U.S. Men 2026-27 Discussion - Of Ice and Men

Goku Endo finished 4th at the Asian Open FS Trophy in Jakarta, Indonesia with a total score of 190.23, landing 3A in both programs. His ISU bio is not yet updated with this season's music but here are fan cams if someone can ID his music? :)
5th in SP (64.78): https://www.instagram.com/reels/DbjE7GUh_fu/
3rd in FS (125.45): https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dbn-XvdhzOe/

In the Junior Men's event, Hitonari Tani placed 5th in his Jr. international debut with 163.50 - fan cam of his 4th place SP (landed 3Lz, 3F+2T & 2A to Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DboHTm2BsB5/
Kirk Haugeto finished 6th 159.49 (7th in SP, 5th in FS) - there may be fan cams at some point.
5 Kirk HAUGETO USA 106.97 53.72 53.25 5.33 5.58 5.08 0.00 #11 (3A<<, 3Lo, 3F-, 3Lz+3T<<, 3F+Eu+3Sq+2A+SEQ-, 3Lz)
6 Hitonari TANI USA 102.94 47.49 57.45 5.50 5.75 6.00 2.00 #14 (3Lz, 3F!+2T, 3Loq, 3Fe+2A+SEQ fall, 3S, 3T fall)

Jacob's 4th & final training week in Lake Placid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ5jCzYwz4E
 
Poor guy, he's been hurt a lot this past year. He hobbled off the ice at sectionals last year, then did poorly in Hungary shortly afterwards while presumably still recovering from that injury. Then the WD [U.S. Junior Team Cup] and this score. I hope he finds his way back, he's got talent.
Brooks did win the pewter medal at Nationals. :) Here's a positive clip of Nicholas' 3Lz and choreographic step sequence from his Glacier Falls Junior FS to "The Awakening" by Ivan Torrent from Reverie (confirmed to be last season's music):
 
June 26 in this thread:
Jacob did a Q&A on his YT channel, and he said Misha Ge choreographed his SP. He confirmed the music had been posted in an IG story and is about the moon lol. So I think we can safely say his SP is Moonlight Sonata.
His FS was choreographed by Adam Blake, and he said fans of Japanese culture and Japanese entertainment will be fans of the music.
from an ISU bio update, Jacob Sanchez's FS music this year will be the Demon Slayer soundtrack, choreographer is Adam Blake
Link to Jacob's updated ISU profile: https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/skaters/jacob-sanchez/
SP: Moon by Ludwig van Beethoven, Sofiane Pamart
FS: Demon Slayer (soundtrack)
Choreographers: Adam Blake, Misha Ge

Kirk Haugeto has posted photos from Jakarta and a clip from his 5th place FS (music from Cirque du Soleil's Varekai?):
Fan cam of his SP (Chopin's 24 Préludes, Op. 28: No. 15 in D-Flat Major, "Raindrop"): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbtHdTABLsA/

Patrick Blackwell again attended the Super Summer Camp in Flims, Switzerland:
Patrick doing sbs 3A with Nikita Sheiko: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbWSf2bsP7_/
He also backflipped over him: https://www.instagram.com/p/DbluGKgo5Ca/
4F & 4Lo on the pole harness (quad clips with the Sheiko brothers): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbaO5n2oTMn/
 
Jacob posted a short clip of his Demon Slayer free skate. Amber Glenn commented "no wayyyyyy," which makes me even more curious about her plans.

 
1 Henry GAO USA 124.38 59.61 65.77 6.45 6.70 6.60 1.00 #9 - 3Lz fall, 3F, 3Lo step, 3Lz+2A+2A+SEQ, 3S+3T, 3S - video:
Henry kept his FS music from last season:
The Ride to Mantua (from "Romeo and Juliet") by Nino Rota
Love Theme (from "Romeo and Juliet") by Nino Rota
Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64:13. Dance of the Knights by Sergei Prokofiev

Cranberry Cup U.S. Junior Men's final results:
1 Henry GAO USA 183.86 3 1
5 Vaclav VASQUEZ USA 172.09 6 4
7 Ryedin RUDE-DENMAN USA 162.05 10 7
8 Marlo ROSEN USA 159.53 7 8
9 Isaac FULTON USA 145.71 8 9
10 Matthew CENTERS USA 139.41 11 10
 
I just remembered that Henry Gao first made a splash at the 2025 U.S. Junior Team Cup in Milwaukee, finishing 3rd (behind Elano and Kazanecki) after having moved up from Novice the season before - 60.69 9th in SP, 126.52 2nd in FS, 187.21 total - and that resulted in him being assigned to his first JGP last year.
 
SENIOR MEN (over 150) - Summer 2026
Taira Shinohara 229.69 MIDS - ISP
Liam Kapeikis 227.02 PACS- ISP
Daniel Martynov 221.38 MIDS -ISP

Kai Kovar 198.26 MIDS ISP
Goku Endo 190.23 PACS - ISP
Arsen Meghavoryan 183.96 PACS- ISP
Will Annis 175.80 EAST -ISP
Vaclav Vasquez 173.83 PACS - ISP
Anthony Mugg 171.18 MIDS
Ryan William Azadpour 170.83 PACS- ISP
Joseph Klein 163.12 MIDS
Antonio Monaco 155.50 MIDS

Bolded top 2 from each Section

Still to skate- Malinin, Brown, Torgashev, Sanchez, Ma, Kazanecki

Top 3 Scores without a GP - Shinohara, Martynov, Kovar

TOP JR MEN SCORES 2026

Caleb Farrington 201
Patrick Blackwell 193
Louis Mallane 191
Ryan William Azadpour 187
Henry Gao 183
Hitonari Tani 181
Daniel Koppel 180
Kirk Haugeto 179
Ryedin Rudedenman 179
Evan Neuhaus 177
Zachary LoPinto 175
Vaclav Vasquez 172
Marlo Rosen 170
Aaron Kulvatunyou 170
Solomon Bristol 170
Isaac Fulton 169
Michael Khavin 168
Nicholas Brooks 166

Top Scores W/O JGP Event Currently- Azadpour, Gao, Haugeto, Rudedenman
 
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@haribobo Vaclav Vasquez scored 172.09 (5th place in Junior) at Cranberry Cup International. His program music is Musetta's Waltz from Puccini's La Bohème (clip of his 3F+3T https://www.instagram.com/reels/DbwlWV3PjoS/).
He was 4th in the FS (115.03) and skated to "Le di a la caza alcance" by Michael Nyman, performed by Estrella Morente.

Who will get the remaining 8 JGP spots? (6 if Patrick & Caleb each earn a 2nd).

ETA that 6 of the top 7 Men (excerpt for Kirk who competed in Jakarta) from U.S. Junior Team Cup have been assigned so far:
JGP Xi'an: Blackwell, LoPinto
JGP Riga: Farrington, Koppel
JGP Bangkok: Mallane, Tani (competed in Jakarta)
 
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Daniel Martynov's 2nd place FS to Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor by S. Rachmaninov:
Protocol: 4T+, 4S<< fall, 3A+, 3Lz+3T, 3A+Eu+3S<, 3Lz; L3 spins & steps.
 
In the Junior Men's event, Hitonari Tani placed 5th in his Jr. international debut with 163.50 - fan cam of his 4th place SP (landed 3Lz, 3F+2T & 2A to Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DboHTm2BsB5/
Kirk Haugeto finished 6th 159.49 (7th in SP, 5th in FS) - there may be fan cams at some point.
5 Kirk HAUGETO USA 106.97 53.72 53.25 5.33 5.58 5.08 0.00 #11 (3A<<, 3Lo, 3F-, 3Lz+3T<<, 3F+Eu+3Sq+2A+SEQ-, 3Lz)
6 Hitonari TANI USA 102.94 47.49 57.45 5.50 5.75 6.00 2.00 #14 (3Lz, 3F!+2T, 3Loq, 3Fe+2A+SEQ fall, 3S, 3T fall)
Copying over from the 2026 Asian Open FS Trophy thread in K&C:
More Junior Men SP fan cams from milkteakuy:
7 Kirk Haugeto USA: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbtHdTABLsA/ (Chopin's 24 Préludes, Op. 28: No. 15 in D-Flat Major, "Raindrop)
Kirk Haugeto FS 5th (Cirque du Soleil's Varekai): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbzoQAAhbov/
Hitonari Tani FS 6th (last season's medley by Christopher Tin): https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db0up6IBEeV/
 
CS Cranberry Cup U.S. Men's final results:
2 Daniel MARTYNOV USA 221.38 3 2
4 Kai KOVAR USA 198.26 4 3
5 William ANNIS USA 175.80 5 6
6 Ryan William AZADPOUR USA 170.83 8 5

FS fan cams:
2 Martynov (142.04): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5NYJ1DTQLo
3 Kovar (130.46): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC5eckRfjOM
5 Azadpour (117.58): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZm0r67fixo (added a leveled step seq. for Sr. FS)
6 Annis (109.56) - ETA link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut-2IlcPGtY (kept last season's music to The Truman Show by Philip Glass and “My Tears Are Becoming A Sea” by M83)

ISU World Standings ranking points for CS 2nd/4th/5th/6th: 310 / 240 / 210 / 185

Assigned to CS Kinoshita Group Cup in Tokyo, Sept. 4-6:
Liam Kapeikis, Lucius Kazanecki (Challenger debut), Jacob Sanchez
 
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Gao winning Cranberry Cup with 183.86 seems like a good bet

After that I guess next up would be Azadpour, Haugeto, Vasquez, Rudedenman?
I'd say that Rosen is right in there with Rude-Denman, but I fear that one or both of them may have their hopes dashed if Brooks or Fegan put up strong numbers out of the blue.
 
Kazanecki will need to do well at Kinoshita in comparison to Martynov at Cranberry for TBA Skate America spot. (As long as USFS hasn’t already determined the spot).

ETA: Has Ma competed yet this season? Kapeikis also gets a chance to put up a good number internationally at Kinoshita.
 
ETA: Has Ma competed yet this season?
Not yet - Jimmy shared photos of working with Kaitlyn Weaver at SCoB 3 weeks ago on his Insta: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...ion-of-ice-and-men.113905/page-4#post-6942180

ETA: I think competing with a 3A is something USFS also considers when making selections for the JGP men - Haugeto (3rd at U.S. Junior Cup) usually stands up on his 3A (though often << or <); Azadpour and Evan Neuhaus have started landing 3A cleanly in competition this season while Ryedin R. has just started competing with 3A this year and Vasquez recently has begun landing the jump in practice.
 
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Kazanecki will need to do well at Kinoshita in comparison to Martynov at Cranberry for TBA Skate America spot. (As long as USFS hasn’t already determined the spot).

Lucius already has a GP the week before Skate America. I don't think Lucius will get a 2nd GP unless he medals (which is unlikely). At that point he'll leap over anyone else waiting for the guest spot. Then again, the guest spot is more about visibility than anything so who knows what the USFS thought process is.

Haugeto (3rd at U.S. Junior Cup) usually stands up on his 3A (though often << or <)

I was about to say "exclusively << or <" but he does have two "q" as well. I've got a bottle of champaigne ready to raise in honor of that kid when he finally lands one clean. I do agree with you that 3A capability might override small scoring differences in the candidates.
 
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Lucius already has a GP the week before Skate America. I don't think Lucius will get a 2nd GP unless he medals (which is unlikely). At that point he'll leap over anyone else waiting for the guest spot. Then again, the guest spot is more about visibility than anything so who knows what the USFS thought process is.
I think the SkAm TBD spot is wide open for any of the men who currently have 1 GP or no GPs. So, basically, Jimmy Ma, Liam Kapeikis, Lucius Kazanecki, Daniel Marytnov & Taira Shinohara (dark horse, but his Glacier Falls was a solid score in the same range as those other guys).

We're also presuming Jason is actually competing which isn't a definite in my mind given how much traveling he's been doing all summer - not just shows but speaking appearances & skating seminars. He's been all over the US and has been in Japan & China this month. If Jason does dip out of competing then that would open up a 2nd SkAm spot for another American guy.
 
Junior Evan Neuhaus is the only ISP skater competing (at Skate the Lake) in a NQS competition this weekend; no Senior or Junior ISP men are competing at the Philadelphia Summer Championships in Aston, PA or at the PNIC/Apple Classic in Wenatchee, WA.

Just checked and 5 of the 14 U.S. Junior Men listed for JGP Xi'an (Patrick Blackwell & LoPinto assigned + 12 subs) now have updated ISU bios.

Caleb Farrington: https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/skaters/caleb-farrington/
Coaches: Priscilla Hill, Roland Burghart
Former Coaches: Oleg Makarov, Larisa Selezneva
Choreographers: Katherine Hill, Johnny Weir
Music Short Program as of season 2026/2027
Paxi Ni Ngongo by Bonga / Magalenha by Sergio Mendes, Carlinhos Brown / Fanfarra by Cabua-Le-Le, Sergio Mendes, Carlinhos Brown
Music Free Skating / Free Dance as of season 2026/2027
The Strange One by Abel Korzeniowski / Angels & Demons by Hans Zimmer / November by Max Richter

Zachary LoPinto (JGP debut in Xi'an with training mate Patrick): https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/skaters/zachary-lopinto/
Coaches: Alexei Letov, Olga Ganicheva, Sergei Minaev, Boyko Alexiev
Choreographer: Benoit Richaud
Music Short Program as of season 2026/2027
Papaoutai by Stromae
Music Free Skating / Free Dance as of season 2026/2027
Prophecies by Philip Glass / Soldiers by Kyle Dixon, Michael Stein / Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) by Journey, Steve Perry

Daniel Koppell: https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/skaters/daniel-koppell/
Coaches: Oleg Makarov, Larisa Selezneva, Patch David
Choreographer: [still blank]
Music Short Program as of season 2026/2027
Aroul by Taalbi Brothers / Uccen by Taalbi Brothers
Music Free Skating / Free Dance as of season 2026/2027
Clair De Lune by Claude Debussy / Photograph by Cody Fry

Louis Mallane: https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/skaters/louis-mallane/
Coaches: Amy Evidente, Jonathan Cassar
Choreographers: Derrick Delmore, Cindy Stuart
Music Short Program as of season 2026/2027
Orange Colored Sky by Michael Bublé, Milton Delugg, Willie Stein
Music Free Skating / Free Dance as of season 2026/2027
Waving Through a Window & You Will be Found (from "Dear Evan Hansen") by Ben Platt, Alex Lacamoire

Hitonari Tani: https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/skaters/hitonari-tani/
Coach: Peter Johansson
Choreographers: Jeffrey Buttle, Lori Nichol (FS)
Music Short Program as of season 2026/2027
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: XII. Variation No. 23 by Sergei Rachmaninov
Music Free Skating / Free Dance as of season 2026/2027
The Power of the Spirit by Christopher Tin / Sogno di Volare (“The Dream of Flight”) by Christopher Tin - he debuted this program at 2026 U.S. Nationals

The other 8 JGP subs listed in alphabetical order (USFS submitted names of the top 14 finishers at the U.S. Junior Team Cup in Milwaukee):
Ryan William AZADPOUR
Isaac FULTON
Henry GAO
Kirk HAUGETO
Evan NEUHAUS
Marlo ROSEN
Ryedin RUDE-DENMAN
Vaclav VASQUEZ
More updated ISU profiles since July 25:

Ryan William Azadpour: https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/skaters/ryan-william-azadpour/
Coaches: Mari Malama, Nani Tanaka
Choreographer: Mari Malama
SP: David’s Writings by Christopher Willis [from The Personal History of David Copperfield film soundtrack]
FS: Lion King by Lebo M [also "He Lives in You" - last season's music]

Kirk Haugeto: https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/skaters/kirk-haugeto/
Coach: Rafael Arutiunian
Choreographers: Mari Malama (Free Skate), Nadezda Kanaeva (Short Program)
SP: 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No 15 in D-Flat Major "Raindrop Prelude" by Frederic Chopin
FS: Vocea (Cirque du Soleil) by Violaine Dansereau Corradi
Hobbies: taking care of animals including dogs, quail, pheasants, chickens, geese, and poison dart frogs :D

Still waiting for Patrick Blackwell's to be updated with his music for next week's JGP in Xi'an.

Kai Kovar (USA): https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/skaters/kai-kovar/
Coaches: Tammy Gambill, Amanda Kovar, Karel Kovar
Choreographer: Silvia Fontana
SP: Mon amour by Slimane
FS: Sayuri’s Theme (from “Memoirs of a Geisha” Soundtrack) / Red Warrior by John Williams, Hans Zimmer

Daniel Martynov: https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/skaters/daniel-martynov/
Coaches: Brian Orser, Tracy Wilson
Choreographers: Joey Russell [SP], David Wilson [FS]
SP: Radar Love by Golden Earring
FS: Piano Concerto No.3 in D Minor by by Sergei Rachmaninov

Jared Sedlis (SC of Boston) is listed in the ISP and has been performing in Sun Valley ice shows this summer - Scott Smith posted this photo with him on July 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/DaS0DxvRSn0/
Sedlis competed in the SP only at the Sun Valley Summer Championships late last month, scoring 61.03 (3T fall, 2A, 3S+2T, all L4 spins).
 

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