Indy Pairs Challenge Schedule and Competitors

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:   (Schedule may change due to number of entries)

Friday, August 3:

Senior SP

Junior SP

Saturday, August 4:

Senior FS

Junior FS

Senior

Andrews/Anderson
Baga/Toth
Castelli/Shnapir
Davis/Ladwig
Donlan/Speroff
Kayne/O'Shea
Vise/Baldwin
Zhang/Bartholomay

Bautista/Harris, PHI
Lawrence/Swiegers, CAN
Moore-Towers/Moscovitch, CAN
Purdy/Marinaro, CAN
Steele/Schultz, CAN

Junior

Belt/Johnson
De la Mora/Wilson
Fields/Pacini
Fujimoto/Barsi-Rhyne
Goldberg/Dolkiewicz
Oltmanns/Santillan
Pearce/Silecky
Shaughnessy/Morgan
Zaitsev/Stevens

Jones/Beharry, CAN

Liberty Summer Competition

The Liberty Summer Competition will take place at the IceWorks complex in Aston, PA.

July 13th
Junior Ladies Short
Junior Mens Short

July 14th
Junior Ladies Free Skate
Junior Men Free Skate
Junior Pair Short
Senior Pair Short

July 15th
Junior Ladies Free Skate
Junior Pairs Free Skate
Senior Ladies Short
Senior Men Short
Senior Pair Free Skate

July 16th
Junior Ladies Free Skate
Junior Men Free Skate
Senior Ladies Free Skate
Senior Men Free Skate

A complete list of notable entrants can be found at : http://unseenskaters.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/2011-liberty-summer-competition-preliminary-roster/

Entrants on international skating pool roster:

Senior Ladies
Ashley Wagner--SP only, eligible for senior events 
Melissa Bulanhagui--eligible for senior events
Samantha Cesario--eligible for senior events
Lauren Dinh--eligible for junior and senior events
Haley Dunne--eligible for senior events
Joelle Forte--eligible for senior events
Yasmin Siraj--eligible for junior and senior events
Angela Wang--eligible for junior and senior events
Felicia Zhang--eligible for senior events
Marissa Castelli (eligible for pairs events)

Junior Ladies
Ashley Cain--eligible for junior and senior events
Polina Edmunds--eligible for junior events

Senior Men
Stephen Carriere--SP only, eligible for senior events
Emmanuel Savary--SP only, eligible for junior events
Alexander Aiken--eligible for senior events
Wesley Campbell--eligible for senior events
Armin Mahbanoozadeh--eligible for senior events
Keegan Messing--eligible for senior events
Alexander Zahradnicek--eligible for senior events

Junior Men
Harrison Choate--eligible for junior and senior event
Timothy Dolensky--eligible for senior events
Emmanuel Savary--eligible for junior events
Nathan Chen (not on ISP, too young for JGP, 2 time Novice National Champ)

Senior Pairs
Marissa Castelli & Simon Shnapir--eligible for senior events
Gretchen Donlan & Andrew Speroff--eligible for senior events

Junior Pairs
Madeline Aaron & Max Settlage--eligible for junior and senior events
Kylie Duarte & Colin Grafton--eligible for junior and senior events
Audrey Goldberg & Joseph Dolkiewicz--eligible for junior and senior events
Olivia Oltmanns & Joshua Santillan--eligible for junior events

Cynthia Phaneuf of Canada will also debut her short program as will new pairs teams of Caydee Denney/John Coughlin, Felicia Zhang/Nate Bartholomay and Haven Denney/Brandon Frazier.  Jessica Dube/Sebastian Wolfe of Canada will debut their free skate.

NOTE: Eligibility is determined here by age only.

US Nationals: Novice Recap

Mens:

Nathan Chen was able to defend his title and did so in grand fashion, winning by nearly 36 points.  Though only 11 years old, he outshone the field with his stellar performance skills and incredible jumps and spins.  He has already said that he'll be competing as a junior next season and his coach says he can do triple axels on the floor.  His jump arsenal is already impressive with a double axel-double loop-double loop and six triples in his free skate.  If he can stay with the sport (he also plays piano and does gymnastics) and survive growth spurts that throw off jumps he could easily be a top competitor in the senior division nationally and internationally in only a few years.  Luckily for the junior and senior men, he's not eligible for the Olympics until 2018.

Jordan Moeller and Nix Phengsy were separated by only .37 points to take home the silver and bronze respectively.  Moeller won intermediate gold and Phengsy silver last season and are quickly climbing the ranks.  They both had impressive elements and a few errors but overall had solid performances for an impressive level of competition for the novice level.

Ladies:

The Midwestern ladies swept the podium at nationals.  Hannah Miller skated an impressive free skate to move up from 3rd to win gold.  She has a grace on the ice far beyond her 14 years and zips through her programs with great jumps and elegant spins.  She also has a ton of personality on the ice and is enjoyable to watch.  She hit four triples in her free skate.

Barbie Long won silver with perhaps the most technically demanding free skate including a double axel-triple toe (an element that many senior ladies don't execute).  While she has great jumps, she could improve on her performance skills her spins and her transitions but she is still young and has plenty of time to develop these skills.

Mariah Bell is a bundle of cuteness and skated a flawless short program to lead going into the free skate.  She will need to up her technical ante as she only had two triples in her free skate if she wants to keep pace with Miller and Long.  All of these girls have very ambitious goals and I can't wait to see them on the Junior Grand Prix.

Pairs:

Aaron and Settlage won the Pairs title by over 14 points despite Madeline's 102 degree fever.  They've only been together six months but have the most difficult elements and look the most secure and polished in the field.  They were the only one to successfully land a throw triple and unlike other teams, their throws had height to them.  At 16 and 18 their ages are also compatible for international competition and they have a good number of years of junior eligibility ahead of them.  I think they could really make a splash on the Junior Grand Prix next season and if they stay together they could be the next big US Pairs team.

Liu and Perini won the silver.  She is just 11 years old and he's 17.  Right now their height difference is a little awkward but it does give them the advantage in completing difficult elements that other teams don't execute.  He doesn't really throw her in the throw jumps currently, but I'd love to seem them execute these when they're more secure because he could really toss her.  I'm not sure what their future plans are as she's too young to compete internationally and he only has 4 years of junior level eligibility left.

Goldberg and Dolkiewicz have already been together for three years.  They skated a fun free program to win the bronze medal.  At 14 and 18 they are another team that is close enough in age to have options for international assignments and has several years in front of them to develop and reach the top ranks of the senior level.

Dance:

The Parsons siblings have only been skating together since this season.  At 13 and 15 they were able to claim the novice dance title.  They have some very interesting elements, great flexibility, secure lifts and a nice presence on the ice.  They plan to move up to juniors and are looking forward to international assignments.  With a deep ice dance field, this team is just young enough to be ready to take over the reigns when some of the current top dance teams are ready to retire.  They were also one of the youngest teams in the field and have a lot of time to really develop on top of the good technical basics they already have.

I like the intensity and performance quality of silver medal winners Mancini and Brooks but they have a height difference that makes many of their holds look extremely awkward and distorts many of their frames. 

Hawayek and Bramante were one of my favorite teams in the event and I think they have a great look on the ice from their costumes to their movement and performance quality.  She needs to work on not over performing and making the movements cleaner but I think there is definite potential with this team and they took home the bronze medal.

All three of these teams have only begun skating together this season, so it will be interesting to see how they develop their partnerships and increase their connection with each other in the future.

US Nationals: Novice Pairs Free Skate

1. Unger/Przepioski: 21.48 TES + 24.64 PCS -2.00 = 44.12
1. Nice overhead lift
2. Throw double a little two footed
3. Single twist with a sloppy catch
4. They seem a little tight and tentative
5. Good speed in the pairs spin
6. She needs more stretch in all her positions
7. 2 + 2 sbs and she two-footed the second jump and they were far apart
8. Loss of unison on the sbs spins and their coach is yelling commands at them
9. 1 arm lift with rotation
10. 2 footed the throw double and a hand down
11. Sbs double and she fell
12. struggling in the footwork
13. They have no connection to each other
14. Bobble out of the death spiral and they finish after the music
2. Griffin/Griffin: 19.50 TES + 25.16 PCS -2.00 = 42.66 and into 1st place
1. Overhead lift with a nice exit--I'd like to see more stretch from her
2. Double twist with no height
3. Fall on the double throw
4. Sbs doubles with no unison
5. He muscles her up on the lift but its solid
6. She gets no height on the double throw and falls on her knees.  It takes her a second to get back up but she gets right back into the program
7. I missed their sbs combo jump
8. No unison in their sbs spins
9. She has a nice arch in her back in the death spiral
10. Good footwork sequence
11. Odd entry into their pair spin but some nice positions
12. They took a really long time posting their scores
3. Pearce/Norris: 28.55 TES + 33.19 PCS -1.00 = 60.74 and into 1st place
1. I love their costumes and their poise on the ice
2. She singles the opening jump in their sbs and they rotate opposite directions
3. Good air position, entry and exit in their first lift and good ice coverage
4. Very nice death spiral
5. Single twist with almost no rotation
6. Solid throw double with a clean landing
7. Slow pair spin
8. She falls on the sbs jump
9. Nice second lift
10. Good unison on their sbs spins
11. They really watch each other during their program
12. Nice footwork sequence
13. Solid throw double at the end of the program
14. I see a lot of potential in this team
4. Bergdolt/Addison: 33.98 TES + 34.11 PCS = 68.09 and into 1st place
1. They opened with a sbs double axel but lacked unison
2. Good speed into their high single twist
3. Nice air position in their lift and a nice exit on one foot
4. Solid throw double with a great landing
5. Great sbs double double combo
6. Off by a rotation on their sbs spins
7. Nice 2nd lift with one arm hold
8. Good death spiral position with a change of hold
9. Double throw but she has to put the free leg down
10. Slow footwork
11. Slow pairs spin and they finish slightly before the music
12. Overall good program
5. Smith/Segall: 31.22 TES + 34.92 PCS = 66.14 and into 2nd place
1. Single twist with her arms up on catch but not much height
2. High throw double with a nice landing
3. Good air position and exit in their first lift
4. She two foots the second jump of their side by side double double combo
5. Nice death spiral
6. She singles the sbs jump
7. Nice entry into their second lift
8. About a half rotation off on their sbs spin but nice positions
9. They get very far apart on their step sequence
10. Nice throw double
11. Good speed on their pairs spin but a slight stumble in the middle
6. Shaughnessy/Morgan: 35.68 TES + 38.22 PCS -1.00 = 72.90 and into 1st place
1. I'd like to see her really stretch in her air positions because she has such long legs
2. Nice clean double twist
3. Throw double was nice but didn't really have any height
4. She falls and he steps out of the sbs doubles
5. Good musicality and performance in their step sequence
6. Another nice throw double
7. Solid lift
8. Good death spiral
9. Good unison at the beginning of their sbs spins but gets off toward the end
10. sbs double double combination but the camera doesn't show him
11. Nice positions in their pair spin
7. de la Mora/Wilson: 37.16 TES + 36.74 PCS -1.00 = 72.90 and into 2nd place
1. Nice double twist
2. Good height on the throw double
3. Nice air position and one arm hold and exit on their first lift
4. She two foots the second throw double
5. She falls on the second jump in their double double combo
6. Good unison on their sbs spins but gets off toward the end
7. Flip into a press lift with a nice change of position 
8. sbs double jumps
9. Nice footwork
10. She needs a little more arch in her back in the death spiral
11. nice positions in the pair spins but could use more speed 
8. Goldberg/Dolkiewicz: 36.22 TES + 37.48 PCS = 73.70 and into 1st place
1. High double twist with arms up
2. Through legs to press lift with one arm hold and exit
3. Throw double with not much height but clean landing
4. Nice pair spin positions
5. One arm overhead lift
6. Nice death spiral with a change of hold
7. sbs Double Double combo and he singles second jump
8. Good sbs spins--I'm especially impressed that they regain unison in the middle
9. Nice footwork
10. She two footed the landing on the second throw double
11. Nice sbs double at the end of the program
9. Liu/Perini: 39.06 TES + 37.20 PCS -1.00  = 75.26 and into 1st place
1. She is so tiny but has a nice presence on the ice
2. Good positions in the pair spin that take advantage of the height difference
3. Her leg goes so high in the arabesque position
4. Nice double double sbs jumps
5. Great double twist with her arms up and a clean catch
6. Throw double landed nicely but he doesn't really throw her at all--I'd love to see them do this in a few years
7. Nice solo sbs double jump
8. Fall on the second double throw
9. Good unison on their sbs spins but they lose it in the middle
10. Great lift positions and they even have a flip exit from their seocnd lift
11. She has a slight bobble in the footwork
12. Nice death spiral with a change of hold
13. This team could go really far if they can compensate for the age difference that might make internationals difficult
10. Fields/Pacini: 32.09 TES + 38.41 PCS -1.00 = 69.50
1. They executed a Level 2 double twist, single axel, throw double lutz, Level 1 Group 5 lift, throw double axelo, Level 1 spins, Level 1 step sequence, Level 3 Group 3 lift, double lutz + double toes, Level 1 death spiral and Level 2 pairs spin with six positive GOEs.  They had one fall. 
11. Aaron/Settlage: 41.48 TES + 46.40 PCS = 87.88
1. They executed a Level 1 Double twist, throw triple salchow, double axel, Level 1 group 5 lift, Level 1 death spiral, double flip + single toe, Level 3 Group 3 lift, Level 4 spins, Level 2 step sequence, throw double flip, and Level 4 pairs spin with only two negative GOEs.

Top 5 Total Scores:

1. Aaron/Settlage: 128.21
2. Liu/Perini: 113.90
3. Goldberg/Dolkewicz: 109.97
4. Fields/Pacini: 107.32
5. Shaughnessy/Morgan: 106.93

US Nationals: Novice Pairs Short Program

1. Unger/Przepioski: 15.40 TES + 19.15 PCS -1.00 = 22.48
1. They executed a Level 1 Death Spiral, Level 2 Group 4 Lift, Double Loops, Level 1 Double Twist, Throw Double Salchow, Level 1 Pairs Spin, and Level 2 Spins with all negative GOEs and one fall.
2. Griffin/Griffin: 17.79 TES + 22.20 PCS = 26.79
1. They executed a Level 1 Double Twist, Double Loops, Level 1 Group 3 Lift, Throw Double Flip, Level 2 Spins, Level 1 Death Spiral, and Level 2 Pairs Spin with two positive GOEs.
3. Goldberg/Dolkiewicz: 26.45 TES + 27.68 PCS = 36.27
1. They executed a Level 1 Double Twist, Throw Double Loop, Level 1 Death Spiral, Level 4 Spins, Double Loops, Level 3 Group 5 Lift and Level 2 Pairs Spin with no negative GOEs.
4. Shaughnessy/Morgan: 23.01 TES + 28.78 PCS -1.00 = 34.03
1. They executed a Level 1 Double Twist, Throw Double Loop, Level 1 Group 5 Lift, Level 4 Spins, Level 1 Pairs Spin, Double Loops and Level 1 Death Spiral with only two negative GOEs and one fall.
5. Fields/Pacini: 25.69 TES + 30.76 PCS = 37.82
1. They executed a Level 1 Double Twist, Throw Double Axel, Double Loops, Level 1 Lasso Lift, Level 2 Pairs Spin, Level 3 Spins and Level 1 Death Spiral with no negative GOEs.
6. Liu/Perini: 27.85 TES + 29.82 PCS = 38.64
1. They executed Double Loops, Level 2 Group 4 Lift, Level 2 Double Twist, Level 4 Spins, Throw Double Loop, Level 2 Death Spiral and Level 4 Pairs Spin with only one negative GOE.
7. Smith/Segall: 24.36 TES + 25.08 PCS = 33.12
1. They executed a Level 4 Pairs Spin, Level 1 Double Twist, Throw Double Flip, Double Loops, Level 1 Group 5 Lift, Level 3 Spins, and Level 1 Death Spiral with only two negative GOEs.
8. Bergdolt/Addison: 21.95 TES + 25.85 PCS = 32.03
1. They executed a Level 1 Double Twist, Throw Double Loop, Double Loops, Level 4 Spins, Level 1 Group 5 Lift, Level 1 Death Spiral and Level 1 Pairs Spin with three positive GOEs.
9. Aaron/Settlage: 27.23 TES + 32.96 PCS = 40.33
1. They executed a Level 1 Double Twist, Double Loops, Level 4 Spins, Level 2 Group 5 Lift, Level 1 Death Spiral, Throw Double Flip, and Level 2 Pairs Spin with all positive GOEs.
10. Pearce/Norris: 14.77 TES + 23.36 PCS = 25.55
1. They executed a Level 1 Single Twist, Level 2 Group 5 Lift, Throw Double Flip, Level 3 Spins, and Double Loop with only three negative GOEs.  They received no credit for their Pairs Spin and Death Spiral.
11. de la Mora/Wilson: 22.37 TES + 26.00 PCS = 32.41
1. They executed a Level 1 Double Twist, Throw Double Axel, Double Loops, Level 2 Group 5 Lift, Level 3 Spins, Level 1 Death Spiral and Level 1 Pairs Spin with three positive GOEs.

Top 5:

1. Aaron/Settlage: 40.33
2. Liu/Perini: 38.64
3. Fields/Pacini: 37.82
4. Goldberg/Dolkiewicz: 36.27
5. Shaughnessy/Morgan: 34.03

U.S. Nationals: Novice Pairs Preview

This should be a good competition as all the medalists from last year's intermediate level have qualified at the novice level.  Less than 10 points separated the top 5 teams at sectionals and three other teams were close to these scores.  Novice teams do short programs and free skates for the first time, so there are more elements to execute and more ice time.  This really leaves the door open for any of these pairs to shine and take the top spot on the podium.  The majority of the field did not attend nationals last season (either didn't qualify or are new partnerships) so this is another group of skaters eager to leave their mark on the national stage and many participating at this level for the first time.

The teams:

Aaron/Settlage: They qualified with a 1st place finish at Pacific Coast sectionals.

Goldberg/Dolkiewicz: They qualified with at 1st place finish at Eastern sectionals.  They are the reigning national silver medalists at the intermediate level.

Shaughnessy/Morgan: They qualified with a 2nd place finish at Eastern sectionals.

Bergdolt/Addison: They qualified with a 3rd place finish at Eastern sectionals.  They are the reigning bronze medalists at the intermediate level.

Liu/Perini: They qualified with a 2nd place finish at Pacific Coast sectionals.

de la Mora/Wilson: They qualified with a 1st place finish at Midwestern sectionals.  They are the reigning national champions at the intermediate level.

Fields/Pacini: They qualified with a 2nd place finish at Midwestern sectionals.

Smith/Segall: They qualified with a 4th place finish at Eastern sectionals.

Pearce/Norris: They qualified with a 3rd place finish at Pacific Coast sectionals.

Unger/Przepioski: They qualified with a 4th place finish at Pacific Coast sectionals.

Griffin/Griffin: They qualified with a 3rd place finish at Midwestern sectionals.