"Just Between US Ladies": 2011-12 season news, views, score updates & more

[Frau Muller]

....Gracie isn't a lock, nor is anyone else. .....

Agreed. Even little Nathan Chen; 'cute and fearless' at 10 & 11 doesn't necessarily guarantee that he'll be Olympic champ in 2018 or 2022. Especially with the Code of Points system, what matters is what happens on the day of competition. Que sera, sera.

[Sylvia]

Has competed in 10 straight Nationals at the Senior level: Alissa Czisny (starting in 2002; 2012 will be her 11th)
5 straight: Rachael Flatt
4 straight: Mirai Nagasu, Ashley Wagner, Caroline Zhang
2: Christina Gao, Joelle Forte (2009, 2011)
1: Agnes Zawadzki, Vanessa Lam, Yasmin Siraj, Samantha Cesario (2010, WD last year), Morgan Bell
Senior National debut in 2012: Kiri Baga (WD last year), McKinzie Daniels, Haley Dunne, Nina Jiang, Angela Wang, Leah Keiser, Sophia Adams

ETA Senior National debut placements & ages:
Nagasu 1st at 14 years old (2008)
Zhang 4th at 14 (2008)
Flatt 5th at 14 (2007)
Siraj 8th at 14 (2011)
Czisny 11th at 14 (2002)
Gao 5th at 15 (2010)
Lam 7th at 15 (2011)
Wagner 3rd at 16 (2008)
Zawadzki 4th at 16 (2011)
Cesario 14th at 16 (2010)
Forte 12th at 22 (2009)

[RD]

Crazy streak there for Czisny...talk about peaking late!

[Mayra]

But not "everyone" is, or has been, declaring her anything. First things first -- *IF* she skates/competes the way she has all season, then obviously she has a very good chance to go to Junior Worlds as the U.S. junior champ. I expect the other 2 will most likely be the highest placing age-eligible Senior ladies who are not assigned to 2012 Worlds or Four Continents and who have competed no more than 2 seasons on the Senior Grand Prix.

ITA Sylvia. There are by far most posts with a wait and see approach to Gold than there are posts declaring her anything, so I don't know who "everyone" is referring to.

For the most part, I think people are excited about her potential but most realize that only time will tell how far she goes. Frankly, it's nice that American's have someone with that kind of potential to get excited about. Sure makes a nice change from the same old Nationals rehash of so and so was robbed, sucks, their coach sucks etc.

[AxelAnnie]

Along with Mirai Nagasu and Caroline Zhang, perhaps?

I know it isn't the way it is............but don't ya think that if you move to SR Ladies, you should have to stay there? I never understand them doing both levels in one season.

[Coco]

Thanks for the stats, Sylvia

[smarts1]

OMG we need to open up a 3rd US Ladies thread!!! We are really talking up a storm!

[Yazmeen]

Agreed. Even little Nathan Chen; 'cute and fearless' at 10 & 11 doesn't necessarily guarantee that he'll be Olympic champ in 2018 or 2022. Especially with the Code of Points system, what matters is what happens on the day of competition. Que sera, sera.

Not to mention that there's a very good chance he will not necessarily but cute, little, or fearless after a growth spurt hits. Ice is slippery, you don't know what will happen...

[toddlj]

Placement on the Junior Worlds team is going to be ridiculously competitive. So many great candidates. Zawadski, Gao, Keiser, Lam, Cesario, Baga, Jiang, Siraj, Wang, Daniels, Dunne and Adams... plus the ladies skating Juniors who are totally competitive with the above, most notably Gold, Long, Bell and Miller. Wow.

[johndockley92]

Ice is slippery, you don't know what will happen...

ICE IS SLIPPERY?!?! When did this happen? ALERT THE PRESS. hehe

Placement on the Junior Worlds team is going to be ridiculously competitive. So many great candidates. Zawadski, Gao, Keiser, Lam, Cesario, Baga, Jiang, Siraj, Wang, Daniels, Dunne and Adams... plus the ladies skating Juniors who are totally competitive with the above, most notably Gold, Long, Bell and Miller. Wow.

I can see your from Midwestern section lol. You mentioned only the age eligible junior ladies from mids. How bout the pacifics girls in Kulgeyko and Edmunds? They both have more national Junior experience (one year) than the mids girls combined (none).

[olympic]

Junior Worlds team will be .... Gold, Keiser, Lam ??

[toddlj]

I can see your from Midwestern section lol. You mentioned only the age eligible junior ladies from mids. How bout the pacifics girls in Kulgeyko and Edmunds? They both have more national Junior experience (one year) than the mids girls combined (none).

Ha ha, caught me. (Though the mids girls scores are very high in comparison.)

[Jayar]

As soon as someone mentions something positive about a skater, then someone shoots that skater down. I've come to the conclusion that those of you who do that are either parents of another skater or just plain bitchy.

[The Fly On The Wall]

As soon as someone mentions something positive about a skater, then someone shoots that skater down. I've come to the conclusion that those of you who do that are either parents of another skater or just plain bitchy.

If I were a paid member, I'd ask to use this as my signature. Well-said, Jayar!

[haribobo]

I can see your from Midwestern section lol. You mentioned only the age eligible junior ladies from mids. How bout the pacifics girls in Kulgeyko and Edmunds? They both have more national Junior experience (one year) than the mids girls combined (none).

That's because based on everything we've seen this year, the Mids junior ladies are the strongest by a long ways. Not to say Katarina and Polina couldn't develop into champion skaters someday, but this season has been a bit rocky for both and I'm just glad to see them make it to Nationals. IMO todd was correct in naming the 4 Mids ladies as the contendors for Junior Worlds.

[toddlj]

Junior Worlds team will be .... Gold, Keiser, Lam ??

I would guess it will be three of the following six:
Gold, Keiser, Lam, Zawadski, Gao, Siraj with Wang as possible wildcard.

I think even with one year on the senior GP, Zawadski and Gao would still be sent to Jr Worlds if they are near the top and don't get sent to Sr Worlds.

[Jammers]

Why is Keiser skating as a Senior at Nationals? Isn't she only 14? It would probably be better to skate against the Junior skaters i would think.

[longingfornia]

I hope Ash tweaks her Black Swan Lp for Nationals as the Skate Canada version won't cut it IMHO

[Jarrett]

I hope Ash tweaks her Black Swan Lp for Nationals as the Skate Canada version won't cut it IMHO

I'm pretty sure she said they reworked the program in an article on icenetwork.

[Sylvia]

I'm pretty sure she [Wagner] said they reworked the program in an article on icenetwork.

Yes, here's the relevant article excerpt/Wagner quotes, posted earlier in this thread:
http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/show...&postcount=745