2022 Nationals in Nashville

[tony]

What Audrey Weisiger tweeted in response to Jackie: https://twitter.com/coach6605/status/1473041281022677008
"Fans can SUPPORT Team USA by keeping social distance and NOT asking for autographs and selfies etc."

Yeah, exactly this. The fans don't need to be breathing down the skaters' necks as it is. I mentioned similar in an earlier post in the thread.

How is an athlete supposed to gage their own risk level and make the best choices for their own health at an event that is mandatory to make the Olympics?

Didn't we go through these same questions through all the previous events and aside from a few cases caught prior to the actual event, nothing ended up happening? Didn't we have fans claiming skaters did not want to go to Worlds pre-vaccines only to have skaters come out and say they wanted to compete? The concern can be there, but they also can use the same precautions they do by going to the rink every day or going through an airport. This has been something they've had 12+ months to adjust to through domestic and international competitions and getting from A to B on a daily basis.

Per USFS, masks will be required in the arena and in USFS events in the hotel. The skaters are going to know to wear masks at this point. Is the concern over those being unvaccinated allowed to attend? But what about the potential of a skater who wanted to stay unvaccinated for their own reasons? I know they will need it for the Olympics, but what if the skater isn't an Olympic hopeful and hasn't gotten it?

 

[Sylvia]

Someone like Artur Dmitriev Jr., who will be flying in from Russia, will be tested upon arrival (or have to show proof of a negative test?) before being credentialed, I assume, along with all of the skaters/coaches/volunteers, etc.

ETA according to Karen Chen during her media call:

“We have to get a PCR test that’s negative before we get a credential. So at least the people around me, the skaters and the coaches, should all be covid-free. But with the new variant being out and about, it’s definitely a little scary.”

 

[Debbie S]

There are skaters who take their health seriously
Zach and Madi have been renting their own places away from official host hotels, within walking distance

https://twitter.com/anythinggoe/status/1473073130797154312?s=21

https://twitter.com/anythinggoe/status/1473073131950645248?s=21

As the Twitter thread noted, H/D have been staying elsewhere than the official hotel for several years (well, obviously not last year when all were required to stay in the bubble). The reasons had nothing to do with YKW.

Further down in that Twitter thread, there was a question about the possibility of quarantining in China for 3-5 weeks after the Olys. Why would they have to quarantine for that long, even if they (God forbid) got YKW? Or is the idea that they wouldn't be able to go back to Canada/U.S. before Worlds b/c the amount of quarantine time there would interfere with their prep?

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Didn't we go through these same questions through all the previous events and aside from a few cases caught prior to the actual event, nothing ended up happening? Didn't we have fans claiming skaters did not want to go to Worlds pre-vaccines only to have skaters come out and say they wanted to compete? The concern can be there, but they also can use the same precautions they do by going to the rink every day or going through an airport. This has been something they've had 12+ months to adjust to through domestic and international competitions and getting from A to B on a daily basis.

Per USFS, masks will be required in the arena and in USFS events in the hotel. The skaters are going to know to wear masks at this point. Is the concern over those being unvaccinated allowed to attend? But what about the potential of a skater who wanted to stay unvaccinated for their own reasons? I know they will need it for the Olympics, but what if the skater isn't an Olympic hopeful and hasn't gotten it?

I did not advocate for canceling those events and I'm not advocating for cancelling this one. You're making a strawman argument. Worlds pre-vaccine did not have fans. And which other events have required the skaters to interact with fans? The issue isn't that the event should be cancelled. It's that it should be held the way previous events have been held, with skaters not interacting with fans. Especially this close to the Olympics when a variant is currently spreading across the US that affects people who are double, and even triple, vaccinated and when getting sick at this exact moment could take a skater out of the Olympics after they have qualified. It's not the same.

 

[tony]

I did not advocate for canceling those events and I'm not advocating for cancelling this one. You're making a strawman argument. Worlds pre-vaccine did not have fans. And which other events have required the skaters to interact with fans? The issue isn't that the event should be cancelled. It's that it should be held the way previous events have been held, with skaters not interacting with fans. Especially this close to the Olympics when a variant is currently spreading across the US that affects people who are double, and even triple, vaccinated and when getting sick at this exact moment could take a skater out of the Olympics after they have qualified. It's not the same.

The skaters still have to get from A to B, including the rink daily, and some wear masks on the ice, some don't. There were no private flights or airports for skaters back then, and there aren't now. A lot of younger skaters were likely back in classrooms with distancing until lunch came around. I've seen Olympic-hopeful skaters traveling for fun, going to birthday dinners with groups of friends, etc as they chose to share in their own social media over the last few months. Also, numbers were also going up right before Worlds IIRC.

Why can't they go from the rink to the hotel having minimal interaction with anyone else?

 

[MacMadame]

Or is the idea that they wouldn't be able to go back to Canada/U.S. before Worlds b/c the amount of quarantine time there would interfere with their prep?

There isn't any required quarantining in the US (only a negative PCR test or proof you had covid recently and are recovered) so it's only an issue if they want to go to Canada.

 

[Sylvia]

https://twitter.com/AnythingGOE/status/1473099211692515335

In his media call tonight, Nathan "Chen says he’s triple vaxxed and will be wearing his mask wherever he can."

 

[Carolla5501]

Someone like Artur Dmitriev Jr., who will be flying in from Russia, will be tested upon arrival (or have to show proof of a negative test?) before being credentialed, I assume, along with all of the skaters/coaches/volunteers, etc.

ETA according to Karen Chen during her media call:

There isn't any required quarantining in the US (only a negative PCR test or proof you had ********* recently and are recovered) so it's only an issue if they want to go to Canada.

Actually if you are not a citizen or a legal resident, you have to be vaccinated and show proof of a negative test within 1 day to enter the US. If you are a citizen or legal resident you have to show proof of a negative test within 1 day to return to United States.


So for example if your Jason Brown all you need is a negative test. But if you want to bring one of your Canadian coaches with you they have to have a negative test And vaccination. (Assuming they don’t drive)

COVID-19 Traveler Information

travel.state.gov

 

[A.H.Black]

https://twitter.com/AnythingGOE/status/1473099211692515335

In his media call tonight, Nathan "Chen says he’s triple vaxxed and will be wearing his mask wherever he can."

Now if he can just avoid the flu.

 

[clairecloutier]

Are short program starting orders at Nationals determined by random draw? or are they according to some type of prior ranking??

 

[Sylvia]

Are short program starting orders at Nationals determined by random draw? or are they according to some type of prior ranking??

From USFS' Rulebook (page 133):

720 Draws for Initial Starting Orders – Singles, Pairs and Ice Dance
2721 At the U.S. Figure Skating Championships only, the championship (senior) ladies, men’s and pairs short program and
championship (senior) rhythm dance events will be drawn in four subgroups:
A. The skaters who qualify according to rules 2501 (B)(2-4), 2502 (B)(2-4) or 2503 (B)(2-4) will draw randomly from the
first subgroup to skate within the last two warm-up groups;
B. Previous winners of the same event at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships who were not in the first subgroup will
draw from most recent to least recent from the second sub-group to skate within the last two warm up groups;
C. The skaters who hold an ISU World Standing in their discipline who were not in the first or second subgroups will draw
from the third subgroup in order of their ISU World Standings, as of the date of the draw, for the remaining spots in the
last two warm up groups, until the number of spots has been filled or there are no additional skaters in the ISU World
Standings.
D. The remaining competitors will draw randomly from the fourth subgroup to skate in the remaining spots.

ETA:

Pages 129-30:

2501 Singles competitors qualify for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships: ...
B. For the senior events:
...
2. By placing in the top five in the same event at last year’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships;
3. By being selected to the U.S. Figure Skating World Team (not including alternates) in the same event for the most
recent World Figure Skating Championships; or
4. By winning a medal in the same event at the most recent Olympic Winter Games (this does not include the team
event).

2502 Pairs teams qualify for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships: ...
B. For the senior events
...
2. By placing in the top five in the same event at last year’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships with the same partner;
3. By being selected to the U.S. Figure Skating World Team (not including alternates) in the same event for the most
recent World Figure Skating Championships with the same partner; or
4. By winning a medal in the same event at the most recent Olympic Winter Games with the same partner (this does not
include the team event).

2503 Ice dance couples qualify for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships: ...
B. For the senior events:
...
2. By placing in the top five in the same event at last year’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships with the same partner;
3. By being selected to the U.S. Figure Skating World Team (not including alternates) in the same event for the most
recent World Figure Skating Championships with the same partner; or
4. By winning a medal in the same event at the most recent Olympic Winter Games with the same partner (this does not
include the team event).

 

[Karen-W]

Are short program starting orders at Nationals determined by random draw? or are they according to some type of prior ranking??

delete - Sylvia answered.

 

[tony]

So the top 5 (from 2021) in each discipline, plus Gracie Gold in women, are drawing to skate in the final two warmup groups (skaters 7-18 in women, skaters 6-17 in men, pairs 5-12, dancers 6-15). There are only top 4 in men from 2021 because of Naumov's withdrawal.

World Standings (also drawing for final two groups):
M: Pulkinen, Malinin, Ma, Hiwatashi, Dunk, Sjoberg, and Tran. That's 11 out of the 12 for the last two groups, so one of the following will skate anywhere from 6-17: Dmitriev, Friess, Hubbart, Kapekis, Payannet, Yeung. The rest are in group 1.
W: Andrews, Izzo, Thorngren, Levito, Shin, Wang || Harrell, Venetta will draw for the first group since 12 spots would already be filled. Other skaters in the first group: Hawk, Heiner, Ikenishi, Warne-Jacobsen
P: Liu/O'Shea**, Smirnova/Siianytsia, McBeath/Bartholomay. That's 8 teams, so the first group is definitely: Cooke/Bearinger, Finster/Silecky, Mokhova/Mokhov, and Plazas/Fernandez unless Liu/O'Shea withdraw.
D: Carreria/Ponomarenko, Wolfkostin/Chen, Pate/Bye, Bratti/Somerville, McNamara/Spiridonov. That's 10 so the first group is: Cottrell/Palkhouski, Koncius/Shchepetov, Murphy/Levitt, Nguyen/Smirnov, and Shilling/O'Donnell

 

[Karen-W]

So the top 5 in each discipline (plus Gracie Gold in women) are drawing to skate in the final two warmup groups (skaters 7-18 in women, skaters 6-17 in men, pairs 5-12, dancers 6-15). There are only top 4 in men from 2021 because of Naumov's withdrawal.

World Standings (also drawing for final two groups):

D: Carreria/Ponomarenko, Wolfkostin/Chen, Pate/Bye, Bratti/Somerville, McNamara/Spiridonov. That's 10 so the first group is: Cottrell/Palkhouski, Koncius/Shchepetov, Murphy/Levitt, Nguyen/Smirnov, and Shilling/O'Donnell

Am I misremembering? Car/Pon were 4th at Nats last year, weren't they?

 

[Sylvia]

Am I misremembering? Car/Pon were 4th at Nats last year, weren't they?

They had to WD, remember?

 

[Karen-W]

They had to WD, remember?

Obviously, lol. The past two years really have merged into one blur.

 

[alchemy void]

I have to say I'm somewhat surprised by the some of the outrage here and on twitter regarding policies for this event.

Are we even sure USFS is actually going to have skaters mingling with fans? Didn't they do a reasonable job with Nationals last year (before any vaccinations!) and Skate America a few months ago?

Masking is required, which is a good thing, and I'm hard pressed to see how attending this event is any less safe than grocery shopping or going to a restaurant, which the majority of average Americans now do on a regular basis.

While highly contagious, all indications point to this variant being mild for those who have been vaxxed+boosted. I would totally be fine with a vaccination card requirement for this event, but that would needed to have been announced months ago. This certainly shouldn't be a surprise at this point.

I'm seriously not trying to be flip, but isn't it exhausting to be continuously outraged?

 

[missing]

I have to say I'm somewhat surprised by the some of the outrage here and on twitter regarding policies for this event.

Are we even sure USFS is actually going to have skaters mingling with fans? Didn't they do a reasonable job with Nationals last year (before any vaccinations!) and Skate America a few months ago?

Masking is required, which is a good thing, and I'm hard pressed to see how attending this event is any less safe than grocery shopping or going to a restaurant, which the majority of average Americans now do on a regular basis.

While highly contagious, all indications point to this variant being mild for those who have been vaxxed+boosted. I would totally be fine with a vaccination card requirement for this event, but that would needed to have been announced months ago. This certainly shouldn't be a surprise at this point.

I'm seriously not trying to be flip, but isn't it exhausting to be continuously outraged?

I've put aside my continuous anger (and yes it was exhausting). Once I heard my doctor's opinion that Nationals was high risk for C-Vid, my decision not to attend was clear and I no longer had a reason to be angry. Or at least less of a reason, since my anger was largely fed by lack of control.

I do think however that Omicron is worse than some people here are saying. The first person in the US has died of it in Texas.

Texas confirms first known Omicron-related death in the United States​

From CNN’s Katherine Dillinger

A Harris County, Texas, man’s death is related to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced Monday.

This is the first known confirmed Omicron-related death in the United States.

The judge said the man was in his 50s but did not disclose any further details, such as his vaccination status.

Omicron caused more than 73% of new coronavirus cases in the US last week, becoming the dominant strain over Delta, according to CDC data. Some research has shown that it may case milder forms of Covid-19 than other variants, but research is still ongoing. Experts say that vaccination and booster shots continue to be the best way to lower the risk of severe illness or death.

“Of course, we’re going to have hospitalizations, tragically deaths, like what we’ve seen now, but the evidence shows that for those vaccinated, in with the booster, is much less likely that they’re going to end up in the hospital,” Hidalgo said.

Omicron has shown up in all states except South Dakota and Oklahoma, and it's naive to think it won't make its way there as well.

I thought a lot about vaccination cards and how perhaps the USFS felt they couldn't require them now because they hadn't made it a condition of purchase for the tickets last spring. But at long as the wording goes vaccination or proof of negative test, I don't see that as an unsolvable problem.

And sadly, I do see this as more dangerous than going to the grocery store (which I do on a regular basis) or eating out (which I also do). Social distancing is actually pretty easy to achieve at the grocery store if you're careful about what hours you shop. When I eat at a restaurant, I eat with people I know, whose level of vaccination I'm aware of. And of course, in places like NYC, proof of vaccination is required to get in (as it was when I went to the ballet in September). I don't think there will be that same level of carefulness at Nationals. I think people will be seated very close to each other in the stands, that there will be long lines for food and bathrooms, that people will eat in their seats and not wear the masks for long stretches of time, there will be no way of knowing if the other people in attendance are vaccinated (let alone boostered). Omicron seems to be strong enough to override vaccines (I'm sure Senator Elizabeth Warren is very careful) and Omicron spreads quite easily.

My guess is the preparations the USFS had made were inadequate but not horrible. Omicron has made those decisions far worse than inadequate and deep into horrible. Things could go really really bad for the skaters, for the Olympic team, and most of all for the fans. The timing truly sucks but it's the timing the USFS is stuck with and I don't really trust them to recognize and solve these issues.

 

[MacMadame]

I do think however that Omicron is worse than some people here are saying. The first person in the US has died of it in Texas.

So 73% of new cases are Omicron and one person has died? Are you sure it's not more? That's way better than the flu at this point. In fact, I'm surprised because I figured it might be one per state. Not one person.

 

[mackiecat]

So this is how Skate Canada ran challenge : Challenge has way more competitors and coaches than the US championship ( singles events had 25-49 entries) but less spectators ( mostly family)
It was located in Saskatchewan, a Canadian “red” province ( although our right wing parties are called blue here)
The arena’ policy was vaccine or within 72 hours negative PCR test
All officials and volunteers had to be vaccinated the majority of the skaters were vaccinated as previously skate canada made it a requirement. Somehow a few local skaters used the PCR test but had to compete in mask ( and could not qualify for Nationals)
All hotels require vaccine, all flights ( and unless you were local, you had to basically fly) required vaccine, all indoors dining required vaccine

Masks required in all indoor settings -provide wide rule

The skaters were in 5 different hotels and allowed to go out in town. No gathering in hotel rooms was allowed

 

[Carolla5501]

I have to say I'm somewhat surprised by the some of the outrage here and on twitter regarding policies for this event.

Are we even sure USFS is actually going to have skaters mingling with fans? Didn't they do a reasonable job with Nationals last year (before any vaccinations!) and Skate America a few months ago?

Masking is required, which is a good thing, and I'm hard pressed to see how attending this event is any less safe than grocery shopping or going to a restaurant, which the majority of average Americans now do on a regular basis.

While highly contagious, all indications point to this variant being mild for those who have been vaxxed+boosted. I would totally be fine with a vaccination card requirement for this event, but that would needed to have been announced months ago. This certainly shouldn't be a surprise at this point.

I'm seriously not trying to be flip, but isn't it exhausting to be continuously outraged?

I’m wondering how much of the outrage is people have decided they don’t want to go and want their money back.




I expect that the skaters will not be mingling with us. You may run into one on the elevator in the hotel, but I expect that will be your only interaction. And of course you will be wearing a mask while you’re on that elevator. We know our non-mask wearing member has already packed up his or her toys and is staying home, for which we are all grateful ?


I don’t think having fans at the event is going to dramatically increase the risk to the skaters. Each of us has to make her own decision but that’s the same decision we make every day if we leave our home

 

[Aceon6]

I’m wondering how much of the outrage is people have decided they don’t want to go and want their money back.

Yup. This thread is following the course of the Montreal 2020 thread. First, “how do we make this work for us” followed by “I’m really nervous for the skaters my safety” followed by “I hope it’s cancelled so I can get a refund.”

 

[missing]

I’m wondering how much of the outrage is people have decided they don’t want to go and want their money back.




I expect that the skaters will not be mingling with us. You may run into one on the elevator in the hotel, but I expect that will be your only interaction. And of course you will be wearing a mask while you’re on that elevator. We know our non-mask wearing member has already packed up his or her toys and is staying home, for which we are all grateful ?


I don’t think having fans at the event is going to dramatically increase the risk to the skaters. Each of us has to make her own decision but that’s the same decision we make every day if we leave our home

In my own defense, it isn't that I "don't want to go." It's that my doctor indicated it would be dangerous to my health to go. I bought the tickets because I wanted to go. Nationals are fun. I like fun. I've gone to quite a number of skating competitions because I enjoy going to skating competitions. It's a disappointment that this particular one happened to be scheduled at the same time a virulent mutation of an already deadly disease decided to pop up right before the now traditional Christmas/New Year's spread. And when I decided not to go, I never anticipated getting my money back. I spend money for the privilege of attending. It's my choice if I don't attend. I won't even attempt to sell my ticket (not that I think anyone would buy it) because I think it's morally wrong to try to make money off someone who would then be taking the very risk I'm avoiding.

And, to be honest, I don't spend a lot of my time worrying about risk to the athletes. All athletes take risks with their bodies. They do it for their own reasons and fans accept that risk for our own entertainment. I've had the chance encounters in elevators, and have asked for autographs during events, but those casual interactions haven't happened when there's been such a highly contagious disease floating around. The one risk I can see with Omicron and the skaters is the additional level of anxiety skaters will have to deal with. I have no idea if that will affect them but that truly is nothing I have control over.

Finally, the decision to go/not go isn't the same as the decision we make every day if we leave our home. My doctor has yet to inform me that buying groceries is high risk for CV and I doubt she's going to. One of my primary concerns about going to Nashville had been getting sick while there and then being quarantined in a hotel room for 10 days. I have much greater control over quarantining, should it ever be necessary, in my own home.

 

[Arwen17]

At SkAm, they didn't do any type of search or examination of anyone's bags. They just looked to see if you had a clear bag and then told you to carry it above your head as you walked through the metal detector. And if the detector went off, there was no secondary screening. It was actually the least secure "security check" I've ever experienced at an event. Anyone could've hidden anything in opaque pouches or wrapped within a blanket as long as they had a clear bag. Maybe that was more on The Orleans and Bridgestone Arena will be more diligent -- I hope they will.

Didn't security tell someone that they were looking for alcohol? I vaguely remember that.

The walking through the metal detector with the bag over the head was super weird though.

If you had looked back at the metal detectors as other people were going thru, you would have seen 3 lights on the detector. The top light would go off because that's where they were holding up their bags/keys/etc in their hands. If there was no significant metal lower on their person, the middle and lower light did not go off. So that's why we had to hold everything above our heads in Las Vegas.

Finally finished reading thru all of the histrionic messages for the last several pages. A few people have some sense and some reasonable thoughts. Most people have clearly been hiding in their homes for the past 2 years and have no idea how many Americans, Swedes, etc have been living normal lives, mask-free. The only places of enforcement is in big cities and even that varies heavily by business. Most people are tired of it, and have realized how ridiculous it all is, and have gone back to normal. Even in the craziest places like NYC and LA, there are a lot of people pretending to play along with fake passes and fake masks and plenty of people pretending to not see because they are sick of being the police force for the authoritarian gov't. The only people who don't see it are those who are still hiding in their homes or don't want to believe it because it would be SCARY to realize their "safety bubble" is a complete farce.

Las Vegas was great. Tons of people met the athletes and the athletes were not living in terror of no-masks. As soon as they were away from cancerous virtue signalers, they whipped those masks off. There are tons of famous people that know they cannot share their real beliefs on anything because they will be smeared all over media. So they've memorized the correct sound bites to give the media every time. It's like living in North Korea. Everyone knows they have to praise the Dear Leader and other such things. It would be suicide (or political prison) to do anything else. Don't worry. Australia has already built their political prison camps. I'm sure the Dear Leader of the US will figure out how to build ours eventually too.

 

[Sylvia]

Welcome to FSU, @Richard!

Hey Everyone! I am a new member here and first time poster.

I will be attending nationals this year and was wondering if the members here organize any type of get together at some point during the week. Back in the day I was a member of the MKF and always looked forward to meeting the other members at various skating events.

Also, I am unable to attend the gala (my flight leaves in the middle of the event). Please let me know if interested in my ticket. I’m in section 107, fourth row from the ice. All offers will be considered.

- Richard

 

[MacMadame]

I was studying the arena's web page and found these nuggets:

- Arena temp is 65F - so not too bad but colder than most people's homes

- Outside food is not allowed

- In addition to concession stands, there are three restaurants. The website made it seem like they are open for business but I guess we'll see when we get there

- If you want to sus out the concession stands ahead of time the Predator's app has a map with them all

I have a question about the so-called "medical" bag. Does anyone know what it is? My sister is on a restricted diet for medical reasons so I'm thinking this might be a way for her to bring her own food without having to sneak it in. (I assume she can get a doctor's note). But I've never heard of such a thing before.

Welcome to FSU, @Richard!

No one has responded to your request for info about a get-together @Richard because we haven't even started planning one. But I assume we will have one. Just keep checking back!

 

[Aceon6]

My SIL has one for work. It’s a medium sized bag with inner compartments for dressings, syringes, and other supplies. It’s insulated and hers a large VNA insignia on it. Something like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08N1B591D/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_RQNEJN7CFAPETSQCAEZM

 

[Arwen17]

USFS sent out an email with info for attendees. Key points:

• face masks required for spectators unless actively eating or drinking
• clear bag policy is in effect
• tossing stuff onto the ice is discouraged
• language re: access to practice sessions for all event ticket holders is specific to Bridgestone Arena only
• no practice passes; the first session ticket for that day will be scanned instead

So no ticket required for the bellevue rink? Just walk in? I know there's no shuttle, I have my own car. I was looking at the Freestyle sessions, planning my own training schedule while I'm in Nashville all week, and it looks like the Bellevue rink is running as normal. They are still squeezing what hockey sessions and Freestyle sessions they can in around the Nationals practice sessions. So I guess anyone can just walk in and watch? Unless they're going to have someone stand at the door to that particular ice sheet and keep guard?
I'll mostly be there for my own skating practice on the other ice sheet, since most of the practice sessions I want to watch are at the Bridgestone arena, but there are a couple I wanted to watch at Bellevue.

 

[wickedwitch]

So the top 5 (from 2021) in each discipline, plus Gracie Gold in women, are drawing to skate in the final two warmup groups (skaters 7-18 in women, skaters 6-17 in men, pairs 5-12, dancers 6-15). There are only top 4 in men from 2021 because of Naumov's withdrawal.

World Standings (also drawing for final two groups):
M: Pulkinen, Malinin, Ma, Hiwatashi, Dunk, Sjoberg, and Tran. That's 11 out of the 12 for the last two groups, so one of the following will skate anywhere from 6-17: Dmitriev, Friess, Hubbart, Kapekis, Payannet, Yeung. The rest are in group 1.
W: Andrews, Izzo, Thorngren, Levito, Shin, Wang || Harrell, Venetta will draw for the first group since 12 spots would already be filled. Other skaters in the first group: Hawk, Heiner, Ikenishi, Warne-Jacobsen
P: Liu/O'Shea**, Smirnova/Siianytsia, McBeath/Bartholomay. That's 8 teams, so the first group is definitely: Cooke/Bearinger, Finster/Silecky, Mokhova/Mokhov, and Plazas/Fernandez unless Liu/O'Shea withdraw.
D: Carreria/Ponomarenko, Wolfkostin/Chen, Pate/Bye, Bratti/Somerville, McNamara/Spiridonov. That's 10 so the first group is: Cottrell/Palkhouski, Koncius/Shchepetov, Murphy/Levitt, Nguyen/Smirnov, and Shilling/O'Donnell

Why Gracie, too?

 

[tony]

Why Gracie, too?

Former National Champion gets put into that final two group category.