Monday, January 17, 2011

U.S. Nationals: Junior Mens Preview

Aaron has the most experience in this field as the only medalist from last season returning at the junior level.  He also won two medals on the JGP and finished just off the podium in 4th at the Junior Grand Prix Final.  This is his event to lose, and at the very least he'll be in the podium.  There was a half a point difference between the two Alexanders at their sectional championship and that should be a good match up at nationals as well.  Zahradnicek might have the slight edge as he is the only other skate in this field with international experience.  Emmauel Savary, Philip Warren and Harrison Choate will be challenging them for the podium, having come up from the novice level just this year. 

The skaters:

Max Aaron: Aaron won bronze at JGP Courcheval and silver at SBC Cup to qualify for the Junior Grand Prix Final, where he finished 4th.  He is the reigning national bronze medalist at the junior level.

Alexander Zahradnicek: He finished 9th at JGP Cup of Austria.  He qualified with a 1st place finish at Eastern sectionals.  He finished 5th at nationals last year as a junior.

Alexander Aiken: He qualified with a 2nd place finish at Eastern sectionals.  He finished 10th at nationals last year as a junior.

Emmanuel Savary: He qualified with a 3rd place finish at Eastern sectionals.  He is the reigning national silver medalist at the novice level.

Philip Warren: He qualified with a 1st place finish at Pacific Coast sectionals.  He is the reigning national pewter medalist at the novice level.

Harrison Choate: He qualified with a 4th place finish at Eastern sectionals.  He finished 6th at nationals last season as a novice.

Steven Evans: He qualified with a 1st place finish at Midwestern sectionals.

TJ Yang: He qualified with at 2nd place finish at Midwestern sectionals.

Timothy Koleto: He qualified with a 3rd place finish at Midwestern sectionals.  He finished 11th at nationals last year as a novice.

Ryan Hartley: He qualified with a 4th place finish at Midwestern sectionals.

David Wang: He qualified with a 2nd place finish at Pacific Coast sectionals.

Shotaro Omari: He qualified with a 3rd place finish at Pacific Coast sectionals.  He finished 9th at nationals last season as a novice.

Will Michael: He qualified with a 5th place finish at Pacific Coast Sectionals.

Note: Joey Millet qualified with a 4th place finish at Pacific Coast sectionals.  He has since withdrawn from the event

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