2024 U.S. Sectional Singles & Pairs/Ice Dance Finals - Coral Springs FL; Tacoma WA; Bloomington MN

[Sylvia]

Greg Zuerlein was also with Pedersen/Chen.

 

[her grace]

Awfully close between the top two!

Cialella/Goldshteyn

A happy to be here performance. Some fun phone choreo.

 

[her grace]

Cui/Eckert

Love their smooth glide, nice soft knees. Choreo's paint-by-numbers, which is appropriate for a new team. Think they will be ready to handle more complex choreo next season, he's definitely showing glimmers of a bigger personality. Out of sync on twizzles.

 

[just tuned in]

Cui was giving it. Eckert was singing along the entire time, but perhaps to the detriment of his skating.

 

[Sylvia]

Adrienne Lenda and Natalia Annenko-Deller are with the Novi teams here (Cui/Eckert & Cialella/Goldshteyn before them).

 

[Wyliefan]

I had an important meeting and couldn't jump on Peacock until now. Thanks for the PBP!

 

[her grace]

Stapert/Korotcov

We've got neon and faux leg warmers. Yay! I missed part of their program. He did one more rotation than her on twizzles. Turns not the cleanest. Nice rotational lift.

 

[Sylvia]

Elena Novak was with Stapert/Korotcov (ETA that their music is listed in their IDC profile): https://www.ice-dance.com/site/profile-annelise-stapert-maxim-korotcov/
RD: “Straight Up” and “Opposites Attract” by Paula Abdul
FD: “Malaguena Salerosa” by Chingon and “Bambeola” by Benise

Live scores: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2023/30617/CAT004SEG007.html

 

[her grace]

Calhoun/Veselukhin

They have a nice dance sensibility. Good matched twizzles. This is a team I'd like to see on the JGP next season. Very well matched and both have a nice performance quality.

 

[her grace]

Li/Le Coq

Nice deep edges through the pattern steps, felt like they were a little out of sync during the stand-in-place part of the dance. Clearly quite talented, a little sloppy in places, like their program was still new to them.

 

[Wyliefan]

Long way to go yet for Li/Le Coq, but they're adorable and enthusiastic.

 

[her grace]

Renzi/Lissaurer

Wild final twizzle from her. Rotational lift moved nicely across the ice. Rather deliberate during the important steps in the pattern. She's giving good expression. Like most of the mid-tier teams, some very nice qualities and can improve by showing those qualities consistently throughout the program.

 

[Wyliefan]

I guess I can't think of Ilin/Cain as the Baby Americans when they're competing with Li/Le Coq. Toddler Americans?

 

[AnnMJensen]

I thought Ilin/Cain’s music was going to be the theme from “Ducktales” when it first started.LOL.

 

[her grace]

Ilin/Cain

A little out of sync on first set of twizzles, but completed. Ilin's asking the crowd to get involved. Probably not enough crowd there to do that. Middle part of the program drags a bit. Nice unison on the steps. Ends with a nice burst of energy.

 

[Sylvia]

Kristen Fraser & Igor Lukanin are coaching Li/Coq and Renzi/Lissauer here.

Renzi/Lissauer's IDC profile: https://www.ice-dance.com/site/profile-emily-renzi-william-lissauer/
RD: “Holding Out For a Hero”, “Almost Paradise” and “Footloose” from the Footloose soundtrack
FD: “The Sparkling Diamond”, “Your Song”, “More More More” from Moulin Rouge The Musical

Elena Dostatni coaches Jane Calhoun (new to ice dance; her mother is Russian, IIRC) & Daniil Veselukhin (born in Russia) - they are 14 & 16, according to: https://www.ice-dance.com/site/profile-jane-calhoun-daniil-veselukhin/
RD: “Billie Jean” and “Bad” by Michael Jackson
FD: “The Addams Family Overture”; “Goo Goo Muck” by the Cramps

Zuerlein & Olivia's father are with Ilin/Cain in the k&c.

 

[Wyliefan]

Into 3rd -- she likes that!

 

[her grace]

Yi/Savelev

Out of sync on twizzles, pattern started well and then began to look difficult for them, good engagement with each other in the choreo, Dominique Moceanu-esque-laying-on-the-ice pose and he leaps over her.

 

[Sylvia]

Grace Yi/Danila Savelev go into 4th! 58.19

She is new to ice dance and he previously represented GEO: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00111156.htm
Elena Dostatni and Logan Giulietti-Schmitt (I can still spell his name without checking online! ) coach them in Colorado Springs.

 

[Wyliefan]

We've got Ghostbusters!

 

[her grace]

Grace Yi/Danila Savelev go into 4th! 58.19

She is new to ice dance and he previously represented GEO: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00111156.htm

I can see that. He definitely looked stronger technically of the two, but they both had a nice ability to connect and perform that should take them far.

 

[her grace]

Hagan/Hagan

Fun Ghostbusters music and a happy-to-be-here skate.

 

[Simone411]

Okay, I'm loving this! David Bowie!

 

[Sylvia]

Slava Uchitel is Epps/Gilman's primary coach: https://www.ice-dance.com/site/profile-julia-epps-blake-gilman/

 

[her grace]

Epps/Gillman

A few errors and not the skate they wanted. Vibrant personalities, though, and I hope they come back strong in FD.

 

[her grace]

Peal/Peal

Performing with ease. I still have some questions about their edges in the key points. Movement matches so well. Strong skate.

 

[her grace]

Bland/Sperry

Did a good job entering pattern dance with speed, twizzles got out of sync on first set, could work on unison, good energy.

 

[Flip Jump]

In need of a quick reminder…How many jr teams to nationals from here?

 

[AnnMJensen]

In need of a quick reminder…How many jr teams to nationals from here?

10 + Pederson & Chen

 

[her grace]

Mullen/Mullen

WOW on the unison on their twizzles. I think they started stronger here than on the JGP where they looked a little shy at the beginning of the program before they settled in. Great technique and improving presentation.