some are fortunate to live right here to take part in it. The Preece family is one of those. They watch as their hometown welcomes people from all over converge on the small upstate New York town to compete in the United States’ biggest and longest-running state games.
As a volunteer for the Games for 21 years, Preece has fond memories. “At Paul Smith College we would just stop classes for the whole week, it was great,” he said.
Before he started volunteering he was also an athlete, competing in the Alpine skiing on Whiteface Mountain in the 1990’s, during his high school years.
Now Preece enjoys watching his son Will Preece Jr. compete as a cross-country skier. This week, Will Sr. watched as Will Jr. raced to three Empire State Winter Games medals. Will Jr. grabbed a pair of gold medals in the 2.5 and 5k events and silver in the 5k classic interval start.
“Just bringing everyone from New York up here to this winter wonderland,” Will Jr. said. “Everyone’s having fun and it’s finally winter. It’s beautiful. It’s just amazing to see that this event is still happening.”
