US Nationals: Novice Dance Preview

This should be a very tight event with the novice pewter medalists along with the Intermediate Champions and the 3rd-5th place finishers.  The teams all scored within a few points of each other at Sectionals and with a new pattern dance being competed, it could be anyone's game.

Lewis and Bye have already had success at the novice level, winning the pewter medal at nationals last season.  They set the pace at sectionals scoring seven points higher than the rest of the competition.  They scored an impressive 25 points in the Blues Pattern Dance at sectionals, but that dance will not be competed at nationals.  They have some breathing room, but they'll want to bring up their Starlight Waltz score and score well on their Paso if they want to take home the gold medal.  They received a Level 4 on five of their six elements in the free dance at sectionals.  They'll be just old enough to compete internationally next season and a gold or silver will likely get them a spot on the JGP.

Chadwick and Martin were extremely consistent across their events placing in the top 2 or 3 for all segments of the competition.  Their Starlight Waltz was strong and on par with their Blues.  They also had three Level 4 elements as well as one Level 3 in their free skate at Sectionals.  They finished 8th at this event last season but this is their 5th consecutive nationals and that experience is likely to pay off.

Patsis and Johnson posted the highest Starlight Waltz score at Sectionals, giving them an advantage in the pattern dance.  However, they did not cross the 50 point mark in their free dance at Sectionals and only received a Level 1 on their Diagonal Step Sequence.  If they can pull up that level, they should have no problem making the podium.

The Becker siblings are a very young team but already have two nationals medals under their belt.  They also train alongside several of the top junior ice dance teams in the country.  They have a good Starlight Waltz score but struggled in the Blues at their sectional.  They'll need a good Paso Doble score to keep them in the hunt.  Their major weakness in their free dance at Sectionals was a Level 1 Circular Step Sequence which they could also improve to bring up their total score.

Feng and Ponomarenko are a very accomplished team.  She also qualified for nationals as a novice lady and the team are trained by his parents who are three time Olympic medalists in Ice Dance.  Their Cats free dance was the talk of sectionals but they received two Level 1 elements at that event.

Also in the hunt are Leonesio/Chambers, Gourianova/Petrov, Wren/Shchepetov and Berkovich/Jaffe.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Lewis/Bye
Silver: Patsis/Johnson
Bronze: Chadwick/Martin
Pewter: Becker/Becker

Bios of the competitors:
Becker/Becker: She is 10 and he is 12.  They represent the Washington Figure Skating Club.  They are the reigning Intermediate Champions and 2011 Juvenile Silver Medalists.  They won gold at Eastern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 7th best pattern dance, 2nd best free dance and 4th best total scores.

Berkovich/Jaffe: They represent the Pavilion Skating Club of Cleveland Heights.  They are the reigning Intermediate Pewter Medalists and finished 5th in Juvenile in 2011.  They won bronze at Midwestern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 4th best pattern dance, 10th best free dance and 9th best total scores.

Chadwick/Martin: She is 15 and he is 16.  They represent the Detroit Skating Club.  They are the 2010 Juvenile Bronze Medalists and the 2011 Intermediate Bronze Medalists.  They finished 8th in Juvenile in 2009 and 8th as novices in 2012.  They won gold at Midwestern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 3rd best pattern dance, 3rd best free dance and 2nd best total scores.

Feng/Ponomarenko: She represents the Peninsula Skating Club and he represents the Skating  Club of San Francisco.  They finished 5th as intermediates in 2012 and are the 2011 Juvenile Bronze Medalists.  They won silver at Pacific Coast Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 8th best pattern dance, 5th best free dance and 5th best total scores.

Gaughan/Litcho: She is 17 and he is 20.  She represents the Broadmoor Skating Club and he represents the Lilac City Figure Skating Club.  They won pewter at Midwestern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.

Gourianova/Petrov: She represents the Washington Figure Skating Club and he represents the Hershey Figure Skating Club.  They won silver at Eastern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 9th best pattern dance, 4th best free dance and 7th best total scores.

Leonesio/Chambers: She is 16 and he is 19.  She represents the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club and he represents the Colorado College Skating Club.  They won bronze at Pacific Coast Sectionals to qualify for nationals. They have the 6th best pattern dance, 7th best free dance and 6th best total scores.

Lewis/Bye: She is 12 and he is 14.  She represents the All Year Figure Skating Club and he represents the Skating Club of New York.  They are the reigning Novice Pewter Medalists and finished 6th in Intermediate in 2011.  They won gold at Pacific Coast Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the best pattern dance, free dance and total scores.

Lucas/Kazansky: She is 16 and he is 18.  She represents the Triangle Figure Skating Club and he represents the Columbia Figure Skating Club of Maryland.   They finished 10th as novices in 2012.  They won pewter at Eastern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 10th best pattern dance, 9th best free dance and 10th best total scores.

Luo/Cheung: They represent the Pasadena Figure Skating Club.  They finished 11th as Intermediates in 2012 and 7th as Juveniles in 2011.  They won pewter at Pacific Coast Sectionals to qualify for nationals.

Patsis/Johnson: She represents the Skokie Valley Skating Club and he represents the Broadmoor Skating Club.  They won silver at Midwestern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 2nd best pattern dance, 6th best free dance and 3rd best total scores.

Wren/Shchepetov: They represent the Philadelphia Skating Club and Humanity Society.  They are the reigning Intermediate Bronze Medalists and the 2011 Juvenile Pewter Medalists.  They won bronze at Eastern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  They have the 5th best pattern dance, 8th best free dance and 8th best total scores.

Midwest Sectionals Novice Dance Results

Place	Start No.	Name	Previous		Free Dance		Total Score
			Place	Score	Place	Score
1	3	Sierra Chadwick, Detroit SC Alexander Martin, Detroit SC	2	43.48	1	51.20	94.68
2	5	Tory Patsis, Skokie Valley SC Joseph Johnson, Broadmoor SC	1	44.94	2	49.51	94.45
3	4	Kimberly Berkovich, Pavilion SC of Cleveland Heights Micah Jaffe, Pavilion SC of Cleveland Heights	3	39.74	3	45.46	85.20
4	1	Ashlyn Gaughan, Broadmoor SC Cody Lithco, Lilac City FSC	4	32.02	4	41.67	73.69
5	2	Rachel Burgett, Strongsville SC Daniel Chambers, Texas Gulf Coast FSC	5	15.44	5	24.32	39.76

Midwestern Sectionals Preview

Saturday, November 10th
2:30-3:40 Novice Pattern Dance
7:30-7:45 Junior Pairs Short Program

Sunday, November 11th
8:00-9:10 Novice Men's Short Program
9:25-10:40 Junior Ladies Short Program
11:00-12:15 Novice Pairs Short Program
3:05-3:55 Senior Men's Short Program
4:10-4:35 Senior Pairs Short Program
4:40-5:20 Senior Short Dance
5:50-6:25 Junior Short Dance
6:40-7:25 Novice Free Dance
7:30-8:55 Senior Ladies Short Program

Monday, November 12th
7:50-8:35 Senior Free Dance
10:25-11:05 Junior Free Dance
11:25-12:55 Novice Pairs Free Skate
1:00-1:20 Junior Pairs Free Skate
2:05-3:25 Novice Men's Free Skate
3:30-4:40 Novice Ladies Short Program
4:55-6:10 Junior Men's Short Program
6:30-6:55 Senior Pairs Free Skate

Tuesday, November 13th
7:30-8:45 Novice Ladies Free Skate
9:00-10:40 Senior Ladies Free Skate
10:55-12:15 Junior Ladies Free Skate
12:30-2:00 Junior Men's Free Skate
2:15-3:15 Senior Men's Free Skate

Senior Ladies
Thirteen ladies are competing for four spots at nationals.  Kiri Baga placed 10th at nationals last season and finished 4th at her JGP assignment.  She has the 4th best short program, 6th best free skate and 5th best total score from regionals.  Nina Jiang placed 11th at nationals and 11th at her JGP assignment.  Morgan Bell placed 18th at nationals last season and has the 6th best regionals short program.

Ashley Cain is the reigning Junior Silver Medalist and placed 5th at her JGP assignment.  She has the best short program, 4th best free skate and 3rd best total score from regionals.  Becky Bereswill is a former national competitor in singles and pairs and is the reigning Collegiate Bronze Medalist.  She has the 5th best free skate and 6th best total score.

Senior Men
Seven men are competing for four spots at nationals.  Max Aaron placed 8th at naitonals last season, won gold at U.S. Figure Skating Classic and silver at Cup of Nice.  Brandon Mroz placed 14th at nationals last season. Alexander Johnson finished 15th and William Brewster finished 18th.

Timothy Koleto finished 6th as a junior last season.

Senior Pairs
There are three teams competing and all will qualify for nationals.  All three teams are new this season.: Baga/Toth, Leng/LeDuc and Scimeca/Knierim.  Scimeca and Knierim won gold at Cup of Nice earlier this season.

Senior Dance
Five teams are competing for four spots at nationals.  Aronow and Brubaker are a new team, but both have been to nationals before with different partners.

Junior Ladies
Twelve ladies are fighting for four spots to nationals.  Barbie Long is the reigning Pewter Medalist and won silver at her JGP assignment.  She has the 3rd best short program, 2nd best free skate and 3rd best total score from regionals.  Mariah Bell finished 5th at nationals and has the best short program, 3rd best free skate and 2nd best total score.

Amber Glenn is the reigning Novice Ladies Silver Medalist and has the 3rd best short program and 8th best total score after regionals.  Avery Kurtz placed 8th at nationals as a novice and Madison DeLuca finished 12th.

Junior Men
Twelve men are looking for four spots to nationals.  Lukas Kaugars finished 5th at nationals and placed 20th at his JGP assignment.  He has the 8th best free skate and 9th best total score from regionals.  Troy Tomasello finished 8th at nationals and has the 4th best short program score.  Ryan Hartley placed 9th at nationals.  

Brian Krentz placed 6th at nationals as a novice.  He has the 7th best short program, 4th best free skate and 3rd best total score from regionals.  Chase Belmontes finished 8th at nationals as a novice and has the 5th best free skate and 6th best total regional score.

Junior Pairs
Two teams are competing and both will qualify to nationals.  Aaron and Settlage placed 6th at nationals last season and won a bronze medal and finished 7th at their two JGP assignments.  De la Mora and Wilson placed 8th at nationals last season and placed 11th at their JGP assignment.

Junior Dance
Four teams are competing and all four will qualify for nationals.  Moore and Klaber are the reigning Novice Champions and finished 8th at their JGP assignment.  Rosinski and Jaffe are the reigning Novice Bronze Medalists.

Hawayek and Baker are a new team and and won a silver medal and finished 5th in their two JGP assignments.

Novice Ladies
There are twelve ladies fighting for four spots to nationals.  Bradie Tennell finished 10th at nationals last season and has the 6th best free skate and 6th best total score from regionals.

Ashley Shin is the reigning Intermediate Ladies Champion and has the 3rd best short program, 4th best free skate and 3rd best total score from regionals.  Morgan Flood placed 7th at nationals as an Intermediate last season and has the 4th best short program, 5th best free skate and 4th best total regional score.  Michelle Hedges finished 15th as an Intermediate last season.

Novice Men
Nicholas Vrdoljak placed 7th at nationals last season and has the 4th best short program, 6th best free skate and 5th best total score from regionals.

Tomoki Hiwatashi is the reigning Intermediate Champion and has the 3rd best short program, best free skate and best total score from regionals.  Jason Cohn placed 6th as an Intermediate last season and Kevin Wu placed 18th.

Novice Pairs
Eleven teams are competing for four spots at nationals.  Zaitsev/Utah Stevens are the reigning Pewter Medalists and placed 11th at their JGP assignment.

Gallagher and Horton are the reigning Intermediate Champions, Dai and Fishman are the reigning Intermediate Silver Medalists, Egbers and Simon finished 5th, the Schneider-Farris siblings placed 7th and LaChance and Anderson placed 9th

Novice Dance
Five teams are competing for four spots at nationals.  Chadwick and Martin placed 8th at nationals last season.  Berkovich and Jaffe are the reigning Intermediate Pewter Medalists

U.S. Nationals: Novice Pattern Dance Results

Place	Start No.	Name	Pattern Dance 1		Pattern Dance 2		Total Score
			Place	Score	Place	Score
1	7	Whitney Miller, WA FSC Kyle MacMillan, WA FSC	1	22.90	1	27.16	50.06
2	11	Holly Moore, Pavilion SC of Cleveland Heights Daniel Klaber, Pavilion SC of Cleveland Heights	2	22.65	2	24.86	47.51
3	5	Hannah Rosinski, Pavilion SC of Cleveland Heights Jacob Jaffe, Pavilion SC of Cleveland Heights	3	21.37	3	23.05	44.42
4	12	Chloe Rose Lewis, All Year FSC Logan Bye, Broadmoor SC	6	17.30	4	21.32	38.62
5	1	Sierra Chadwick, Detroit SC Alexander Martin, Detroit SC	4	18.68	7	19.51	38.19
6	6	Stacey Siddon, Ann Arbor FSC Jared Weiss, All Year FSC	8	16.90	6	19.74	36.64
7	8	Meara Lorello, University of DE FSC William Dean, University of DE FSC	7	17.01	9	18.37	35.38
8	3	Rebecca Lucas, Triangle FSC Yan Kazansky, Columbia FSC (MD)	9	16.56	8	18.80	35.36
9	9	Madison George, Detroit SC Brad Kleffman, Detroit SC	5	18.63	10	16.14	34.77
10	4	Hannah Pfeifer, All Year FSC Grant Lorello, University of DE FSC	10	14.49	5	19.76	34.25
11	10	Lauren Leonesio, Los Angeles FSC Dustin Perini, Los Angeles FSC	11	14.08	11	15.78	29.86
12	2	Karen Tong, SC of NY David Cruikshank, Windy Hill SC	12	11.10	12	13.84	24.94