US Nationals Junior Men's Free Skate

Group 1

Marcus Mimidis: 56.84 TES + 47.42 PCS = 104.26 Total: 150.11

• Nice opening triple loop
• Triple lutz a bit wild in the air but he hung on to it
• Nice triple flip
• Good double axel + triple toe
• He needs more flexibility through the catchfoot positions of his spins 
• A little slow and lacking connection with his music in the music change into his step sequence; seems very labored and not a lot of performance
• Triple flip + triple toe
• Triple salchow
• Double salchow + double toe + double toe
• Double axel
• He seems like a completely different skater tonight and is lacking the beauty he had in his short program; almost seems like a mark through rather than a performance
• He's got a huge smile in the kiss and cry and I would have loved to see more of this in his program

Troy Tomasello: 47.64 TES + 46.70 PCS -1.00 = 93.34 Total: 147.11 and into 2nd place

• Missed the beginning of the program because of the feed
• Fall on a triple flip
• Good stretched out sit spin position with a good change of foot into a back tuck position
• Ina Bauer into a nice double loop with both arms overhead
• Missed some things in the middle
• Good triple toe
• Not a good illusion spin 
• Unfortunately missed a lot of this program so I can't really comment on how it went

Brian Krentz: 53.98 TES + 47.56 PCS -1.00 = 100.54 Total: 151.44 and into 1st place

• Nice triple loop
• Really fought for that triple lutz + double toe + double loop
• Triple flip + double toe
• Missed most of that program too

Nix Phengsy: 55.55 TES + 46.88 PCS -1.00 = 101.43 Total: 152.73 and into 1st place

• My Ice Network feed is still freezing after trying different browsers so I'm currently rebooting my computer

Lukas Kaugars: 40.86 TES + 51.30 PCS = 92.16 Total: 145.20 and into 5th place

• From what I've seen of the 2nd half this is a great program for him, with a nice easy feel and then a high energy section
• Nice double axel with good footwork out of it
• Decent camel spin with a flying entry to a sit spin; nice change of foot with ok positions

James Schetelich: 34.82 TES + 45.68 PCS -1.00 = 79.50 Total: 122.64 and into 6th place

• Good opening double lutz + triple toe
• Nice triple flip
• Good triple loop
• Seems to be lacking energy at the end of his step sequence and going through the motions
• Really nice camel spin positions
• Double lutz (opened up) super close to the boards and he has to fight for the landing
• Single axel and really far forward on hte landing
• Nice twisted sit position with a good transition into the back tuck position
• Triple flip + double toe a little wild and really fights to hang on to it
• Single axel + single toe + double toe--he seems very hesitant of the axel and can't seem to get off the ice and rotate it
• Double salchow really rough landing and ends up falling backwards
• Speeds through his final spin to get there before the music ends after he loses time on the fall

Group 2

Jay Yostanto: 56.00 TES + 49.20 PCS -1.00 = 104.20 Total: 159.25 and into 1st place

• Really nice opening triple axel + double toe + double loop
• Hand down on the triple loop
• He could use more stretch through the catchfoot position in teh camel spin but the other positions in his combo spin are nice
• Forward on the takeoff of the triple lutz and couldn't correct in the air so he falls
• Two little bobbles on some transition steps
• Clean triple axel + double toe
• He could use more stretch through some of these spin positions as well
• Good triple salchow right on the music
• Double lutz and off in the air again
• Popped that flip into a single
• A little bobbly and choppy in his step sequence and it seems that there is a disconnect between his upper body and lower body as well as with his music
• Triple toe + double toe
• Decent final sit spin

Jimmy Ma: 60.05 TES + 58.16 PCS = 118.21 Total: 176.09 and into 1st place

• Triple lutz + double toe
• Triple flip + double toe
• Double axel
• Nice freedom of movement in his step sequence but I'd like to see that translate to his expression as well
• Nice camel position but he could have his hip behind him more in the broken leg variation
• Triple lutz + double toe + double toe
• Triple flip step out
• Double flip with both arms overhead
• Triple toe
• Double axel
• He could clean up some of the in between movements and work on really finishing everything off but he seems to have all the pieces
• Losing speed through his final spin

Shotaro Omori: 61.10 TES + 59.28 PCS -1.00 = 119.38 Total: 189.25 and into 1st place

• Nice opening triple flip
• Triple axel got a way from him a bit and a fall; little bobble on a step right after he got up
• Nice triple lutz
• He could use a bit more power and speed in the step sequence and there are a few places his shoulders are hunched but overall nicely done
• Good camel spin into a nice sit spin and a good back upright spin
• Big kick up but he couldn't pull in fast enough to rotate the triple axel
• You got to hand it to the kid, he had a good lead and none of his top competition had the triple axel so he could have played it safe and gone for a clean sure program but he went for two triple axels and took the risk
• Triple loop + double toe
• Triple lutz a little forward but he tacks on the double toe and double loop 
• Triple salchow + triple toe 
• Good double axel
• He could be a bit lower in the first sit spin but better after the change of foot 

Nathan Chen: 56.41 TES + 62.30 PCS -1.00 = 117.71 Total: 181.31 and into 2nd place

• Double axel
• Spread eagle into a double axel
• Really nice sit spin with a good twisted position
• Good flying entry to his camel spin
• Nice step sequence with good choreography and lots of edge changes but a bit choppy in places
• He must still be feeling a bit under the weather as he doesn't have the same energy we're used to seeing from him on the ice but he's still pushing through his program
• Double flip + double toe + double loop
• Gorgeous outside to inside edge spread eagles
• Tight on the landing of his triple flip + triple toe and puts a hand down
• Triple loop + double toe
• Double salchow
• Triple flip
• Triple loop
• I think his injury has effected him more than his team has let on this season because this is not the same kid who landed every jump for the last three years at nationals and scored 222 on the Junior Grand Prix plus he's been sick with a stomach virus to boot 

Vincent Zhou: 71.73 TES + 67.22 PCS = 138.95 Total: 205.26 and into 1st place

• Gorgeous opening triple salchow out of a spread eagle
• Good triple Rippon lutz
• Nice double axel with excellent ride out
• Not a lot of speed at the end of his combination spin
• Good triple loop
• Good triple flip
• Nice position on the camel spin into a good catchfoot
• Good double axel + double toe with both arms overhead
• This program is really well put together and everything flows from one element to the other
• Triple flip + double toe + double loop
• Triple lutz + triple toe
• Really nice camel position but an awkward flying change of foot into a sit position
• And he gets a partial standing ovation

Jordan Moeller: 46.97 TES + 57.84 PCS = 103.81 Total: 161.02 and into 5th place

• Triple flip a bit back on the landing but he hangs on to it
• Solid double axel
• Good camel spin and a nice catchfoot position
• Flying sit spin with a flying change and nice positions throughout
• Really nice step sequence with good edge changes
• This music will always belong to Jeremy Abbott but he's doing a great job with it
• Nice triple loop
• Triple lutz two footed + triple toe; fall
• Triple flip awkward take off and a hand down and a bit of a slide--not sure if it will count as a full fall
• Good triple lutz but a little two footed on the landing
• Nice serpentine spread eagle
• Good triple salchow + double toe
• Spiral into a double axel + double toe + single loop
• Camel spin into a nice sit spin and ending with an upright spin 

Place	Start No.	Name	Short Program		Free Skate		Total Score
			Place	Score	Place	Score
1	11	Vincent Zhou, All Year FSC	2	66.31	1	138.95	205.26
2	9	Shotaro Omori, Los Angeles FSC	1	69.87	2	119.38	189.25
3	10	Nathan Chen, Salt Lake Figure Skating	3	63.60	4	117.71	181.31
4	8	Jimmy Ma, SC of New York	4	57.88	3	118.21	176.09
5	12	Jordan Moeller, Northern Ice SC	5	57.21	7	103.81	161.02
6	7	Jay Yostanto, SC of New York	6	55.05	6	104.20	159.25
7	4	Nix Phengsy, All Year FSC	9	51.30	8	101.43	152.73
8	3	Brian Krentz, Skokie Valley SC	10	50.90	9	100.54	151.44
9	1	Marcus Mimidis, SC of Wilmington	11	45.85	5	104.26	150.11
10	2	Troy Tomasello, Strongsville SC	7	53.77	10	93.34	147.11
11	5	Lukas Kaugars, Broadmoor SC	8	53.04	11	92.16	145.20
12	6	James Schetelich, SC of New York	12	43.14	12	79.50	122.64

US Nationals Junior Men's Short Program

Group 1
Shotaro Omori: 40.05 TES + 29.82 PCS = 69.87

• He has a commanding presence on the ice right from the first second of his music
• Gorgeous triple axel
• Nice triple lutz + triple toe
• Decent speed on his sit spin 
• Nice spread eagle transition
• Good triple flip with a great exit
• Nice stretched out donut position in his camel spin and nice speed through the spin
• So much personality in this step sequence with great choreography, wonderfully timed to the music
• He is a really fluid skater and moves very well across the ice
• Good speed in his final combination spin with nice positions
• Solid program and that will set the bar high for the rest of the evening

Jay Yostanto: 29.95 TES + 26.10 PCS -1.00 = 55.05 and into 2nd place

•  Beautiful triple axel with tons of height
• Scratchy on his triple lutz + double toe--a bit of a wonky takeoff technique
• He could use more flexibility through some of his camel spin positions
• Fall on the triple flip
• Good low sit spin with nice stretched position but an awkward flying change of foot
• He's having a lot of fun with this step sequence and really letting his personality show through but he could user a little bit of polish and cleaning up of his edgework
• Interesting position variation in his combination spin but some need more flexibility

Lukas Kaugars: 25.79 TES + 27.25 PCS = 53.04 and into 3rd place

• Really nice double axel
• He seems a little slow in the in between moments
• A bit of awkward technique into his triple lutz + double toe
• Good camel spin
• Triple flip nice but a big ice spray on the landing
• I like the arm variation in his camel spins but he seems a bit wild throughout his combination spin and has trouble hanging on to some of the positions
• The music is picking up through the step sequence and I'd like to see a bit more power and abandon from him here to really keep with the feeling of the music
• Losing his centering a little bit on the final sit spin and a little wild through some of the positions
• He has a very Keegan Messing like quality about them and I think if he can gain control of some of the elements he has a good future ahead of him

Vincent Zhou: 35.80 TES + 30.51 PCS = 66.31 and into 2nd place

• Nice double axel right on the music
• Good speed in the sit spin but losing a tad bit of speed after the change of foot
• He has so many transitions in his programs it's unreal
• Great positions in his camel spin with nice flexibility but losing speed toward the end
• Nice triple lutz + triple toe
• Triple flip with one arm variation
• He's nailing this program tonight but I would like to see a bit more connection with the crowd because this is such a fun program
• Really difficult step sequence with lots of twists and turns and changes of levels
• Lost a bit of centering on his combination spin but digs in 

Marcus Mimidis: 22.43 TES + 24.42 PCS -1.00 = 45.85 and into 5th place

• Nice triple salchow + triple toe after some great choreography
• Really off in the air and falls on the triple flip
• Good double axel on the music
• Really lost his centering on the catchfoot position of his camel spin
• Lots of traveling on his sit spin as well and could use more speed
• He has so many elegant qualities but I feel that he's slightly hunched over at times in the step sequence which ruins the aesthetic he's going for; he also needs more power and speed through the step sequence
• Good camel spin and nice speed in the sit spin but losing it through the triangle; rough transition into the back upright spin--almost lost his balance

Nix Phengsy: 27.07 TES + 24.23 PCS = 51.30 and into 5th place

• Interesting double axel with hands in prayer position
• Triple lutz + double toe a little scratchy on the landing
• Nice camel position with a good catch foot
• Triple flip a little tight on the landing but he hangs on
• Great speed and nice positions in his upright spin
• Nice one foot section in his foot work; everything flows so well from one element to the next with ease
• Nice sit spin position but losing speed through the back tuck position
• He may not have the technical content of some of the other skaters but he has so many qualities going for him from the wonderful choreography to the tiny details like how he uses his hands in his transitions

Group 2
Brian Krentz: 26.93 TES + 23.97 PCS = 50.90 and into 6th place

• Nice triple lutz + double toe 
• Good double axel
• Good position in the camel spin but losing speed through the catch foot
• Good triple flip
• He could use more stretch through his sit spin position
• Nice use of the movement through his step sequence but he needs to really push through his edges and cover the ice as he seems almost stationary in places

Jordan Moeller: 29.24 TES + 27.97 PCS -1.00  = 57.21 and into 3rd place

• Popped his triple lutz a bit, had to turn out of it but was able to tack on the triple toe
• Great extension in his catch foot camel spin
• Nice stretch through his sit position 
• Good triple flip
• Nice extension and speed through his upright spin
• He has a lot of great qualities to his skating but this step sequence seems a bit slow and lacking in power in places so I wonder if the mistake on the first jump affected his performance
• Double axel at the very end of the program into the ending pose

Troy Tomasello: 28.20 TES + 25.57 PCS = 53.77 and into 5th place

• Big opening triple toe + triple toe
• Good triple flip
• Fast camel spin with good positions
• Spread eagle into a double axel; a little forward on the landing but hangs on
• Nice sit positions and good speed through the change of foot
• Nice speed and power through the step sequence and good use of his whole body
• Nice camel spin but the illusion spin is not a good variation for him, nice haircutter with good speed and cool arm variation

Jimmy Ma: 30.13 TES + 27.75 PCS = 57.88 and into 3rd place

• Huge triple lutz + double toe
• Good triple flip
• A little loss of centering on his sit spin and some loss of speed
• A little wild on the double axel but hangs on
• Flying camel entry was nice, decent position variations with good speed
• He's doing a great job of hitting the musical accents in his step sequence
• Good speed in the combination spin but a little wild for a second through the change of foot

Nathan Chen: 33.71 TES + 30.89 PCS -1.00 = 63.60 and into 3rd place

• Nice double axel
• This program is so full of detail and everything is choreographed to flow seamlessly and not a note of music is given away
• Nice opening sit spin 
• Beautiful step sequence with tons of difficulty and nicely choreographed with all the finishing details in place--he takes a tumble at the end of the sequence
• Great stretch in his camel spin
• Triple lutz + triple toe really tight on the landing and he seemed thrown by that fluke fall
• Good triple flip
• Good speed in his combination spin with nice positions

James Schetelich: 20.67 TES + 24.00 PCS -1.00 = 43.67 and into 12th place

• Really close to the boards but pulls out the triple lutz + double toe
• Single axel
• Nice camel spin
• He has such a pleasant demeanor on the ice and gives a very honest performance
• Off in the air and a fall on the triple flip
• Good speed in his sit spin through the change of position
• He is a little hunched over in places in the footwork and if he worked on the posture a bit in places it would exentuate the arm details he adds to the program
• A little more stretch is needed on the final upright spin

Place	Start No.	Name	Score
1	1	Shotaro Omori, Los Angeles FSC	69.87
2	4	Vincent Zhou, All Year FSC	66.31
3	11	Nathan Chen, Salt Lake Figure Skating	63.60
4	10	Jimmy Ma, SC of New York	57.88
5	8	Jordan Moeller, Northern Ice SC	57.21
6	2	Jay Yostanto, SC of New York	55.05
7	9	Troy Tomasello, Strongsville SC	53.77
8	3	Lukas Kaugars, Broadmoor SC	53.04
9	6	Nix Phengsy, All Year FSC	51.30
10	7	Brian Krentz, Skokie Valley SC	50.90
11	5	Marcus Mimidis, SC of Wilmington	45.85
12	12	James Schetelich, SC of New York	43.67

US Nationals Junior Men's Preview

Nathan Chen is back to defend his title and if he is successful, it will be his 4th consecutive national title.  He was finally old enough to compete on the Junior Grand Prix this season and set the pace in Austria with a gold medal.  He landed a triple axel there and has the 2nd highest score of the season for junior men by only a fraction of a point despite the fact that he doesn't have a quad.  His international season was derailed by a growth injury that saw him withdraw from his second event.  Unfortunately, this is a long term injury that will limit his training time and effects his ability to perform a full jump repertoire.  He didn't attempt a triple axel or a triple lutz at sectionals but has planned his programs to make up for that deficit.  He has a triple toe + triple toe and a triple flip planned in the bonus section of his short program and received all level 4s on his spins and steps in the free skate.

Vincent Zhou narrowly defeated Nathan Chen at sectionals and has done so at club competitions earlier this season.  He is the reigning Novice Champion and could pull the upset here.  He saw a slight decrease in his score from regionals to sectionals but that can be attributed to not receiving credit for a spin in his short program at sectionals.  He has some of the most difficult content planned including a triple lutz + triple toe and a triple flip in the bonus section of his short program and a triple flip + double toe + double loop combination as well as a triple lutz + triple toe planned at the end of his free skate.  He's got the whole package with Level 4s on all his spins and steps at sectionals.  

Jordan Moeller stood on the novice podium just behind Nathan Chen in 2011 but failed to qualify to nationals as a junior last season.  He took home gold from both of his qualifying events and is a real medal threat here.  He has a triple lutz + triple toe planned in his short program along with a double axel in the bonus.  He also has a smart layout in his free skate with a triple flip + double toe + double loop and a double axel + double toe planned in the bonus.  He also received Level 4s on his spins.

Shotaro Omori did not qualify for nationals last season but was awarded two JGP events this season.  He has a triple lutz + triple toe in his repertoire and has three triple axels planned in his programs.  This gives him a huge technical advantage if he hits them as most of the men in this field do not have a triple axel planned at all.  However, he missed all three attempts at sectionals which greatly hurt his point total.  

Also in the hunt are Nix Phengsy, who finished ahead of Omori at sectionals, and Brian Krentz.  Jay Yostanto also has a triple axel but struggled with his triple lutz at sectionals which cost him valuable points.

There are three spots for the men for junior worlds up for grabs at nationals.  Unless they qualify for Worlds, two of those spots will likely go to Joshua Farris and Jason Brown who are competing as seniors.  Harrison Choate won a medal on the JGP this season and is also competing as a senior at nationals and is also in contention for the Junior Worlds team.  Vincent Zhou is not old enough to compete internationally but all of the other men will be looking for the top spot at the podium if they want a chance to make the team.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Nathan Chen
Silver: Vincent Zhou
Bronze: Jordan Moeller
Pewter: Shotaro Omori

Bios of the competitors:
Nathan Chen: He is 13 years old and represents the Salt Lake Figure Skating Club.  He is the reigning Junior Champion.  He won gold at JGP Austria.  He placed 10th in Juvenile in 2007, is the 2008 Juvenile Boys bronze medalist, 2009 Intermediate Men's silver medalist and 2010 and 2011 Novice Men's Champion.  He won silver at Pacific Coast Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  Internationally, he has the best short program, 2nd best free skate and 2nd best total score.  Nationally, he has the 2nd best short program, 2nd best free skate and 2nd best total score.

Brian Krentz: He is 18 years old and represents the Skokie Valley Skating Club.  He placed 6th in Novice Men in 2012.  He won silver at Upper Great Lakes Regionals and bronze at Midwestern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  He has the 10th best short program, 6th best free skate and 7th best total score nationally.    

Lukas Kaugars: He is 17 years old and represents the Broadmoor Skating Club.  He placed 20th at JGP Slovenia.  He finished 6th in Intermediate Men in 2009, 8th in Novice Men in 2010, 5th in Novice Men in 2011 and 5th in Junior Men in 2012.  He won silver at Southwestern Regionals and pewter at Midwestern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  He has the 8th best short program and 10th best total scores nationally.

Jimmy Ma: He is 17 years old and represents the Skating Club of New York.  He placed 14th in Intermediate Men in 2010 and 5th in Novice Men in 2012.  He won gold at North Atlantic Regionals and silver at Eastern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  He has the 9th best free skate and 9th best total scores nationally.

Marcus Mimidis: He represents the Skating Club of Wilmington.  He placed 11th in Novice Men in 2011 and 19th in Intermediate Men in 2009.  He won silver at South Atlantic Regionals and pewter at Eastern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.

Jordan Moeller: He is 17 year old and represents the Northern Ice Skating Club.  He is the 2011 Novice Silver Medalist and 2010 Intermediate Champion.  He finished 8th in Juvenile Boys in 2008 and 13th in Juvenile Boys in 2007.  He won gold at Upper Great Lakes Regionals and gold at Midwestern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  He has the best short program, 3rd best free skate and 3rd best total scores nationally. 

Shotaro Omori: He is 17 years old and represents the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club.  He placed 4th at JGP Germany and JGP Turkey.  He is the 2009 Juvenile Boys Bronze Medalist.  He placed 9th in Junior Men in 2011, 9th in Novice Men in 2010 and 5th in Juvenile Boys in 2008.  He won pewter at Pacific Coast Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  He has the 4th best short program score, 5th best free skate and 5th best total scores nationally.

Nix Phengsy: He is 17 years old and represents the All Year Figure Skating Club.  He is the 2011 Novice Bronze Medalist and 2010 Intermediate Silver Medalist.  He finished 16th in Juvenile Boys in 2008.  He won silver at Southwest Pacific Regionals and bronze at Pacific Coast Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  He has the 6th best short program, 4th best free skate and 4th best total scores nationally.

James Schetelich: He is 16 years old and represents the Skating Club of New York.  He is the reigning Novice Men's Silver Medalist.  He placed 18th in Intermediate Men in 2010 and is the 2009 Juvenile Boys pewter medalist.  He won bronze at North Atlantic Regionals and bronze at Eastern Sectionals to qualify for nationals. 

Troy Tomasello: He is 18 years old and represents the Strongsville Skating Club.  He finished 19th in Intermediate Men in 2008, 12th in Novice Men in 2010, 8th in Novice Men in 2011 and 8th in Junior Men in 2012.  He won silver at Eastern Great Lakes Regionals and silver at Midwestern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  He has the 5th best short program, 7th best free skate and 6th best total scores nationally.

Jay Yostanto: He is 18 years old and represents the Skating Club of New York.  He finished 6th at JGP Germany and JGP Austria.  He is the 2008 Intermediate Men's bronze medalist, 2009 Novice Men's pewter medalist and finished 7th in Junior Men's in 2012.  He won gold at Eastern Sectionals to qualify for nationals.

Vincent Zhou: He is 12 years old and represents the All Year Figure Skating Club.  He is the reigning Novice Champion.  He placed 5th in Juvenile Boys in 2010 and is the 2011 Intermediate Men's Champion.  He won gold at Southwest Pacific Regionals and gold at Pacific Coast Sectionals to qualify for nationals.  He has the 3rd best short program, best free skate and best total scores nationally.

Pacific Coast Sectionals Junior Men's Results

Place	Start No.	Name	Short Program		Free Skate		Total Score
			Place	Score	Place	Score
1	8	Vincent Zhou, All Year FSC	2	61.91	1	134.42	196.33
2	7	Nathan Chen, Salt Lake Figure Skating	1	66.09	2	126.96	193.05
3	9	Nix Phengsy, All Year FSC	4	57.09	3	116.97	174.06
4	5	Shotaro Omori, Los Angeles FSC	3	60.19	4	109.65	169.84
5	6	Spencer Howe, Los Angeles FSC	5	53.89	5	102.00	155.89
6	4	Patrick Leahy, Los Angeles FSC	6	50.58	6	76.93	127.51
7	3	Joey Millet, Spokane FSC	8	45.45	8	70.89	116.34
8	1	Timothy Boore, Pasadena FSC	9	38.71	7	75.14	113.85
9	2	Evan Bender, Peninsula SC	7	46.96	9	57.95	104.91