U.S. Women [#7]: Make Me a Believer!

[Jarrett]

Local article on Ting Cui:
https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/...nal-championships-V6QMJUL5M5BHBMDWMD4L2B6ROU/

Thanks for sharing. I saw this posted on instagram but hadn't been able to get to the actual article anywhere. I am sad to read the things that Ting went through. Those are all the likely things I had wondered if she was going through with her injuries and time away and to hear her talking about them is a bit heart breaking. Her going for quads I could understand but triple axel with how hesitant her double axel was most of the time seems like a bit of a long shot. I am glad she sounds like she is a good place now and comfortable with herself.

 

[A.H.Black]

I agree Everhardt has potential.

But Angela Nikodinov's Fridge Break Mummy program was more engaging than Everhardt's Firebird. She undoubtedly needs to work on her presentation and performance, but this program is far beneath her current abilities. A big misstep from her coaching team -- a more competent choreographer could disguise some of her weaknesses.

On the technical side, all of her non-jump elements are below average for a top-level skater.

I'd like to see her at Junior Worlds.

For me, the more telling comparison was at Finlandia, when Everhardt skated right after Rino Matsuike (Lux Aeterna). The difference was immediately and obviously apparent. Everhardt has some serious work to do, not only on her components, but on reaching the audience. It's not something you get after a while. It's something you work on all the time for your whole skating career (paraphrasing Paul Wylie).

 

[BittyBug]

For me, the more telling comparison was at Finlandia, when Everhardt skated right after Rino Matsuike (Lux Aeterna). The difference was immediately and obviously apparent.

In fairness, Rino Matsuike is a very, very hard act to follow. I wish Matsuike had qualified for Worlds because I would have loved to see her in person. In a weird way she reminds me of Janet Lynn with her joy, carefree quality, and unimpeachable skating skills.

 

[Vagabond]

In a weird way she reminds me of Janet Lynn with her joy, carefree quality, and unimpeachable skating skills.

Not weird at all, IMHO. She very much reminds me of Lynn.

 

[Maximillian]

Angela already had the elements before the 2000-01 season, she had gorgeous positions, extension and technique...it was just a matter of assembling all of them in a better package. That is not the same situation that Sarah is in. Significant work needs to be done.

 

[Jarrett]

Angela already had the elements before the 2000-01 season, she had gorgeous positions, extension and technique...it was just a matter of assembling all of them in a better package. That is not the same situation that Sarah is in. Significant work needs to be done.

Does anyone remember the buzz about Angela in the 2000 off season? I remember figure-skating.com posting a photo of Angela doing an improved spiral position and people were freaking out. Angela is so fantastic.

 

[PRlady]

The contrast between the stiff, heavy costuming of Mummy and the ethereal pink dress the next season said it all. It was like she got out of prison.

I agree Sarah is not yet in her league by a long shot.

 

[olympic]

Ah, memories. I remember becoming entranced by Angela Nikidinov's transformation in the off-season of 2000, but I really took notice when I think during one of the GP events in the Fall of that year, the judges placed her ahead of Sarah Hughes in the SP (I hope I remember that correctly), even if she doubled the solo jump. I thought. WOW. She is that good now and has come a long way.

ETA - Did she beat Sarah in the SP at 2001 Worlds?

 

[maureenfarone]

According to wiki Sarah was 4th in the SP and 4th in the FS while Angela was 3rd in the SP and 5th in the FS so yes, Angela did beat Sarah in the SP.

 

[layman]

As much as I love Angela Nikodinov, I think this thread is about American women who are currently competing. On the other hand, Angela is currently active coaching and consulting. I think it would be wonderful if Skorniakov/Malinina (Sarah Everhardt's coaches) could bring Angela in to work with Sarah, so that Sarah could have her "transformation" too! That would complete the circle. What Elena Tcherkasskaia gave to Angela Nikodinov, Angela Nikodinov could give to Sarah Everhardt!

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Does anyone remember the buzz about Angela in the 2000 off season? I remember figure-skating.com posting a photo of Angela doing an improved spiral position and people were freaking out. Angela is so fantastic.

You deserve a $500 visa gift card

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Did she beat Sarah in the SP at 2001 Worlds?

Vancouver? I want to say Angela was in the top three after the short program and then finished fifth overall.

 

[jamesy]

Vancouver? I want to say Angela was in the top three after the short program and then finished fifth overall.

You need to be more confident in your memory of Angela's statistics unless you want JVN to take over her fan club, too.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

You need to be more confident in your memory of Angela's statistics unless you want JVN to take over her fan club, too.

ANL is just finishing work. Trying to watch the Canadian nationals. don’t know how are you guys all juggle so many things all at once.

 

[genevieve]

"A rep for Levito later said that the 17-year-old skater ...

Came here to find out why Levito isn't at Nats and this made me go look her up because it seems like Isabeau has been competing in Srs for at least 5 years. How is she still 17???

I should know better than to doubt Sylvia's facts

 

[Willin]

Can we talk about how insane it is that we now have three women at US Nationals who have landed a 3A in competition? Sophie, Amber, and Alysa. Amber's is the best quality wise, but the other two could get theirs better with more practice. Don't know if Alysa will do hers here, but the fact that she was doing them in practice suggests they're on the table.

 

[Rukia]

Can we talk about how insane it is that we now have three women at US Nationals who have landed a 3A in competition? Sophie, Amber, and Alysa. Amber's is the best quality wise, but the other two could get theirs better with more practice. Don't know if Alysa will do hers here, but the fact that she was doing them in practice suggests they're on the table.

Alysa's coach confirmed she will not be doing it here.

 

[Willin]

@Rukia But certainly for next season. I was wondering if she'd really keep trying them after the comeback, but this shows she's not only going for them but is getting them back faster than expected. I thought she'd focus on this season and then drill the 3A this summer at the soonest - but maybe she's seeing it as a matter of trying it at Worlds or 4CC if she makes the team?

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I don’t think Alysa is seriously considering the three a this year, I think that doing it in practice is a little bit of gamesmanship.

But the fact that she’s practicing them is still very interesting.

 

[Allskate]

I don’t think Alysa is seriously considering the three a this year, I think that doing it in practice is a little bit of gamesmanship.

I think this is probably true. But, I really don't care if she ever again lands a triple axel in competition. I prefer her skating so much more now than when she was doing triple axels. Beautiful skating skills and expression. The performance quality was never there for me before she came back this season. Now it's there in spades. She had me in tears tonight even before she was in tears. And I'm so happy to see her happy skating.

 

[Karen-W]

Alysa's SP is already available on X -

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882622061656559877

 

[leilaofpaper]

Alysa's SP is already available on X -

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882622061656559877

I kind of hope she keeps this short for next season. it’s so beautiful and she clearly has such an emotional connection to it.

 

[nickp]

I'm so beyond happy for Alysa Liu

 

[Allskate]

I think Sonja Hilmer might have the most longevity in this sport out of the current crop of American women - as a choreographer. Her program was the highlight of the Nationals long programs for me. Those spins! The salchow/salchow! Awesome. And it's so cool that she already is choreographing for multiple skaters.

 

[Karen-W]

Okay, folks - we have the results from Nationals in and the final ISU Championships Selection Pool table update -

Skater

Level

Age Eligible

ISU Min Score

2024 U.S. Nats

GPF

GP/ JGP 1

GP/ JGP 2

GP/ JPG Highest

GP/ JGP Avg

CS/ Sr B/ Jr Int 1

CS/ Sr B/ Jr Int 2

CS/ Sr B/ Jr Int Highest

CS/ Sr B/ Jr Int Avg

Sect Final (Top 2 in each Section JR/SR)

NQS Score (Top 2 in each Section JR/SR)

Non-USFS Funded Event

Prev Yr Final Number

Total

Glenn, Amber

S

Y

Y

216.79​

212.07​

210.44​

215.54​

215.54​

212.99​

212.89​

170.31​

212.89​

191.60​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

4

2455.62​

Tennell, Bradie

S

Y

Y

199.94​

0.00​

192.04​

190.25​

192.04​

191.15​

191.10​

152.88​

191.10​

171.99​

0.00​

0.00​

196.61​

0

1697.14​

Liu, Alysa

S/J

Y

Y/N

215.33​

0.00​

187.69​

190.75​

190.75​

189.22​

192.77​

197.71​

197.71​

195.24​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

1680.42​

Everhardt, Sarah

S/J

Y

Y

207.36​

0.00​

196.94​

191.17​

196.94​

194.06​

196.42​

201.90​

201.90​

199.16​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

1669.45​

von Felten, Sophie Joline

J

Y

Y

188.84​

0.00​

197.41​

150.25​

197.41​

173.83​

152.72​

122.18​

152.72​

137.45​

181.30​

176.44​

0.00​

0

1609.98​

Higase-Chen, Logan

S (J)

Y

Y

175.82​

0.00​

161.98​

129.58​

161.98​

145.78​

169.45​

135.56​

169.45​

152.51​

173.35​

191.63​

175.71​

0

1594.25​

Lin-Gracey, Elyce

S/J

Y

Y/Y

179.22​

0.00​

183.94​

182.37​

183.94​

183.16​

193.99​

213.33​

213.33​

203.66​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

1541.82​

Lee, Josephine

S (J)

Y

Y

182.69​

0.00​

166.54​

133.23​

166.54​

149.89​

174.02​

139.22​

174.02​

156.62​

0.00​

0.00​

157.62​

2

1526.59​

Nemirovsky, Emilia

J

Y

Y

175.30​

0.00​

147.05​

117.64​

147.05​

132.35​

180.37​

144.30​

180.37​

162.33​

175.49​

167.50​

0.00​

0

1482.18​

Thorngren, Lindsay

S/J

Y

Y/N

159.88​

0.00​

169.03​

170.64​

170.64​

169.84​

179.45​

143.56​

179.45​

161.51​

0.00​

191.55​

0.00​

0

1413.58​

Chao, Annika

J

Y

Y

175.05​

0.00​

157.66​

126.13​

157.66​

141.89​

0.00​

0.00​

113.52​

113.52​

159.20​

173.12​

0.00​

0

1396.17​

Park, Cleo

J

Y

Y

147.75​

0.00​

149.88​

119.90​

149.88​

134.89​

0.00​

0.00​

107.91​

107.91​

164.53​

187.33​

0.00​

0

1264.91​

Andrews, Starr

S

Y

Y

185.97​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

164.89​

151.65​

164.89​

158.27​

167.71​

196.77​

168.70​

0

1244.87​

Jurka, Jessica

J

Y

Y

176.23​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

151.86​

121.49​

151.86​

136.67​

170.56​

172.49​

0.00​

0

1087.69​

Bezkorovainaya, Sofia

J

Y

Y

163.68​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

158.52​

126.82​

158.52​

142.67​

160.19​

0.00​

170.17​

0

1085.42​

Hilmer, Sonja

S

Y

4CCs

178.54​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

151.43​

121.14​

151.43​

136.29​

0.00​

0.00​

158.93​

0

1047.27​

Kalin, Mia

S (J)

Y

Y

168.43​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

168.35​

134.68​

168.35​

151.52​

0.00​

193.35​

0.00​

0

1004.04​

Bonillo, Alina

S/J

Y

N/N

144.28​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

119.03​

95.22​

119.03​

107.13​

177.29​

0.00​

0.00​

0

865.14​

Lautowa-Peguero, Skyler

J

N

N

188.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

178.59​

133.61​

0

863.45​

Zhang, Sherry

S (J)

Y

Y

188.48​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

190.19​

0.00​

0.00​

0

849.02​

Evans, Alex

S

Y

N

121.71​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

156.01​

162.11​

148.91​

0

679.83​

Gewalt, Brooke

S

Y

4CCs

147.69​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

153.39​

0

667.46​

Johnson, Jiaying Ellyse

J

Y

Y

165.82​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

663.28​

Lee, Michelle

S

Y

4CCs

139.60​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

154.59​

0

635.70​

Coats, Alayna

J

Y

N

153.46​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

613.84​

Gasporotto, Alexa

S

Y

N

151.46​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

605.84​

Kim, Teryn

J

Y

Y

148.63​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

594.52​

Cui, Ting

S

Y

N

126.63​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

157.76​

0.00​

0.00​

0

585.40​

Cui, Ela

J

Y

Y

123.36​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

493.44​

Platonova, Maria

J

Y

N

102.58​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

410.32​

The Worlds & 4CCs pool will consist of the following:
2025 Nationals Top 5 (sr age-eligible) - Glenn, Liu, Everhardt, Tennell, Andrews
Top 5 Selection Pool - Glenn, Tennell, Liu, Everhardt, Lin-Gracey
Top 10 2024 Worlds - Levito, Glenn
2022 Olympian - Liu
Top 24 Current Season Senior World Rankings - Glenn, Liu, Everhardt, Lin-Gracey, Levito, Tennell

The Jr Worlds pool will consist of the following:
2025 Nationals Top 3 Age-Eligible from Seniors - Everhardt, Zhang, J Lee (Liu doesn't have the Jr Worlds CTES mins)
2025 Nationals Top 3 Age-Eligible from Juniors - von Felten, Jurka, Nemirovsky
Top 5 Selection Pool - Everhardt, von Felten, Higase-Chen, Lin-Gracey, J Lee (Liu doesn't have the CTES mins for Jr Worlds)
Top 10 2024 Jr Worlds - Zhang
Top 24 Current Season Junior World Rankings - J Lee, Higase-Chen

ETA - the Int'l Committee can choose to add other skaters to either pool by a unanimous vote. I could see Hilmer being added to the senior pool, just to give them another 4CCs alternate option.

 

[nickp]

My Worlds team: Amber, Alysa, Isabeau. If she’s petitioning, she must think she’ll be ready

 

[Allskate]

Okay, folks - we have the results from Nationals in and the final ISU Championships Selection Pool table update -

Nationals inflation is for real! (I love you Amber, but this was not your season's best.)

 

[Karen-W]

My Worlds team: Amber, Alysa, Isabeau. If she’s petitioning, she must think she’ll be ready

Or she's kidding herself and doesn't want to let the chance of being at Worlds go until there is simply no more time left to get healed.

 

[layman]

I am voting for Amber, Alysa and Sarah for the World Team. I think they earned it (at Nationals and all season).

 

[Theatregirl1122]

My Worlds team: Amber, Alysa, Isabeau. If she’s petitioning, she must think she’ll be ready

Michele Kwan is calling from 2006