JGP Poland Pairs Preview

Tudvaseva and Lisiev finished below the podium at the first event in Latvia.  But with the absence of top Chinese teams, they should be a contender here.  Their biggest competition will be from Aaron/Settlage of the United States and Bobak/Beharry of Canada who are both making their international debut.  Aaron/Settlage are the reigning national novice champions and competed well against established teams at the junior level in their summer competitions.  Bobak/Beharry are a new team and won the free skate at the Indy Pairs Challenge earlier this summer.  Brittany Simpson of the United States is one of the more experienced skaters of the bunch, having competed on the JGP, at Junior Worlds and on the Grand Prix.  She is competing here with her new partner Matthew Blackmer and will be looking to recapture the same success.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Bobak/Beharry
Silver: Aaron/Settlage
Bronze: Tudvaseva/Lisiev

Paliakova/Fomichev, BLR: They finished 18th at Junior Worlds.  This is their JGP debut.  She is 19 and he is 20.

Bobak/Beharry, CAN: This is their first season together and is their JGP debut.  She is 17 and he is 20.

Jaskolka/Snopek, POL: They finished 14th at JGP Great Britain and 13th at JGP Czech Republic last season.  Their personal best is 90.22.  She is 14 and he is 20.

Klatka/Chruscinski, POL: They finished 14th at Junior Worlds.  They placed 12th at JGP Austria and 11th at JGP Germany last season.  Their personal best is 103.13.  She is 14 and he is 19.

Malinkiewicz/Lofek, POL

Grechukhina/Filonova, RUS

Tudvaseva/Lisiev, RUS: They finished 5th at their JGP debut in Latvia.  Their personal best is 123.56.  She is 14 and he is 18.

Lavrentieva/Rudik, UKR: They finished 15th at Junior Worlds.  They placed 13th at JGP Austria last season.  Their personal best is 102.29.  She is 14 and he is 19.

Aaron/Settlage, USA: This is their international debut.  She is 16 and he is 19.

Calalang/Sidhu, USA: They finished 10th at JGP Czech Republic last season.  She is 16 and he is 19.

Simpson/Blackmer, USA: This is their first season competing together and is their international debut.  She is 15 and he is 19.