WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The American Airlines plane crash has devastated the Wichita ice skating community.

affiliate KSNW visited the Wichita Ice Center Thursday morning to talk to members. The staff said the news of the crash hasn’t been easy. Some said they cried after learning about what happened to the skaters who used the center for the last week.

Sean O’Reilly, general manager of the Wichita Ice Center, said his team got to know many of the athletes who had been in Wichita for a development camp after the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. He says it is too early to determine the healing process at the Ice Center, but he knows the tragedy will leave a lasting mark on his team.

“It’s an unbelievably tragic day here. We’re one step in front of the other, and we’re just trying to comprehend the immense tragedy. It’s just terrible,” O’Reilly said.

The Wichita Ice Center team isn’t letting the tragic loss keep them or Wichita skaters from their passion. The rink is open to the public.

Visit Wichita, which was instrumental in getting the U.S. Figure Skating Championships to the city, released a statement saying, “The impact of this devastating incident is profound, and it is a sad time for Wichita and the nation. It was an absolute honor to have recently hosted them in Wichita, and we are devastated they were among those who were impacted.”

Intrust Bank Arena also released a statement saying, “We offer our heartfelt condolences to everyone affected by the American Eagle Flight 5342 tragedy. It has been a pleasure working with the U.S. Figure Skating organization over the past several months. Our thoughts are with their team, the families and friends of those impacted, and the Wichita community during this incredibly difficult time.”