U.S. Men 2024-25 news & updates

[Karen-W]

Maybe USFS saw how few 3As were landed at Junior Cup and asked him to prepare junior programs?

I assume he wasn’t listed as a sub because he didn’t compete in Milwaukee. That being said, there’s no other reason that he’d compete or even prepare junior programs if the intention wasn’t to be on the JGP.

I guess we'll see. We only have 6 spots on the JGP for this season. Blackwell skated well at the Junior Cup and one has to think he could wind up with 2 of those. Martynov would certainly be a lock for 2 given his JGPF qualification last season. That would leave just one spot for any number of hit-or-miss men.

 

[YukiNieve]

NQS Philadelphia Summer Championship Senior Men SP

Judge detail scores: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2024/33453/SEGM023.html

Hope that someone in the venue will report what music they skated to.

Place	Start	Name	Score
1	2	Joseph Klein, Skokie Valley SC	79.23
2	6	Lucius Kazanecki, Washington FSC	74.49
3	4	Beck Strommer, Alpine SC	72.12
4	9	Liam Kapeikis, Wenatchee FSC	68.96
5	5	Will Annis, SC of Boston	60.51
6	7	Aleksa Rakic, Skate Canada	60.35
7	3	Bryan Lehmann, North Star FSC	55.13
8	8	Nathan Chapple, Winterhurst FSC	52.20
9	1	Ken Mikawa, Richmond FSC	52.06

 

[YukiNieve]

Tomoki Hiwatashi will compete for Kinoshita Cup in Japan through an open entry (meaning that there will be no official record for the results).

2024 Kinoshita Cup (Aug.3-4, 2024)

Skating Schedule/Order
2024木下トロフィー争奪フィギュアスケート大会

 

[her grace]

Kapeikis is joining a long list of American men who were pretty consistent with triples and who lost that completely when trying to integrate a quad into their programs.

 

[YukiNieve]

NQS Philadelphia Summer Championship Senior Men FS and Final Results

Judge detail scores: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2024/33453/SEGM024.html

Congrats to Beck for 1st win for 1st senior comp!

Place	Start	Name	Short Program	Free Skate	Total Score
Place	Score	Place	Score
1	7	Beck Strommer, Alpine SC	3	72.12	3	134.61	206.73
2	6	Liam Kapeikis, Wenatchee FSC	4	68.96	2	136.69	205.65
3	9	Joseph Klein, Skokie Valley SC	1	79.23	5	123.65	202.88
4	8	Lucius Kazanecki, Washington FSC	2	74.49	4	125.77	200.26
5	4	Aleksa Rakic, Skate Canada	6	60.35	1	139.51	199.86
6	3	Bryan Lehmann, North Star FSC	7	55.13	6	104.42	159.55
7	1	Ken Mikawa, Richmond FSC	9	52.06	7	98.85	150.91
8	2	Nathan Chapple, Winterhurst FSC	8	52.20	8	85.16	137.36
WD		Will Annis, SC of Boston	5	60.51

 

[YukiNieve]

NQS Scott Hamilton Invtational Senior Men Final Results

Judge detail scores: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2024/33501/SEGM021.html

Place	Start	Name	Short Program	Free Skate	Total Score
Place	Score	Place	Score
1	4	Antonio Monaco, Scott Hamilton SC	2	53.96	1	118.14	172.10
2	3	Alexander Liu, Dallas FSC	1	58.43	2	87.60	146.03
3	1	Dylan Wajda, Individual Member	4	22.99	3	50.35	73.34
WD		Maxim Zharkov, Dallas FSC	3	51.71

 

[maureenfarone]

Has anyone seen anything about Maxim Naumov? He is on the list for SA but I haven't seen anything about where he is training or who is coaching him. He was using Garrett Lucash as his primary coach at SCOB but Garrett has moved to Detroit Skating Club.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Whoaaaa this TBD spot for skate America is going to be so close. Secretly after seeing Lucas short program score I hope it goes to him so he has at least one.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Lucas short program was just sublime. Oh my gosh I hope he is back in previous form. He has the jumps of Loena Hendrickx, and the program components of Jason https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfyLx6JCaUw

Lucas Broussard SP - Cranberry Cup International 2024

Very nice skate!SP: 85.77 1st

www.youtube.com

 

[skateboy]

Lucas short program was just sublime. Oh my gosh I hope he is back in previous form. He has the jumps of Loena Hendrickx, and the program components of Jason https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfyLx6JCaUw

Lucas Broussard SP - Cranberry Cup International 2024

Very nice skate!SP: 85.77 1st

www.youtube.com

I think he's got better jumps than Loena...

 

[Karen-W]

Junior Men are gonna junior men. And probably making it very hard on the USFS with respect to JGP entries.

We have entrants at the first 4 JGPs and we know that Aleksandr Fegan (2nd at Jr Cup) and Patrick Blackwell (1st at Jr Cup) have been assigned to JGP Latvia & JGP Czechia respectively. Entries were due this past Friday for JGP Thailand and entries for JGP Turkey are due next Friday.

Just to refresh the Jr Cup results top 10:

1	21	Patrick Blackwell, SC of Boston	5	66.58	1	136.41	202.99
2	13	Aleksandr Fegan, SC of New York	9	63.77	2	133.05	196.82
3	16	Lorenzo Elano, Skokie Valley SC	4	68.78	4	128.02	196.80
4	17	Taira Shinohara, Chicago FSC	2	69.92	5	126.12	196.04
5	18	Lucius Kazanecki, Washington FSC	6	65.99	3	129.78	195.77
6	14	Jacob Sanchez, Hudson Valley FSC	8	64.65	6	124.42	189.07
7	19	Kai Kovar, Wasatch FSC	1	71.05	8	117.66	188.71
8	20	Nicholas Brooks, All Year FSC	3	68.97	7	119.67	188.64
9	15	Kirk Haugeto, SC of New York	7	64.82	10	115.87	180.69
10	11	Vaclav Vasquez, Glacier Falls FSC	10	61.60	9	116.01	177.61

And thus we arrive at Cranberry Cup Jr Men results for the US men entered -

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
2	Jacob SANCHEZ	USA	218.21	2	2
7	Nicholas BROOKS	USA	186.47	12	5
8	Taira SHINOHARA	USA	182.99	8	9
9	Kai KOVAR	USA	179.12	7	11
10	Patrick BLACKWELL	USA	175.24	18	8
12	Kirk HAUGETO	USA	174.39	14	10
13	Lorenzo ELANO	USA	173.06	13	14
14	Lucius KAZANECKI	USA	168.98	16	13

I don't have any idea how you rationalize passing up on assigning Jacob to at least one JGP but if the USFS sticks with the Jr Cup results, I don't see how you pass on assigning Elano, Shinohara and possibly Kazanecki.

Best guess as to what may happen -

1) JGP Thailand - Shinohara
2) JGP Turkey - Sanchez
3) JGP Slovenia - Elano
4) JGP China - top scorer/potential JGPF qualifier from the 1st four JGPs OR if none of the men score 200+ then Kazanecki

Thoughts?

 

[Frau Muller]

Junior Men are gonna junior men. And probably making it very hard on the USFS with respect to JGP entries.

We have entrants at the first 4 JGPs and we know that Aleksandr Fegan (2nd at Jr Cup) and Patrick Blackwell (1st at Jr Cup) have been assigned to JGP Latvia & JGP Czechia respectively. Entries were due this past Friday for JGP Thailand and entries for JGP Turkey are due next Friday.

Just to refresh the Jr Cup results top 10:

1	21	Patrick Blackwell, SC of Boston	5	66.58	1	136.41	202.99
2	13	Aleksandr Fegan, SC of New York	9	63.77	2	133.05	196.82
3	16	Lorenzo Elano, Skokie Valley SC	4	68.78	4	128.02	196.80
4	17	Taira Shinohara, Chicago FSC	2	69.92	5	126.12	196.04
5	18	Lucius Kazanecki, Washington FSC	6	65.99	3	129.78	195.77
6	14	Jacob Sanchez, Hudson Valley FSC	8	64.65	6	124.42	189.07
7	19	Kai Kovar, Wasatch FSC	1	71.05	8	117.66	188.71
8	20	Nicholas Brooks, All Year FSC	3	68.97	7	119.67	188.64
9	15	Kirk Haugeto, SC of New York	7	64.82	10	115.87	180.69
10	11	Vaclav Vasquez, Glacier Falls FSC	10	61.60	9	116.01	177.61

And thus we arrive at Cranberry Cup Jr Men results for the US men entered -

​

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
2	Jacob SANCHEZ	USA	218.21	2	2
7	Nicholas BROOKS	USA	186.47	12	5
8	Taira SHINOHARA	USA	182.99	8	9
9	Kai KOVAR	USA	179.12	7	11
10	Patrick BLACKWELL	USA	175.24	18	8
12	Kirk HAUGETO	USA	174.39	14	10
13	Lorenzo ELANO	USA	173.06	13	14
14	Lucius KAZANECKI	USA	168.98	16	13

I don't have any idea how you rationalize passing up on assigning Jacob to at least one JGP but if the USFS sticks with the Jr Cup results, I don't see how you pass on assigning Elano, Shinohara and possibly Kazanecki.

Best guess as to what may happen -

1) JGP Thailand - Shinohara
2) JGP Turkey - Sanchez
3) JGP Slovenia - Elano
4) JGP China - top scorer/potential JGPF qualifier from the 1st four JGPs OR if none of the men score 200+ then Kazanecki

Thoughts?

Can’t complain with Li and Sanchez.

Sorry, Kirk…time to move on.

 

[mtnskater]

Lucas Broussard….amazingly gorgeous SP!! So glad he is back and looks healthy. He could really be a factor internationally with his quality skating and gorgeous ballet style. I’ve loved him for a long time and hope he can stay healthy. Give him Skate America!

 

[her grace]

Adding the 2024 Nationals results for Junior Men to the discussion since sometimes that matters to USFS and it shows what these athletes have done in another high-stakes competition

1	16	Lucius Kazanecki, North Jersey FSC	5	64.51	1	138.46	202.97
2	15	Taira Shinohara, Chicago FSC	6	64.11	2	133.97	198.08
3	20	Aleksandr Fegan, SC of New York	1	71.00	5	123.95	194.95
4	19	Beck Strommer, Alpine SC	2	66.50	4	126.78	193.28
5	18	Nicholas Brooks, All Year FSC	3	65.81	3	127.02	192.83
6	14	Lorenzo Elano, Skokie Valley SC	7	62.70	6	123.95	186.65
7	17	Kirk Haugeto, SC of New York	4	64.61	7	120.87	185.48
8	12	Sergei Evseev, All Year FSC	9	60.22	9	110.84	171.06
9	10	Vaclav Vasquez, Glacier Falls FSC	11	57.12	8	112.51	169.63

Based on Jr. Cup, Cranberry, and Nationals, I'd say Shinohara should be the next person to get an assignment (consistently in the top 4), then Sanchez based on Cranberry and also last year's international season. Hopefully, one of these two got the already assigned JGP #3. I don't think USFS should assign anyone to the final 2 events until they see how the early events go in case someone earns a second assignment. Kazanecki was looking great, but that Cranberry result should move him into JGP back-up for final two spots/Jr B territory IMO. Elano and Brooks are other skaters who could also be sent to a Jr. B.

 

[Karen-W]

Adding the 2024 Nationals results for Junior Men to the discussion since sometimes that matters to USFS and it shows what these athletes have done in another high-stakes competition

1	16	Lucius Kazanecki, North Jersey FSC	5	64.51	1	138.46	202.97
2	15	Taira Shinohara, Chicago FSC	6	64.11	2	133.97	198.08
3	20	Aleksandr Fegan, SC of New York	1	71.00	5	123.95	194.95
4	19	Beck Strommer, Alpine SC	2	66.50	4	126.78	193.28
5	18	Nicholas Brooks, All Year FSC	3	65.81	3	127.02	192.83
6	14	Lorenzo Elano, Skokie Valley SC	7	62.70	6	123.95	186.65
7	17	Kirk Haugeto, SC of New York	4	64.61	7	120.87	185.48
8	12	Sergei Evseev, All Year FSC	9	60.22	9	110.84	171.06
9	10	Vaclav Vasquez, Glacier Falls FSC	11	57.12	8	112.51	169.63

Based on Jr. Cup, Cranberry, and Nationals, I'd say Shinohara should be the next person to get an assignment (consistently in the top 4), then Sanchez based on Cranberry and also last year's international season. Hopefully, one of these two got the already assigned JGP #3. I don't think USFS should assign anyone to the final 2 events until they see how the early events go in case someone earns a second assignment. Kazanecki was looking great, but that Cranberry result should move him into JGP back-up for final two spots/Jr B territory IMO. Elano and Brooks are other skaters who could also be sent to a Jr. B.

Also, keep in mind Sanchez was not at Nationals last year because he was our WYOG entry.

I agree with your basic assessment - Taira is who I expect has been assigned to JGP Thailand (we'll know when we see the entries tomorrow or Tuesday), but I'd be assigning Jacob to JGP Turkey and probably TBD/placeholder-ing the last two spots until after the first four complete their first JGP assignments.

 

[Karen-W]

Well, well, well... Lucas Broussard did VERY well for himself today at Cranberry!

246.48 and the! That score would have placed him 21 on the SB list last season - and ahead of every other US man except Ilia #1 and Jason #8!

Jimmy Ma also was much improved from last season - 236.77 for.

The rest were all below their SBs from last year.

Camden - 4th - 226.97
Andrew - 5th - 224.94
Yaro - 8th - 206.59
Michael Xie - 9th - 198.73
Liam - 10th - 196.64
Tomoki - 11th - 190.56

I'd be hard-pressed to imagine the USFS not giving Lucas the SkAm TBD host spot based on him outscoring the next American man by nearly 20 points.

 

[Jammers]

Lucas needs to take advantage of what he just did since no one after Ilia seems to want to make a World or Olympic team he can get a head start because the other men are just headcases at this point and have had years to prove themselves and just aren't getting it done and in some cases are regressing.


.

 

[Lizziebeth]

I just got a chance to watch Lucas' program. My goodness, that was nice. Love the music and choreo. He looks ready for the season!

 

[haribobo]

Combined Total for Top 2 Events of 2024-25 Season - Junior Men
*worth noting that Taira had a very respectable 215 in a senior comp at Glacier Falls and same for Kazanecki with a 200 at Philadelphia that I did not count.

Jacob Sanchez 407
Aleksandr Fegan 380
Taira Shinohara 378
Patrick Blackwell 377
Lorenzo Elano 377
Nicholas Brooks 374
Kai Kovar 367
Lucius Kazanecki 363
Kirk Haugeto 359

 

[her grace]

USFS assigned Shinohara to JGP #3 so that’s the #1, #2, and #4 skaters from Junior Cup who have received assignments. Elano is the unlucky #3 who has not been assigned probably because the Junior Cup results were so close and his technical arsenal is not as strong.

 

[YukiNieve]

Sasha is in Boston. Will ISP skaters also attend the Champs Camp?

 

[YukiNieve]

USFS assigned Shinohara to JGP #3 so that’s the #1, #2, and #4 skaters from Junior Cup who have received assignments. Elano is the unlucky #3 who has not been assigned probably because the Junior Cup results were so close and his technical arsenal is not as strong.

Oh, no. Wasn't Elano skipped last season, too? (Am I wrong?)

 

[Karen-W]

Sasha is in Boston. Will ISP skaters also attend the Champs Camp?

Who is Sasha?

 

[YukiNieve]

Who is Sasha?

Aleksandr Fegan.

 

[Karen-W]

Aleksandr Fegan.

Ah.

No idea. In the past it's been limited to just skaters assigned to the GP. It could be that the USFS decided to extend it to skaters assigned to the JGP also - though I haven't seen the Peals, Mullens, Flores/Wang, or Moss/Galbavy posting anything on IG about traveling to Boston this week.

 

[Stephanie]

In some prior years they’ve had some sort of “emerging athletes” program alongside Champs Camp, where around 6 or so junior athletes would attend. The last one I heard of was two years ago, when Soho Lee, Yampolsky, Haugeto and I assume a few others attended. Maybe it’s something like this.

 

[her grace]

Oh, no. Wasn't Elano skipped last season, too? (Am I wrong?)

He wasn’t chosen last year either. In 2023, he finished 6th at Junior Cup. The U.S. didn’t have the full complement of spots last year either so it was a highly selective process to get on the JGP. Most of the athletes chosen finished ahead of him at Junior Cup (Xie, Kovar, Strommer, Sanchez). The exceptions were Martynov, who made the JGP Final, so hard to argue with his selection and Fegan. I don’t recall Fegan’s trajectory, but I would assume that he had better summer results later in the season like Martynov that moved him up in the selection process.

For Elano, I think it’s great that he’s been chosen for Cranberry in 2023 and 2024 so he did get an international assignment reward for his results at Junior Cup. And I would send him to Europe for a Jr B as well. Hopefully, he can add the bigger jumps to make himself more competitive for the limited JGP spots.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

In some prior years they’ve had some sort of “emerging athletes” program alongside Champs Camp, where around 6 or so junior athletes would attend. The last one I heard of was two years ago, when Soho Lee, Yampolsky, Haugeto and I assume a few others attended. Maybe it’s something like this.

Yes there is an Emerging Athletes program again this year.

 

[haribobo]

JGP assignments aren't finished being assigned for this season so Elano can still get one, but also I don't think finishing 13th at Cranberry helps his case, and I would give the next one to Jacob Sanchez. I'm not terribly concerned about saving a 2nd spot for anyone. I sort of think the way spots are allotted based on Junior Worlds finish is insane and its too restrictive, but oh well.

 

[YukiNieve]

I sort of think the way spots are allotted based on Junior Worlds finish is insane and its too restrictive, but oh well.

You mean "Junior Cup"?