Speaking of Japanese dance teams, I've been wondering about Muramoto/Reed and why they didn't score better this year at their events. The season before, they seemed to start off well; and I thought they looked not bad at Skate America. Any thoughts on this? I never had time to sit down and analyze their protocols or anything.
OK, I think it's a really good question so I went back to look through the results. And having done so, here's what I honestly think. I think it's so tight down in the lower dance ranks that anything can happen between the teams currently ranked between #16 (Wang & Liu) and #23 (Muramoto & Reed). M&R hit the absolute top of that range at Worlds last season & the absolute bottom of it this season at Worlds. They've been all over the map in the meantime, and their protocols & placements are listed below.
Muramoto & Reed earned level 3 on their blues pattern all season until WTT. So that cost them a couple points in the SD all year and explains why they were never able to earn more than two level 4's in the short, despite repeatedly earning 5 level fours in their FD.
When all is said and done, however, Muramoto & Reed finished 24th at Worlds because they blew the twizzles in the short dance and swallowed a level one on that element. They lost over four points on it alone. Their component mark is within half a point of Smart & Diaz who were in 16th after the SD and swallowed their own level one twizzle sequence in the free.
If M&R had earned those four points, they'd have been sitting right behind Wang and Liu after the short. Might have lost to W&L and Agafanova & Ucar anyway; but with a solid skate, that would have been it, I think. For perspective, both W&L and A&U had two level two footwork sequences in the FD and A&U had a level three in it as well. Interestingly, M&R defeated A&U head-to-head three times this season: Dance Chicago, U.S. Classic, Skate America. All of the teams in this competitive range are struggling with the footwork sequences so while that would improve M&R's chances, it isn't the difference among these particular teams.
Here are Muramoto & Reed's levels from this season:
Dance Chicago: They debuted at Dance Chicago, which supposedly did publish protocols; but they seem to have been taken down. M&R finished 3rd there with an SD score of 54.9 and an FD score of 85.56. They finished behind Hawayek & Baker and Thomas & Eaton; however, three spots above Agafanova & Ucar during the SD before A&U pulled out.
U.S. Classic: Despite a tough caller, Muramoto & Reed actually did better than the entire field on the levels here.
Short Dance: 3, 3, 3, 3, 4 (This, fyi, was three points higher in base value than Hubbell & Donahue, who won)
Free Dance: 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2, 2 (Still two points higher in base value than Hubbell & Donahue)
M&R finished second here, above Smart & Diaz, Min & Gamelin, and Agafanova & Ucar.
Skate America:
Short Dance: 4, 3, 2, 2, 2 (Chris blew the twizzles, and he just can
not do this). Last in the SD. This one hurt.
Free Dance: 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2. 8th in the FD. Ahead of Agafanova & Ucar and Min & Gamelin. Tied on the base value with Ilinykh & Zhiganshin and Pogrebinsky & Benoit.
NHK Trophy:
Withdrew due to injury. I don't remember what the injury was and it didn't take them out for too long, but it didn't do them any favors this season.
Mentor Torun Cup:
Short Dance: 4, 3, 3, 2, 2 (3rd in the SD behind Kaliszek & Spodiriev and Hurtado & Khaliavin)
Free Dance: 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2 (2nd in the FD) Tied the leaders, Kaliszek & Spodiriev, on the base value.
Four Continents:
Short Dance: 3, 3, 3, 2, 2 (lost a level on the twizzles). Lost the base value by three points to Min & Gamelin and 2 points to Wang & Liu. Ironically, tied Gilles & Poirier for BV with her fall.
Free Dance: 4, 4, 4, 2, 2, 2, 1 (1 on the twizzles. This killed M&R. Only the 14th BV here).
Asian Games:
Short Dance: 4, 4, 3, 3, 3
Free Dance: 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2. (Second behind Wang & Liu in both dances. The Koreans didn't compete).
Worlds:
Short Dance: 4, 3, 3, 2, 1 (blew the twizzles--lost @ four points on that element alone).
World Team Trophy:
Short Dance: 4, 4, 4, 2, 2 (higher levels than Wang & Liu)
Free Dance: 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3 (same levels as Wang & Liu, higher than Lauriault & Le Gac)
