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Tampa Women Go For A Spin On 'Wheel'

Tribune photo by WALT BELCHER

Lin A. Grant of Tampa was a contestant when Wheel came to SeaWorld. She had a Pat Sajak key chain and a little Wheelmobile.

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By WALT BELCHER

wbelcher@tampatrib.com

Published: December 18, 2008

ORLANDO - Tampa resident Marisa Hampers tried her best not to be nervous when she celebrated her 25th birthday Sunday with Pat Sajak and Vanna White.

Lin A. Grant, a singer with Opera Tampa, performed an original ode to her favorite game show before she spun that famous wheel Monday, as one of America's most popular game shows wrapped up a five-day visit to SeaWorld.

Hampers, a senior at the University of South Florida, and Grant, 44, a Tampa divorce counselor, were among 60 Floridians chosen as contestants for the 20 "Wheel of Fortune" episodes taped here.

"I had the most awesome time," Hampers said. "I was really nervous all day, and I had no idea how hard it is to spin that wheel. And I wish I could do it all over again."

Both women were selected from auditions held at Derby Lane greyhound track in St. Petersburg and the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa earlier this year. Their episodes will air in March.

"It was everything I expected and more. And I think I played as good a game as I could," Grant said.

"I grew up with this game, and I've played every variation from the original board game to the new computer version," said Hampers, an early childhood development major. Her father, Dean Hampers, owns the local Land and Sea Market outlets.

More than 20,000 spectators, many of them from the Tampa area, made up the largest audiences ever to witness tapings of the 26-year-old series.

The action took place on the largest "Wheel" set ever - a 100-foot open-air stage jutting over a lake that used to feature a ski show. Contestants played in front of a 15-foot-high fiberglass whale's tail, made to look as if Shamu were diving into the stage.

Linda Reynolds of Tampa and daughter Courtney, 22, waited in line for three hours to get good seats for the first taping. "We're really excited to be here, because we love the show and we can't believe the crowd," Courtney said.

Sajak said it was a lot of fun to get out on the road and see the fans. "And SeaWorld was great," he added. "I got kissed by a walrus, and that doesn't happen every day."

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813) 259-7654 or wbelcher@tampatrib.com.

Keyword: Wheel, to see photos of the Wheel of Fortune Sea World visit in the Snap gallery at TBO.com.

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