2025 U.S. Sectional Singles & Pairs/Ice Dance Finals - Ogden UT; Norwood MA; Plano TX

[Wyliefan]

Very nice skate for them! I think she might want to rethink the eye makeup. It's more raccoony than swanlike. But she did really well with the performance.

 

[jlai]

Cui/Rogers were better in rd I think.

 

[just tuned in]

Amy really came alive in that lift!

Little fist pump at the third leap.

 

[Debbie S]

Yeah, the eye makeup makes it look like she's got a band around her head.

 

[toddlj]

Very nice skate for them! I think she might want to rethink the eye makeup. It's more raccoony than swanlike. But she did really well with the performance.

I think she's going for the makeup Natalie Portman had in the film. But to do that, it should sweep upward more, not just straight across.

 

[Wyliefan]

You can tell Mor/Chen train in Florida. Where else could Annabelle get tan lines in the middle of November?

 

[Sylvia]

Mids Novice Women SP is scheduled to begin in around 25 minutes - starting order/live results: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2024/34290/CAT006SEG019.html
Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pDEX7wWBsM

Top 9 NQS scores in this section:
Angela Shao 153.07 (as a Novice placed 7th of 18 at 2024 Junior Nationals in Columbus)
Annabelle Wilkins 147.24
Chloe Levine 130.28
Janelle Reynolds 127.27
Erika Gerstenslager 124.07
Carol McKinnis 121.46
Jolena Grohne 118.49 (was #9 of 9 in NQS Junior pairs standings but did not compete with Reede Lunt in last week's Final)
Emma Chao 117.44
Cayla Smith 116.42 (still looking for a pair partner?)

Mids Novice Women SP protocols: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2024/34290/SEGM019.html

Angela Shao was 1st with 50.33 (Shazam says her SP music was "Under Giant Trees" by Agnes Obel) and had ambitious jumps: 3S+3Lo (called 'q') had a turnout? 3Lz & 2A. Tammy Gambill was with her in the k&c.

The final skater, Cayla Smith, performed very energetically - I expected nothing less of her! - to Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" and landed 3S, 3T+2T & 2A. She finished 2nd with 46.73 and was very happy in the k&c.

Tamaki Shinohara, Taira's younger sister, also competed in this event.

Top 7:
1 16 Angela Shao, Ann Arbor FSC 50.33
2 24 Cayla Smith, Fort Wayne ISC 46.73
3 23 Chloe Levine, Chicago FSC 45.33 - 3Lo+2T, 3F< fall, 2A
4 13 Janelle Reynolds, Ann Arbor FSC 42.81 - 3S+2T, 3T, 2A
5 5 Jolena Grohne, Broadmoor SC 42.18 - 3S+2T, 2F, 2A
6 4 Rebecca Sun, Ann Arbor FSC 41.14 - 3Lze< fall, 3S+2T, 2A
7 1 Annabelle Wilkins, Ann Arbor FSC 40.11 - 3Lz fall, 3Lo+combo+1T*, 2A

 

[Debbie S]

Long review for Morozov/Chen. Usually not a good sign.

 

[Wyliefan]

Long review for Morozov/Chen. Usually not a good sign.

On the other hand, every review has been long today.

 

[Sylvia]

There are some Leo voiceovers to enjoy in Koncius/Shchepetov's R&J!

 

[Debbie S]

Hmmm, so that score puts them in the range of Pate/Bye, behind last year's top 3, plus G/P, Z/K and Browns.

 

[Sylvia]

I thought there was more than one DiCaprio voiceover - I really did enjoy K/S' FD performance when I watched them online in Graz (3rd place in that segment).

 

[TanithandBenFan]

K/S’ stationary lift is one of my favorites this season.

 

[Debbie S]

Good expression, nice lifts. I thought I saw a few stumbles, though.

 

[Sylvia]

1 5 Annabelle Morozov, SC of New York / Jeffrey Chen, Peninsula SC 1 73.51 1 109.66 183.17
2 6 Raffaella Koncius, Los Angeles FSC / Alexey Shchepetov, FSC of Southern California 3 67.04 2 106.62 173.66
3 4 Amy Cui, SC of Boston / Jonathan Rogers, Texas Gulf Coast FSC 2 67.79 3 105.21 173.00
4 2 Vanessa Pham, SC of Houston / Anton Spiridonov, SC of New York 4 65.59 4 102.93 168.52
5 3 Grace Yi, Boise FSC / Danila Savelev, Thunderbirds FSC 5 54.14 5 80.48 134.62
6 1 Michela Melillo, Connecticut Skating Academy / Karl Schapfel, Hayden Recreation Centre FSC 6 47.89 6 76.34 124.23

Senior FD protocols (ETA link): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2024/34290/SEGM026.html

 

[Sylvia]

Mids Novice Men SP is just underway: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2024/34290/CAT007SEG021.html

Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfl9PGSkG-c

ETA: The first skater Kohaku Murai (Stand By Me) is coached by Julie Berlin and Garrett Lucash.

 

[Sylvia]

44.13 (ETA: unofficial score on the results page - was not read out by the announcer) & 1st for Zenith Chen ("What A Wonderful World") - he landed 3S, 3T+2T & 2A. "Technical difficulties" prevented the announcing of his score - it's been a long delay!

Re-posting an article link here from last month in GSD:

Story written by a former competitive skater published in Minnesota Monthly magazine (Oct. 10, 2024):

A Safe Place to Land: Ukrainian Athletes Find Refuge in Minnesota | Minnesota Monthly

How one Ukrainian family escaped the war and found refuge at a figure skating academy in Shakopee, Minnesota

www.minnesotamonthly.com

Mykhailo 'Misha' Ivanchenko placed 9th in the Novice Men NQS standings this season (2nd in the Upper Great Lakes region & 3rd in the Midwestern section), thereby qualifying to compete at the Midwestern Sectional Singles Final, Nov. 20-23, in Plano, Texas.

 

[Sylvia]

Fun medley by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (Sherry Baby, Walk Like a Man) skated by Cy Morales after the long delay!

Mike Weng (Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue) landed 3S (turnout)+3T, 3F & 2A - impressive! 42.36 2nd.

Rintaro Shimizu (Open Arms by Journey): 3S+2T, 3T eked out, 2A landed on toe. I think his coach is Sergei Artemov?

Evan Neuhaus (eerie cover of "It's A Wonderful World") - 3Lz+2T, 3S, 2A step out - 41.42 3rd.

Zenith Chen's revised 1st place score is 43.76 (just read out by the announcer).

 

[Sylvia]

Louis Mallane has the top NQS Novice Men's score (150.47) in the country and is in USFS' ISP. He skated to Woodkid's "Run Boy Run" - landed 3Lz+3T, 3S & 2A. He's in that growing "all legs" stage & coached by Tammy Gambill.

ETA: 50.52 into 1st!

ETA 2 - Novice Men SP protocols: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2024/34290/SEGM021.html:

1 Louis Mallane, Broadmoor SC 50.52
2 Zenith Chen, DuPage FSC 43.76
3 Mike Weng, SC of Houston 42.36 - 3S+3Tq & 3F! noted in protocol
4 Evan Neuhaus, Skokie Valley SC 41.42
5 Mikhail Mokhov, Greater Grand Rapids FSC 40.02 - 3Lz<+2Tq, 3S<, 2A (skated to The Rockafeller Skank by Fatboy Slim! He's the younger brother of the Mokhova/Mokhov pair team that didn't compete this season)
6 Altair Zentgraf, Knoxville FSC 39.83 - 2A, 3S, 2F+2T - skated to a Billy Joel medley of Vienna & Big Man on Mulberry Street

Krishiv Siripurapu skated to the Howl's Moving Castle theme that always cheers me up.
Mykhailo (Misha) Ivanchenko - Hey Pachuco (2 falls, unfortunately).

 

[her grace]

Going back to senior dance, I wanted to mention that Koncius/S’s FD was very well-skated. Although all programs are, this one really looked like it was custom-made for them and they embodied the characters and performed. Their lifts were real highlights as well.

 

[peibeck]

1 5 Annabelle Morozov, SC of New York / Jeffrey Chen, Peninsula SC 1 73.51 1 109.66 183.17
2 6 Raffaella Koncius, Los Angeles FSC / Alexey Shchepetov, FSC of Southern California 3 67.04 2 106.62 173.66
3 4 Amy Cui, SC of Boston / Jonathan Rogers, Texas Gulf Coast FSC 2 67.79 3 105.21 173.00
4 2 Vanessa Pham, SC of Houston / Anton Spiridonov, SC of New York 4 65.59 4 102.93 168.52
5 3 Grace Yi, Boise FSC / Danila Savelev, Thunderbirds FSC 5 54.14 5 80.48 134.62
6 1 Michela Melillo, Connecticut Skating Academy / Karl Schapfel, Hayden Recreation Centre FSC 6 47.89 6 76.34 124.23

Senior FD protocols (ETA link): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2024/34290/SEGM026.html

The top four were all pretty good. We've a ridiculous depth in ice dance. Personally I thought Koncius/Shchepetov far and away should have won the FD, but what do I know?

It sounded like Morovoz/Chen changed some of their "Star Wars" music edits, as I don't remember as many dynamic parts when they got the sudden invite to SKAM. Was that Zoueva in the KnC with them? Is she coaching them in FL? I thought her dad was now their coach.

For their brief time skating together, I thought Pham/Spiridonov matched their movements exceptionally well.

 

[jlai]

Going back to senior dance, I wanted to mention that Koncius/S’s FD was very well-skated. Although all programs are, this one really looked like it was custom-made for them and they embodied the characters and performed. Their lifts were real highlights as well.

I agree. I thought they were overmarked in the short, but their FD was very enjoyable!

 

[peibeck]

Louis Mallane has the top NQS Novice Men's score (150.47) in the country... & coached by Tammy Gambill.

ETA: 50.52 into 1st!

You know how to lose a skater fans on FSU, Sylvia.

 

[Sylvia]

Mids Senior Men SP is live on Peacock - starting order/live results: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2024/34290/CAT013SEG027.html

* = currently listed in ISP

1 Max Lake, Detroit SC [M-8/EGL-3 154.61 Chicagoland Fall; student at Univ. of Wisconsin at Madison; ISU bio last updated in 2019: https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00105415.htm]
2 *Antonio Monaco, Scott Hamilton SC [M-4/EGL-1 172.10 S. Hamilton Inv.; ISU bio last updated in early 2024: https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00113423.htm]
3 *Alexander Liu, Dallas FSC [M-6/SW-3 168.98 Austin Autumn]
4 Gabriel Martinez, Skokie Valley SC [M-9/UGL-3 141.03 Chicagoland Fall]
5 Nathan Chapple, Winterhurst FSC [M-7/EGL-2 164.43 Austin Autumn; personal website: https://www.souln8skates.com/about]

6 *Taira Shinohara, Chicago FSC [M-1/UGL-1 215.13 Glacier Falls; 5th (197.53) at JGP THA: https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00113180.htm & https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/sports/figure-skating/roster/taira-shinohara/1037]
7 *Tomoki Hiwatashi, DuPage FSC [no NQS score; 226.38 at NHK Trophy: https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00014495.htm & https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/sports/figure-skating/roster/tomoki-hiwatashi/978]
8 *Joseph Klein, Skokie Valley SC [M-2/UGL-2 212.02 Chicagoland Fall, 6th in CS debut in Nice: & https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/sports/figure-skating/roster/joseph-klein/994]
9 *Beck Strommer, Alpine SC [M-2/SW-1 213.51 Austin Autumn; Sr. B debut next week in Budapest: https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00113882.htm & https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/sports/figure-skating/roster/beck-strommer/1040]
WD *Maxim Zharkov, Dallas FSC [M-5/SW-2 171.85 John Smith Mem.; ISU bio last updated in 2023: https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00109048.htm]

 

[Karen-W]

Maxim Zharkov is listed as WD on the live results page now.

 

[Sylvia]

Max Lake was going for a 4T combo, 3A pitched forward & hung on, 3Lz.

 

[Debbie S]

Fun fact: Max Lake first competed at Nats in 2014, in Juv Boys, along with Jeffrey Chen, Joonsoo Kim, and Ryan Dunk, and others who also competed through the higher levels and collegiate.

 

[Rukia]

rough skate for Alex Liu

 

[her grace]

Power warm-up with everyone in Team USA jackets

 

[Rukia]

I enjoyed Chapple. He has some very nice parts to his skating.

Wait I love everyone in this second group so much I want them all at nats.