2022 U.S. Novice & Junior Challenge Skate, Sept. 13-16, Lake Placid, NY

[Sylvia]

This domestic invitational competition has been held annually (except in 2020 during the pandemic) in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating International Classic for Junior and Novice level skaters/teams.
Link to the competition thread in the ISU Challenger Series subforum for the CS U.S. Classic: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...lassic-sept-12-15-lake-placid-ny-cs-1.109860/

Thanks very much for finding and posting the practice groups link, @crzesk8dad!

For those that may be interested, practice ice groups for US International Classic and US Junior/Novice Challenge:

https://www.usfigureskating.org/sites/default/files/media-files/LakePlacid_PracticeGroups1_0.pdf

Updated version of the Junior & Novice practice groups (pages 5-6): https://www.usfigureskating.org/sites/default/files/media-files/LakePlacid_PracticeGroups_3.pdf

Copying out all the Junior & Novice skaters (* = currently listed in USFS' ISP) who are listed in the practice groups document:

JUNIOR WOMEN (18 16)
Alexis Adelstein (currently #22 in NQS Junior standings)
*Mia Barghout (JGP alternate; currently #11 in NQS Junior standings)
Lilah Gibson (currently #12 in NQS Junior standings)
WD *Giselle Graves (currently #44 in NQS Junior standings)
Paige Greenstein (currently #51 in NQS Junior standings)
*Logan Higase-Chen (assigned to JGP POL1; currently #4 in NQS Junior standings)
WD *Tia Hilbelink (oldest of the 3 sisters; currently #48 in NQS Senior standings)
Maile Hilbelink (middle sister; currently #17 in NQS Junior standings)
*Athena Huang (currently #4 in NQS Novice standings)
*Katie Krafchik (currently #6 in NQS Junior standings)
*Michelle Lee (currently #15 in NQS Senior standings)
Olivia Massey (currently #46 in NQS Senior standings)
Lilly Mills (currently #16 in NQS Junior standings)
Gabriela Summer Panaligan (currently #15 in NQS Junior standings)
Olivia Phillips (currently #31 in NQS Junior standings)
*Phoebe Stubblefield (JGP alternate; currently #10 in NQS Junior standings)
Katie Turcotte (2nd in Junior grp A at U.S. Championship Series in Norwood, MA in Nov. 2021)
Lindsay Wang (currently #21 in NQS Senior standings)

JUNIOR MEN (10 9)
WD Nicholas Brooks (currently #3 in NQS Novice standings)
Aleksandr Fegan (currently #2 in NQS Novice standings)
Allan Fisher (currently #15 in NQS Junior standings)
*Jonathan Hildebrandt (JGP alternate; currently #7 in NQS Junior standings)
*Lucius Kazanecki (JGP FRA, 8th; currently #9 in NQS Junior standings)
Andriy Kratyuk (currently #18 in NQS Junior standings)
Bryan Lehmann (currently #16 in NQS Junior standings)
*Lake Liao (currently #13 in NQS Junior standings)
*Antonio Monaco (currently #8 in NQS Junior standings)
*Taira Shinohara (JGP alternate; currently #6 in NQS Junior standings)

NOVICE WOMEN (18 17)
Sofia Bezkorovainaya (currently #7 in NQS Novice standings; one of USFS' 3 "emerging athlete" women invited this year to Champs Camp)
Melania Blecic (currently #10 in NQS Novice standings)
Alayna Coats (currently #3 in NQS Intermediate standings)
Jenna Cope (currently #51 in NQS Intermediate standings)
*Ela Cui (currently #3 in NQS Novice standings)
Hannah Gahan (currently #23 in NQS Novice standings)
Sasha Giammarco (currently #22 in NQS Novice standings)
Keira Hilbelink (youngest of the 3 sisters & currently #2 in NQS Novice standings)
Meghan Huffman (currently #11 in NQS Novice standings)
WD Ella Kim (currently #28 in NQS Novice standings)
Hannah Kim (currently #1 in NQS Intermediate standings)
Audrey Lee (currently #21 in NQS Novice standings)
Ieva Macinnes (currently #14 in NQS Novice standings)
Isabelle Martins (currently #26 in NQS Novice standings; also competing junior pairs with a new partner)
Emilia Nemirovsky (currently #15 in NQS Novice standings)
Micayla Pang (currently #11 in NQS Intermediate standings)
Paige Parlapiano (currently #10 in NQS Intermediate standings)
Ashley Yang (currently #32 in NQS Novice standings)

NOVICE MEN (14 13)
WD Solomon Bristol (currently #19 in NQS Novice standings)
Samuel Eckenroed (currently #29 in NQS Novice standings)
Lorenzo Elano (currently #10 in NQS Novice standings)
Isaac Fulton (currently #15 in NQS Novice standings)
Ethan Kormanyos (currently #21 in NQS Novice standings)
Aaron Li (currently #16 in NQS Novice standings)
Zachary LoPinto (currently #1 in NQS Novice standings)
Peter Malakhov (currently #17 in NQS Novice standings)
Jon Maravilla (currently #14 in NQS Novice standings)
Walker Morris (currently #8 in NQS Juvenile standings)
David Race (currently #6 in NQS Novice standings)
Marlo Rosen (currently #20 in NQS Intermediate standings)
Vaclav Vasquez (currently #7 in NQS Novice standings)
Mark Williams (currently #5 in NQS Novice standings)

JUNIOR ICE DANCE (3)
Olivia Ilin/Dylan Cain (currently #7 in NQS Junior standings)
Xianyu Chen/Jack Liu (currently #11 in NQS Junior standings)
Anna Sophia O’Brien/Steven Wei (currently #14 in NQS Junior standings)

NOVICE ICE DANCE (5)
Sylvia Li/Rowan Le Coq (currently #1 in NQS Novice standings)
Annelise Stapert/Maxim Korotkov (currently #4 in NQS Novice standings)
Emily Renzi/William Lissauer (currently #5 in NQS Novice standings)
Ja Yi Kirwan/Luke Witkowski (currently #6 in NQS Novice standings)
Jasmine Robertson/Hayden Wood (currently #7 in NQS Novice standings)


Event Schedule for 1980 Olympic Center competition rink (as of 9/11 - double check event start times posted on results page):

Tuesday 9/13/2022
9:00 AM - 10:33 AM Novice Men Short Program
10:53 AM - 1:10 PM Novice Women's Short Program (12:15 PM - 12:30 PM Resurface after 2nd group of Novice Women)

Wednesday 9/14/2022
8:15 AM - 10:41 AM Novice Women Free Skate (9:43 AM - 9:58 AM Resurface after 2nd group of Novice Women)
11:00 AM - 12:47 PM Novice Men's Free Skate
12:47 PM - 1:12 PM Awards | Novice Men & Women

Thursday 9/15/2022
10:00 AM - 10:27 AM Novice Pattern Dance (Argentine Tango)
10:45 AM - 11:23 AM Junior Rhythm Dance
11:45 AM - 2:18 PM Junior Women Short Program (1:18 PM - 1:33 PM Resurface after 2nd Group of Junior Women)
2:35 PM - 4:05 PM Junior Men Short Program

Friday 9/16/2022
8:00 AM - 8:38 AM Novice Free Dance
8:53 AM - 9:22 AM Junior Free Dance
9:22 AM - 9:42 AM Junior & Novice Ice Dance Awards
10:00 AM - 12:53 PM Junior Women Free Skate (11:57 AM - 12:10 PM Resurface after 2nd group of Junior Women)
1:08 PM - 2:39 PM Junior Men Free Skate
2:39 PM - 3:15 PM Junior Men & Women Awards

FREE LIVESTREAMING will be via USFS' Fan Zone platform: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/watch/

ETA - eligibility criteria (also includes last season's qualifying season results) for the singles skaters:

• Tier 1: Athletes in the 2022-23 International Selection Pool, 2022-23 Athlete High Performance
Development Pool, and Athletes invited by the High Performance Department.
• Tier 2: Athletes that qualified for the 2022 National Development Team.
• Tier 3: Athletes who placed in the top 20 in the 2021-22 Championship Series presented by
Toyota in juvenile, intermediate, novice, junior, or senior.

Starting orders/Results (not yet updated):

2022 Novice and Junior Challenge Skate

Event Results for 2022 Novice and Junior Challenge Skate

ijs.usfigureskating.org

 

[chewy]

I’m in Lake Placid with Mr. Chewy, perusing the vast selection of American snacks at the Price Chopper. When crossing the border the officer asked if I was a judge, as a lot of judges had come through that morning. Lol. Guess I have resting judge face.

 

[Sylvia]

Starting orders are posted: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2022/30951/index.asp

Tuesday, Sept. 13 event order:

Novice Men SP: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2022/30951/CAT002SEG003.html
1 Lorenzo Elano, Skokie Valley SC
2 Vaclav Vasquez, Desert FSC
3 Aaron Li, St. Moritz ISC
4 Samuel Eckenroed, Dallas FSC
5 Zachary LoPinto, SC of Boston
6 Peter Malakhov, Dallas FSC

7 Marlo Rosen, DuPage FSC
8 Jon Maravilla, Detroit SC
9 Ethan Kormanyos, Seattle SC
10 David Race, Tidewater FSC
WD 11 Isaac Fulton, Memorial FSC Of Houston
12 Mark Williams, Carousel Sherwood FSC
13 Walker Morris, SC of New York

Novice Women SP: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2022/30951/CAT001SEG001.html
1 Audrey Lee, Memorial FSC Of Houston
2 Ashley Yang, Coyotes SC of Arizona
3 Hannah Kim, Los Angeles FSC
4 Sasha Giammarco, Los Angeles FSC
5 Hannah Gahan, Coyotes SC of Arizona

6 Ieva Macinnes, SC of Boston
7 Melania Blecic, Great Neck FSC
8 Alayna Coats, All Year FSC
9 Micayla Pang, Washington FSC
10 Isabelle Martins, Chicago FSC
11 Emilia Nemirovsky, Detroit SC

12 Paige Parlapiano, North Jersey FSC
13 Sofia Bezkorovainaya, Washington FSC
14 Meghan Huffman, IceWorks SC
15 Keira Hilbelink, Portland ISC
16 Ela Cui, SC of Boston
17 Jenna Cope, Mountain Edge SC Of Colorado


Thursday, Sept. 15 event order:

Novice Pattern Dance (Argentine Tango): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2022/30951/CAT006SEG011.html
1 Jasmine Robertson, Scott Hamilton SC / Hayden Wood, Nashville FSC
2 Emily Renzi, SC of New York / William Lissauer, All Year FSC
3 Ja Yi Kirwan, SC of Boston / Luke Witkowski, SC of Boston
4 Annelise Stapert, ION FSC / Maxim Korotcov, ION FSC
5 Sylvia Li, North Jersey FSC / Rowan Le Coq, SC of New York

Junior Rhythm Dance: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2022/30951/CAT005SEG009.html
1 Olivia Ilin, Washington FSC / Dylan Cain, Washington FSC
2 Anna Sophia OBrien, North Jersey FSC / Steven Wei, All Year FSC
3 Xinyu Chen, SC of Boston / Jack Liu, SC of Boston

Junior Women SP: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2022/30951/CAT003SEG005.html
1 Athena Huang, Pasadena FSC
2 Gabriela Summer Panaligan, Ice House Of New Jersey FSC
3 Katie Turcotte, Finer Edge FSC
4 Maile Hilbelink, Portland ISC
5 Lilah Gibson, Columbus FSC

6 Paige Greenstein, SC of New York
7 Lilly Mills, SC of New York
8 Katie Krafchik, SC of New York
9 Lindsay Wang, Los Angeles FSC
10 Olivia Massey, Ice House Of New Jersey FSC

11 Michelle Lee, All Year FSC
12 Mia Barghout, SC of New York
13 Phoebe Stubblefield, Broadmoor SC
14 Alexis Adelstein, SC of Northern Virginia
15 Logan Higase-Chen, Broadmoor SC
16 Olivia Phillips, SC of Boston

Junior Men SP: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2022/30951/CAT004SEG007.html
1 Lucius Kazanecki, North Jersey FSC
2 Andriy Kratyuk, Portland ISC
3 Lake Liao, Detroit SC
4 Antonio Monaco, Scott Hamilton SC

5 Allan Fisher, All Year FSC
6 Jonathan Hildebrandt, SC of Boston
7 Bryan Lehmann, North Star FSC
8 Taira Shinohara, Chicago FSC
9 Aleksandr Fegan, SC of New York

 

[Sylvia]

Novice Men SP is live: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/watch/

 

[Sylvia]

Lovely camel postition by Vaclav Vasquez!

 

[Sylvia]

David Race won the Novice Men's SP, landing 3Lz+2T, 3F & 2A - results/link to protocols: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2022/30951/CAT002SEG003.html

Novice Women's SP is starting: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2022/30951/CAT001SEG001.html

ETA:

Replays are being shown!

Hannah Kim leads after the frist group (48.68) -- landed 3T+3T, 3F & 2A -- and looked delighted by her score.

Skaters-now-coaches in the kiss & cry: Shotaro Omori (Kim), Ivan Dinev (Giammarco), Douglas Razzano (one of 2 with Gahan who was very happy with her skate).

 

[Flip Jump]

Does anyone know who was in the K&C with Isabelle Martins?
Doing more singles is helping with her triples!!

 

[Sylvia]

Does anyone know who was in the K&C with Isabelle Martins?

Jeremy Allen (he's also coaching Taira Shinohara in the Junior Men's event here). Isabelle landed 3S+2T (this jump is getting more consistent for her from what I've seen so far this season) and stepped out of her 3T.

Doing more singles is helping with her triples!!

Agreed!

Emilia Nemirovsky (49.48) leads after group 2 - landed 3Lo+2T, 3Lz and 2A (hung on), coached by Julie Berlin.

 

[sk9tingfan]

Really impressed with Emilia Nemirovsky as the quality of her skating and the fact that she does not rush into her elements and finishes them off. And she is only 12 years old! IMO, she gives the impression of a much more mature skater.

Nemirovsky is mentioned in this WAPO article earlier this year.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2022/02/21/olympics-young-figure-skaters/

 

[Frau Muller]

Emilia into first…now a Zamboni break! Didn’t her coach work with Kimmie Meisner? Awfully familiar-looking.

Looking forward to Sofia B & Ela Cui in next group.

 

[Flip Jump]

Emilia into first…now a Zamboni break! Didn’t her coach work with Kimmie Meisner? Awfully familiar-looking.

Looking forward to Sofia B & Ela Cui in next group.

Emilia’s coach, is Julie Berlin, longtime coach of Alissa Czisny!
Emilia’s jump technique looks like it can last and you can see she has the excellent spins like Alissa.

 

[Sylvia]

Novice Women's FS protocols: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2022/30951/SEGM001.html
Top 6:
1 Emilia Nemirovsky, Detroit SC 49.48 (3Lo+2T, 3Lz, 2A)
2 Hannah Kim, Los Angeles FSC 48.68 (3T+3T<, 3F, 2A)
3 Keira Hilbelink, Portland ISC 47.51 (2A, 3T+3T, 3S step out)
4 Melania Blecic, Great Neck FSC 42.81
5 Sofia Bezkorovainaya, Washington FSC 42.06
6 Isabelle Martins, Chicago FSC 40.01

Replay of Novice Women's SP: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/watch/?Archive=3023

Replay of Novice Men's SP: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/watch/?Archive=3022

 

[Sylvia]

Novice Women FS starting order (in reverse order of SP results)/live scores: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2022/30951/CAT001SEG002.html

Livestream: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/watch/

 

[Sylvia]

Skaters-now-coaches in the kiss & cry [Novice women]: Shotaro Omori (Kim), Ivan Dinev (Giammarco), Douglas Razzano (one of 2 with Gahan who was very happy with her skate).

More skaters-turned-coaches that I recognize in the kiss & cry coming up: Leif Gislason (Huffman), Aleksey Letov (Cui), Garrett Lucash (Macinnes), Themi Leftheris (Coats), Jeremy Allen (Martins), Inna Volyanskaya (Pang & Bezkorovainaya), Sean Rabbitt (Hilbelink sisters)...

 

[Flip Jump]

I really enjoy Meghan Huffman and her presence on the ice. Last year she had a program to High School Musical to “Fabulous” And while it was a unique choice, she pulled it off so well. Excited to see her develop!
Sylvia (or others), can you identify her coach?

 

[Sylvia]

Sylvia (or others), can you identify her coach?

Refer to my post above yours.

 

[Aimless]

Sylvia, you are a blessing.

 

[Sylvia]

Awww, thank you @Aimless - I hope you're enjoying yourself in Lake Placid (wish I was there, too!).

I've seen little Alayna Coats land 3Lz in competitions this summer - one to watch develop! (Her FS music is a unusual combo of the Jason Bourne theme for cello? and Baroque... eta must be "Code Name Vivaldi" (Bourne Soundtrack/Vivaldi Double Cello Concerto) by The Piano Guys.) Leftheris coaches her with Naomi Nam & Amy Evidente.

 

[Wyliefan]

Sofia is a little star, but why she skated to "New York, New York" in French (I think it was French?) is beyond me.

 

[Sylvia]

Sofia is a little star, but why she skated to "New York, New York" in French (I think it was French?) is beyond me.

Probably because the first half was to an Edith Piaf-like song?

Sofia's YT channel (she's had quite a bit of publicity in the past year, including local news segments that can be viewed here): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-571FcC7KhaM0N_mvgeL8Q

 

[Wyliefan]

She's very smiley on the ice and very businesslike off. I would say this is a kid with drive. Nice score.

 

[Sylvia]

Kevin Coppola (who had a very nice layback spin in his competitive days) is one of Blecic's coaches.

 

[Sylvia]

Keira Hilbelink (I'm told she will be 12 next month) has been ON FIRE since the Cactus Classic NQS in early July - rough time today but good fight back!

 

[Sylvia]

Hannah Kim (currently #1 in NQS Intermediate standings)

3S+1Eu+3S & 3F by Hannah today! Coach Shotaro Omori also has Athena Huang, one of the top Novices (added to ISP recently), in the Junior event here.

 

[Sylvia]

It can be tough to skate as the SP leader but I really like Emilia's skating and I look forward to seeing her progress!

ETA: Happy she hung on for the bronze!

Top 6:
Hannah Kim, Los Angeles FSC 137.65 2 2 (88.97 in FS)
Sofia Bezkorovainaya, Washington FSC 135.22 5 1 (93.16 FS 1st)
Emilia Nemirovsky, Detroit SC 134.12 1 5 (84.64)
Keira Hilbelink, Portland ISC 133.88 3 3 (86.37)
Melania Blecic, Great Neck FSC 128.75 4 4 (85.94)
Alayna Coats, All Year FSC 121.48 8 6 (82.10)

 

[Wyliefan]

Probably because the first half was to an Edith Piaf-like song?

I know, but you'd think there would be a lot of other Edith Piaf-like songs to pair with it, before having to resort to French "New York, New York." Well, if she likes it, more power to her, I guess! It was a very good skate.

 

[Frau Muller]

To me, beautiful Sofia B was the class of the field with Piaf ( or Matthieu?) medley…#1 in FS. Natural sparkler. I’m thrilled that she pulled up to silver!

 

[Sylvia]

I know, but you'd think there would be a lot of other Edith Piaf-like songs to pair with it

But are there any upbeat Piaf songs?

 

[Wyliefan]

Kaetlyn Osmond skated to two of them -- I don't know Piaf's body of work well, but I imagine if there are two, there must be more!

 

[Sylvia]

Novice Women FS protocols: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2022/30951/SEGM002.html

Sofia's jumps: 3Lz+2T, 3F+2A, 3F, 3Sq, 1Lz, 3Loq, 2A+2T+2Lo
Hannah's jumps: 3T+2T, 3S+1Eu+3S<, 3Fq, 3Lo+1A, 2A<(fall)

Final standings: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2022/30951/CAT001SEG002.html
REPLAY: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/watch/?Archive=3025

===

Novice Men FS start order/results: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2022/30951/CAT002SEG004.html

Livestream: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/watch/