US Nationals Junior Pairs Free Skate Results

Place	Start No.	Name	Short Program		Free Skate		Total Score
			Place	Score	Place	Score
1	11	Britney Simpson, Broadmoor SC Matthew Blackmer, Broadmoor SC	2	50.25	1	96.19	146.44
2	9	Jessica Noelle Calalang, DuPage FSC Zack Sidhu, Las Vegas FSC	3	48.32	2	93.20	141.52
3	12	Madeline Aaron, Coyotes SC of Arizona Max Settlage, Broadmoor SC	1	52.94	4	85.47	138.41
4	10	Chelsea Liu, St. Paul FSC Devin Perini, Los Angeles FSC	4	47.20	3	91.11	138.31
5	5	Brianna de la Mora, Texas Gulf Coast FSC Taylor Wilson, Texas Gulf Coast FSC	6	42.31	6	78.53	120.84
6	7	Jessica Pfund, Broadmoor SC AJ Reiss, Los Angeles FSC	7	40.93	5	79.88	120.81
7	8	Caitlin Fields, Coyotes SC of Arizona Jason Pacini, Fort Collins FSC	5	43.79	11	72.64	116.43
8	6	Cali Fujimoto, Peninsula SC Nicholas Barsi-Rhyne, SC of Lake Placid	8	38.61	7	76.88	115.49
9	3	Caitlin Belt, University of Delaware FSC Michael Johnson, University of Delaware FSC	9	38.02	9	73.93	111.95
10	4	Alexandria Shaughnessy, SC Of Boston James Morgan, SC Of Boston	10	37.45	10	73.23	110.68
11	2	Olivia Oltmanns, Yarmouth Ice Club Joshua Santillan, All Year FSC	11	35.19	8	75.06	110.25
12	1	Brenna Doherty, University of Delaware FSC Craig Norris, St. Moritz ISC	12	26.40	12	68.76	95.16

US Nationals Junior Pairs Short Program

Group 1

Fujimoto/Barsi-Rhyne: 20.89 TES + 17.72 PCS = 38.61

• Nice ease into the back press lift with a good arched catch foot position from her
• Ok double twist but a crashy landing
• Not a lot of speed going into the throw double salchow but they pull it out
• good death spiral
• Double flips were nice and they rotate in opposite directions
• A little slow on their side by side spins but good distance and unison

Pfund/Reiss: 21.88 TES + 21.05 PCS -2.00 = 40.93 and into 1st place

• Nice double twist but she almost got away from him on the landing
• Big throw triple salchow with a nice landing
• She stepped out and then fell out of the side by side double axels
• Off on the timing in places in their side by side spins and traveling away from each other
• Nice unison in their step sequence but they seem a bit choppy in places
• She could pull up more in the lift since she seems to be slouching a bit
• She loses her edge on the death spiral and falls and they finish a few beats before their music ends
• They look really unhappy with that performance

Simpson/Blackmer: 26.73 TES + 23.52 PCS = 50.25 and into 1st place

• Big, clean throw double twist
• Nice speed and good landing on the throw triple salchow
• Nice air position in the lift with good stretch through the change of position but it looked like she got stuck for a second in the dismount
• Good side by side double axels, nicely timed
• She could have more arch in her back and stretch through her free leg in the death spiral
• This team is great but they are almost identical in height which could make tricks like the triple twist difficult to achieve
• Nice side by side spin positions; losing their unison a bit in places

Belt/Johnson: 19.86 TES + 18.16 PCS = 38.02 and into 4th place

• Nice double twist; not a lot of height but elegantly done
• Not a great air position in the lift; it looks like she's struggling to hold it and is a bit awkward looking
• Off in the unison of their side by side double flips
• Decent throw double salchow but not a lot of height or ice coverage
• Ok death spiral position and nice and low to the ice
• Lots of flexibility in their spin positions, good matching lines, good unison and nice speed
• I think they finished their music early as they had to keep repeating poses at the end before they got to the final pose

Group 2

Fields/Pacini: 24.41 TES + 19.38 PCS = 43.79 and into 2nd place

• Really nice side by side double axels
• Her hip is hiked up in the opening position of their lift but she hits two nice positions after the changes
• Good double twist with arms overhead and a clean catch
• She two foots the landing of the throw triple salchow
• They could be a tad closer on their side by side spins, but nice unison and flexibility
• Fun choreography in their step sequence but a bit choppy in places
• Nice spiral into a really good death spiral--probably the best one of the day so far

Liu/Perini: 26.35 TES + 20.85 PCS = 47.20 and into 2nd place

• This is their third season competing at nationals, 1st as juniors and htey're finally old enough to compete internationally last season
• Nice death spiral
• Good side by side double flips
• Good double twist with a nice easy catch
• She has great extension through these transition moves
• A little bit of hesitation into the throw triple salchow, but huge in the air, good toe point; she does put her hands down though
• They could use more stretch through the sit position in their side by side spins
• Fun choreography in the step sequence but he seems to be performing more than she is
• Nice entry to the back press lift but she could have both legs lifted equally; into a nice split position after the change of position

Shaughnessy/Morgan: 19.28 TES + 18.17 PCS = 37.45 and into 7th place

• She stepped out of the side by side double axels
• A little two footed on the landing of the throw triple salchow but otherwise well done
• She has really long legs so when she doesn't fully stretch through some of these spin positions, it's very noticeable
• Not a great first position in the lift and then an awkward transition where it looked like she was going to kick him in the head; at the end it looked like they were muscling through the lift
• Good double twist with a clean catch
• Nice arch in the death spiral

Oltmanns/Santillan: 17.11 TES + 19.08 PCS -1.00 = 35.19 and into 8th place

• Nice opening choreography really in time and character with the music and good twizzles too!
• Great unison on the entry into their side by side double axels but she falls
• Good timing on their side by side spins but she's really traveling
• Good double twist
• A little bobble on the entry to their lift but a really difficult position and nice stretch from her
• Great toe point and height on the throw triple salchow but she leans forward on the landing and never fully gets her free leg out

Group 3

Aaron/Settlage: 28.94 TES + 24.00 PCS = 52.94 and into 1st place

• Because he is born on July 1st, they get an extra year of Junior international eligibility next season.
• Nice double twist with her arms overhead and a good catch
• This is a great vehicle for them because her carriage and lines are showcased perfectly as a swan
• Nice side by side double axels
• Huge throw triple salchow; she was a little forward on the landing but hung on with a good landing position
• Good lift position with a nice one arm exit 
• Some of their spins they don't have the same flexibility on so it ruins the unison look
• Nice step sequence with good flow across the ice
• Spiral into a death spiral with a good arch and a change of hold from him

Calalang/Sidhu: 27.60 TES + 20.72 PCS = 48.32 and into 3rd place

• She turns out of the side by side double axels but keeps her free leg up
• Good height on the double twist with her arms over head but a bit of a crashy landing
• Nice throw triple salchow and she really had to fight for that landing since she came down awkwardly but she made it look easy
• Off on the unison on their side by side spins but some nice positions
• A little bit of difficiulty getting into the lift but nice position once she was up there
• Nice timing with the music on their step sequence and very in character with the program
• Interesting lead in to the death spiral but she could use a bit more arch

De la Mora/Wilson: 23.11 TES + 19.20 PCS = 42.31 and into 6th place

• Really nice double twist with good height and a clean catch
• She turned out of the side by side double axels but kept her free leg up
• Interesting toss entry into the lift with a one hand hold
• Nice throw triple salchow
• Good arch in the death spiral
• Good unison on their step sequence
• Nice camel position to open their side by side spins; they could be closer together and they've lost their unison by the end
• Finished before their music and hit their ending pose several beats early

Doherty/Norris: 11.83 TES + 15.57 PCS -1.00 = 26.40 and into 12th place

• She singled the side by side double axels
• Vertical double twist and she threw her head back at an awkward angle
• She opened up on the throw salchow and had a two foot landing
• She needs more stretch through her legs and arch in her back on the lift position
• She loses her death spiral edge and falls
• He's a little wild on the camel spin but they have good unison on their side by side spins

Place	Start No.	Name	Score
1	9	Madeline Aaron, Coyotes SC of Arizona Max Settlage, Broadmoor SC	52.94
2	3	Britney Simpson, Broadmoor SC Matthew Blackmer, Broadmoor SC	50.25
3	10	Jessica Noelle Calalang, DuPage FSC Zack Sidhu, Las Vegas FSC	48.32
4	6	Chelsea Liu, St. Paul FSC Devin Perini, Los Angeles FSC	47.20
5	5	Caitlin Fields, Coyotes SC of Arizona Jason Pacini, Fort Collins FSC	43.79
6	11	Brianna de la Mora, Texas Gulf Coast FSC Taylor Wilson, Texas Gulf Coast FSC	42.31
7	2	Jessica Pfund, Broadmoor SC AJ Reiss, Los Angeles FSC	40.93
8	1	Cali Fujimoto, Peninsula SC Nicholas Barsi-Rhyne, SC of Lake Placid	38.61
9	4	Caitlin Belt, University of Delaware FSC Michael Johnson, University of Delaware FSC	38.02
10	7	Alexandria Shaughnessy, SC Of Boston James Morgan, SC Of Boston	37.45
11	8	Olivia Oltmanns, Yarmouth Ice Club Joshua Santillan, All Year FSC	35.19
12	12	Brenna Doherty, University of Delaware FSC Craig Norris, St. Moritz ISC	26.40

US Nationals: Junior Pairs Preview

Simpson and Blackmer are in their second season as a team and seem to be hitting a bit of a sophomore slump.  After qualifying for the Junior Grand Prix Final and medaling at that event last season, they failed to medal at either of their Junior Grand Prix assignments this season.  Still, they had the best international scores of any US junior pairs team this season.  They have a throw triple loop and salchow planned in their free skate but have only been executing a double twist.  They have a great look and elegance on the ice and that should help make up for any technical deficits.  They won the silver medal at nationals last season and are in a good position to claim the top spot on the podium.

Trying to catch them will be their training mates Aaron and Settlage who won a bronze medal on the Junior Grand Prix this season.  They have a Level 4 lift, spin and step sequence planned in their short and executed two Level 4 lifts and a Level 4 combination spin in their free skate at sectionals.  They have a throw triple loop and triple salchow as well along with a triple twist.  After winning the novice title in 2011, they finished just off the podium last season.

Calalang and Sidhu bounced back from a poor short program at sectionals to claim the Pacific Coast Sectionals title.  They received a Level 4 on their spin and lift in the short program and a Level 4 on their side by side spins in their free skate.  They have a triple twist and are planning a throw triple salchow and throw triple lutz in their free skate which gives them a huge technical advantage if they hit the elements cleanly.  They just missed out on the Junior Worlds team last season and will be looking for redemption this year.

Liu and Perini are making their junior debut after winning two medals as novices.  She is not old enough to compete internationally but they seem to be growing together well and adjusting to her growth spurts.  They received a Level 3 death spiral, Level 4 steps, Level 4 lift and Level 4 spin in their short program at sectionals.  They also had Level 4 spins, a Level 3 death spiral and a triple twist in their free skate.  These levels help them make up for the fact that they only have a throw triple salchow and throw double flip planned in their free skate.

Pfund and Reiss are still a relatively new team but have been gaining recognition both nationally and internationally.  They received a Level 4 on their lift in the short program at sectionals but only had a basic death spiral.

De la Mora and Wilson competed on the Junior Grand Prix this season for the first time but will not be able to compete internationally next season.  He will age out of juniors and she is too young to compete in seniors until 2014-2015.  This may give them an advantage as they will not be vying for international placements next season and can just worry about their performance at nationals.  They had a Level 4 step sequence in their short program at sectionals and Level 4 spins and a Level 4 lift in the free skate.  They also have a triple twist and a triple lutz in their arsenal, but they did not execute the lutz at sectionals.

Oltmanns and Santillan have the whole package but have trouble putting together two clean programs when the pressure is on.  They also struggle with their solo jumps.  If they can put everything together and skate cleanly they can medal.  They had a Level 4 step sequence in their short program and Level 4 spins and a Level 4 lift in the free skate at sectionals.  Their programs are smartly structured with 4 elements in the bonus section of the free skate but those extra points were lost at sectionals when they had two falls.

Historically, the top three age eligible junior pairs are sent to junior worlds, however this season Denney and Frazier will be competing nationally as seniors.  They didn't have a stellar international season and the committee will have to determine how they rank with the other junior teams.  Placing in the top two should be a guaranteed trip to junior worlds.

My podium predictions:
Gold: SimpsonBlackmer
Silver: Aaron/Settlage
Bronze: Calalang/Sidhu
Pewter: Liu/Perini

Bios of the competitors:
Aaron/Settlage: She is 18 and he is 20.  She represents the Coyotes Skating Club of Arizona and he represents the Broadmoor Skating Club.  They won bronze at JGP USA and placed 7th at JGP Croatia.  They are 2011 Novice Pairs Champions and finished 6th in Junior Pairs in 2012.  They won gold at Midwestern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 9th best free skate internationally.  The have the best short program, free skate and total scores nationally.

Belt/Johnson: They represent the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club.  They won pewter at Eastern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 9th best free skate and 9th best total scores nationally.  

Calalang/Sidhu: She is 16 and he is 20.  She represents the DuPage Figure Skating Club and he represents the Las Vegas Figure Skating Club.  They placed 6th at JGP Austria and 8th at JGP Croatia.  They finished 8th in Juniors in 2011 and are the reigning Junior Pairs pewter medalists.  They won gold at Pacific Coast Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 6th best short program, 2nd best free skate and 2nd best total scores nationally.  

De la Mora/Wilson: She is 13 and he is 21.  They represent the Texas Gulf Coast Figure Skating Club.  They placed 11th at JGP Austria.  They are the 2010 Intermediate Pairs Champions, finished 6th in Novice in 2011 and 8th in Juniors in 2012.  They won silver at Midwestern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 4th best short program, 4th best free skate and 4th best total scores nationally.

Doherty/Norris: She represents the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club and he represents the St. Moritz Ice Skating Club.  They placed 5th at Eastern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 8th best free skate and 11th best total scores nationally.


Fields/Pacini: She is 17 and he is 22.  She represents the Coyote Skating Club of Arizona and he represents the Fort Collins Figure Skating Club.  They are the 2011 Novice Pewter Medalists and 2012 Novice Silver Medalists.  They won pewter at Pacific Coast Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 5th best short program and 10th best total scores nationally.

Fujimoto/Barsi-Rhyne: She is 21 and he is 21.  She represents the Peninsula Skating Club and he represents the Skating Club of Lake Placid.  They finished 11th in Juvenile in 2004, 7th in Juvenile in 2005, are the 2006 Juvenile pewter medalists, finished 5th in Intermediate in 2007, 12th in Novice in 2008, 7th in Novice in 2009 and 11th in Juniors in 2012.  They won bronze at Eastern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 9th best short program, 10th best free skate and 8th best total scores nationally.

Liu/Perini: She is 13 and he is 19.  She represents the St. Paul Figure Skating Club and he represents the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club.  They are the 2011 Novice Silver Medalists and reigning Novice Champions.  They won silver at Pacific Coast Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 3rd best short program, 3rd best free skate and 3rd best total score nationally. 

Oltmanns/Santillan: She is 15 and he is 20.  She represents the Yarmouth Ice Club and he represents the All Year Figure Skating Club.  They placed 12th at JGP USA.  They finished 6th in Novice in 2010, 11th in Juniors in 2011 and 9th in Juniors in 2012.  They won gold at Eastern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 7th best short program, 5th best free skate and 6th best total score nationally.

Pfund/Reiss: She represents the Broadmoor Skating Club and he represents the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club.  They placed 5th at JGP USA and 7th at JGP Germany.  She is 15 and he is 20.  They finished 5th as Juniors in 2012.  They won bronze at Pacific Coast Sectionals to qualify for nationals. They have the 2nd best short program, 6th best free skate and 4th best total score nationally.

Shaughnessy/Morgan: She is 20 and he is 21.  They represent the Skating Club of Boston.  They finished 5th in Novice in 2011 and are the reigning Novice Pairs bronze medalists.  They won silver at Eastern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.   They have the 8th best short program, 7th best free skate and 7th best total score nationally.

Simpson/Blackmer: She is 16 and he is 21.  She represents the Broadmoor Skating Club and he represents the Detroit Skating Club.  They placed 5th at JGP Austria and 5th at JGP Germany.  They are the reigning Junior Pairs silver medalists.  They have the 10th best short program and 8th best free skate internationally.

Pacific Coast Sectionals Junior Pairs Results

Place	Start No.	Name	Short Program		Free Skate		Total Score
			Place	Score	Place	Score
1	2	Jessica Noelle Calalang, DuPage FSC Zack Sidhu, Las Vegas FSC	4	42.60	1	86.65	129.25
2	4	Chelsea Liu, St. Paul FSC Devin Perini, Los Angeles FSC	2	45.03	2	84.00	129.03
3	3	Jessica Pfund, Broadmoor SC AJ Reiss, Los Angeles FSC	1	45.46	3	78.29	123.75
4	1	Caitlin Fields, Coyotes SC of Arizona Jason Pacini, Fort Collins FSC	3	42.96	4	62.58	105.54

Pacific Coast Sectionals Preview

Saturday, November 10th
6:20-7:25 Novice Pattern Dance
8:25-9:30 Novice Ladies Short Program
9:45-10:45 Junior Short Dance
11:00-12:05 Novice Men's Short Program

Sunday, November 11th
6:10-6:50 Novice Free Dance
7:05-7:55 Junior Men's Short Program
8:10-9:25 Novice Ladies Free Skate
10:05-11:15 Novice Men's Free Skate

Monday, November 12th
12:50-1:05 Novice Pairs Short Program
1:05-2:10 Junior Ladies Short Program
2:25-3:00 Junior Pairs Short Program
5:50-7:10 Senior Ladies Short Program
7:30-8:35 Junior Men's Free Skate
8:50-9:55 Junior Free Dance
10:10-10:55 Senior Men's Short Program

Tuesday, November 13th
12:30-1:45 Junior Ladies Free Skate
2:00-2:20 Novice Pairs Free Skate
2:20-2:55 Junior Pairs Free Skate
4:30-6:15 Senior Ladies Free Skate
6:30-7:30 Senior Men's Free Skate

Senior Ladies

Thirteen ladies are competing for four places at nationals.  Vanessa Lam placed 9th at nationals last season and finished 4th at her JGP assignment.  She has the 3rd best short program, best free skate and best total score from regionals.  Sophia Adams placed 17th at nationals last season.

Courtney Hicks was injured last season and couldn't compete at nationals.  She placed 4th and won a silver medal at her two JGP assignments.

Senior Men

Seven men are competing for four spots to nationals.  Keegan Messing placed 7th at nationals last season and won gold at Cup of Nice and bronze at Nebelhorn Trophy.  Scott Dyer finished 10th at nationals and Jonathan Cassar finished 11th.  Philip Warren is the reigning Junior Bronze Medalist.

Senior Pairs

Denney and Frazier have chosen to take their bye to nationals so this event will not be contested.

Senior Dance

This will be exhibition only as only Tran and Kaplun are competing.

Junior Ladies

There are twelve ladies competing for four places at nationals.  Polina Edmunds finished 6th at nationals last season and has the 2nd best short program, best free skate and best total score from regionals.  Gwendolyn Prescott finished 7th at nationals last season and has the 9th best short program score from regionals.  Camille Davis finished 12th at nationals.

Karen Chen is the reigning Novice Ladies Champion and has the 6th best short program, 5th best free skate and 5th best total regional score.  Amanda Gelb is the reigning Novice Ladies Bronze Medalist and has the 10th best regional score.  Selena Zhao finished 7th as a novice last season and has the 6th best free skate and total score after regionals.  Dylan McIntee finished 9th as a novice last season. 

Junior Men

Eight men are competing for four spots at nationals.  Nathan Chen is the reigning National Champion and won gold at his JGP assignment.  Shotaro Omori placed 4th at his two JGP assignments this season.  

Vincent Zhou is the reigning Novice National Champion and has the best short program, free skate and total score from regionals.  Spencer Howe is the reigning Novice Bronze Medalist and has the 3rd best short program score from regionals.  

Junior Pairs

Four teams are competing and all will qualify to nationals.  Calalang and Sidhu are the reigning Pewter Medalists and finished 6th and 8th at their two JGP assignments this season.  Pfund and Reiss placed  5th at nationals and finished 7th at their JGP assignment.

Liu and Perini are the reigning Novice Champions and Fields/Pacini are the reigning Novice Silver Medalists.

Junior Dance

Six teams are competing for four spots at nationals.  Heritage and Fast finished 5th at nationals last season and placed 7th at their JGP assignment.  Siddon and Weiss finished 5th at the novice level last season.  

Novice Ladies

Twelve ladies are competing for four places at nationals.  Elizabeth Nguyen is the reigning Intermediate Silver Medalist and has the 7th best short program and total score from regionals.  Tyler Pierce is the reigning Intermediate Bronze Medalist and has the best short program, 3rd best free skate and best total regional score.  Sarah Feng finished 8th in Intermediate last season and has the 8th best regional short program score.  Cheyenne Taylor finished 10th and  Brittney Shiue finished 19th last season.   

Novice Men

Ten men are competing for four spots at nationals.  Wilbur Ji finished 12th at nationals last season.  

Paolo Borromeo is the reigning Intermediate Men's Bronze Medalist.  He has the 4th best free skate and 6th best total score from regionals.  Harrison Wong is the reigning Intermediate Men's Pewter Medalist.  

Novice Pairs

Two teams are competing and both will advance to nationals.  Middleton and Hennings finished 5th at nationals last season.  Erickson and Fleming finished 10th as Intermediates last season.

Novice Dance

Six teams are competing for four spots at nationals.  Lewis and Bye are the reigning Pewter Medalists.  Feng and Pomarenkeo finished 5th at the Intermediate level last season and Luo and Cheung finished 11th.