USFS' Championship Series: 2022 US Nationals qualifying competitions, Oct. 5-Nov. 20, 2021

[seabm7]

Senior Men (7):
DeWolfe Jacob
Dmitriev Artur
Hubbart William
Malinin Ilia (has a bye due to qualifying for JGPF)
Prober Eric
Savary Emmanuel
Torgashev Andrew

Could it be just another person with the same name?

 

[Kateri]

Could it be just another person with the same name?

If it's not Junior, nobody tell me. It's so much funnier this way.

 

[Sylvia]

Just watched Wong/Weirens in Junior pairs. They are a mirror pair and I thought it was neat that their side by side spins went both ways. I know that’s a level feature in IJS but it was interesting to see them both spin both directions.

Yes, that was cool - he's the clockwise rotator in this pair so he lifts her his direction and did the twist & throw in her direction.

Last night Sonia Baram/Daniel Tioumentsev (they will have one year of ISU Junior eligibility next season) had their highest SP score (62.79) of their first season together with a high 3Tw4, sbs 2A & StSq4 (throw double Salchow looked planned) and both skated with a lot of charisma to "Bla Bla Bla Cha Cha Cha" - Junior Pairs SP results/link to the protocol: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/30105/CAT012SEG019.html

Cat Rivers/Timmy Chapman looked like they were having a blast performing their Bee Gees medley and were thrilled to be in 2nd.

ETA: New pair skater Megan Wessenberg also looked happy while skating the SP (female blues-y cover of "Dream On") with Blake Eisenach -- they attempted a BIG throw 3S but fell -- and are in 3rd. I'm glad she decided to try/transition to pairs.

 

[Jeschke]

The suspense

 

[haribobo]

Coaches for Junior Pairs as seen in Kiss & Cry in Henderson NV event

Smith/Deng- Alena Lunin
Wessenberg/Eisenach- Chris Knierim
Romero/Ogren- Larry Ibarra
Wong/Weirens Trudy Oltmanns
Fletcher/Brown- Chris Knierim, Christine Fowler Binder
Baram/Tioumentsev- Chris Knierim, Christine Fowler Binder
Kam/Meyh ?
Rivers/Chapman- Todd Sand, Chris Knierim
Murray/Gillette- Rockne Brubaker
Moss/Edwards - Trudy Oltmanns

Was funny to see the Great Park Ice coaches scrambling in different configurations and some or none running to the Kiss and Cry at the last minute.

 

[Sylvia]

The suspense

We'll see if Dmitriev Jr. actually shows up and competes (he also could turn up at an earlier qualifying comp. since skaters are allowed to register for two max).

@haribobo, Trudy Oltmanns coaches Wong/Weirens & Moss/Edwards (Blake previously competed with Sonia Baram up to the Novice level last season), along with Smirnova/Siianytsia, in Minnesota.

ETA:

Coaches for Junior Pairs as seen in Kiss & Cry in Henderson NV event
...
Kam/Meyh ?

Ellie Kam/Ian Meyh are coached by Natalia Mishkutenok (you didn't recognize her, masked?! ) and Drew Meekins.
Trivia: Daniel Tioumentsev previously skated with Natalia M's daughter, Natasha, through the Novice level. I believe Natasha has since decided to stop competing.

 

[Sylvia]

Asked during the Cranberry Open club comp. Junior Pairs FS:

Why is this American pair skating to the Russian version of Beauty and the Beast?

Wong/Weirens [at 2021 Skate Detroit]
...
The music was in Russian because “they liked they way it sounded”

W/W just scored 84.97 in their Junior Pairs FS for 121.79 total & 1st place for now. I also like what I've seen of Kam/Meyh who teamed up fairly late this season.

Final group is warming up in Henderson, NV (Peacock Premium).

ETA:

112.16 in FS & 174.95 total are season high scores for Baram/Tioumentsev!

Junior Pairs final standings/link to protocols: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/30105/CAT012SEG020.html
I saw some good things from the 2nd to 6th place teams - looking forward to watching them progress.

 

[Frau Muller]

Peacock is going bonkers with its timings of events...such as showing Sr Women’s SPs in Nevada starting Oct 15 at 2am...not that I got up in the middle of the night last night.

 

[Sylvia]

Peacock has been streaming on time for me in Henderson, NV - starting orders/results: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/30105/index.asp
Friday start times converted to Eastern (Peacock Premium):
3:55 PM Junior Ladies SP
6:25 PM Junior Men SP
8:55 PM Senior Pairs SP
10:00 PM Senior Ladies SP (eta - started ~10 mins. late)
12:05 AM Senior Men SP

However, Intermediate Pairs FS should have started by now (ETA) this event started at 11:15 am ET. I will try & edit in new start times above if they change.
2 Junior pair skaters are competing in Novice Women SP today: Sonia Baram (in A) & Ellie Kam (in B). Two other notable skaters in A are Elyce Lin-Gracey (in ISP) and Phattaratida Kaneshige (ETA) Novice SP A started ~20 mins. behind schedule.

Allen, TX has Novice & Intermediate women SPs today: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/30106/index.asp

Novice/Intermediate/Juvenile streaming: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/watch/

 

[Frau Muller]

I figured 3:55PM Eastern for the start of Jr W SPs in Nevada, which is in the Pacific zone.

12:55PM Pacific should be 3:55PM Eastern.

Peacock still totally wacko, with a different time (7:55pm) but I’ve got the icon/avatar for this segment - Jr W SP in Henderson - up and waiting!

 

[Sylvia]

Henderson, NV seems to be back on schedule today after the 2 Novice Women SP groups (A was won by Sonia Baram & B by Ellie Kam - pair girls rock! ).

Junior Women SP starting order/results (protocols will be linked from here): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/30105/CAT017SEG027.html

Hannah Herrera is the one to watch in the 1st group.
JGP skaters Mia Kalin, Clare Seo & Josephine Lee are all in the 3rd group - Mia has a new dress for her "Waltz of the Flowers" SP: https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_fgmYMJlU/

 

[Frau Muller]

Jr W SP in Henderson happening now. Gp 1 on the ice.

Looking forward to all...bigger names - Mia Kalin , Clare Seo & Josephine Lee.

Lorrie Parker a judge.

 

[Sylvia]

Hannah Herrera, who will be 17 in December and has competed in 1 junior international (2020 Challenge Cup), went for 3Lz+3T (2fted?), had a very cool arms-clasped-in-front-of-chest entry into her 2A & 3F - in 1st with 55.48. She's coached by Genia Chernyshova, who taught Nathan for many years before Arutunian.

Link to Hannah's Team USA bio from last season:

Hannah Herrera - Figure Skating - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

Hannah Herrera (40) She/Her - 2022-23 SEASON NOTES SP Music: "Voilà" by Barbara Pravi FS Music: "A Los Amigos" by Forever Tango IJS PERSONAL BESTS International

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

The 3rd group with 3 2 JGP skaters is warming up now (eta): no Josephine Lee - maybe in final group if it's 6 skaters?

 

[wickedwitch]

Mia needs to get it together on her triples, because I'm starting to really enjoy her skating, and my nerves cannot take her screwing up triples constantly. Plus, Waltz of the Flowers is a favorite of mine and is super under-used.

 

[annie720]

I enjoyed Herrera's skate. Thanks for the background info!

ETA: Also really liked Elizabeth Hong. And many others, I just don't remember all the names.

 

[wickedwitch]

I enjoyed Herrera's skate. Thanks for the background info!

ETA: Also really liked Elizabeth Hong. And many others, I just don't remember all the names.

Hong was really lovely. Brynne Roberts also stuck out of the women I wasn't previously familiar with.

 

[Sylvia]

Henderson, NV Junior Men SP starting order/results (protocols will be linked from here afterwards): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/30105/CAT018SEG029.html

Features JGP skaters Matthew Nielsen & Kai Kovar, plus ISP skaters Michael Xie (has an expressive program to "Found/Tonight" by Platt/Miranda that I like) & Beck Strommer (Novice men's FS "virtual" champ last season).

 

[wickedwitch]

If any senior ice dancers need inspiration for FD music, they can use this group of men and not whatever they heard at the most recent funeral they were at or whatever they listen to right before they go to bed.

 

[Sylvia]

Junior Men SP protocols: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/30105/SEGM029.html
Top 4:
Kovar 75.42 - cleanly landed 3A, 3F & 3Lz+3T ("Ninja" by Maxime Rodriguez) - mom is one of his coaches
Nielsen 71.05 - 3F, 3Lz+3T, 2A ("Cry To Me" / "Take You Down") - coach Hov Mkrtchian is with him
Strommer 65.92 - 3Lz+2T, 2A, 3F! (? male ballad)
Xie 63.59 - 2A, 3F!, 3Lz+3T< fall ("Found/Tonight")

Ethan Le skated to a Bee Gees medley & Willie Sun to "City of Stars"/La La Land.

 

[wickedwitch]

So the very first part of Cleo Park's (ETA: intermediate ladies FS B in Texas) music is from Indiana Jones and I've been waiting for 10+ years for someone to use that music, because it's amazing. She only used a sliver, and I'm not sure how it goes with the rest of the program, but regardless, she was a ton of fun to watch!

 

[wickedwitch]

So it's impossible to recognize people in masks, but I think Joshua Farris is coaching Carina Capone.

 

[Sylvia]

ETA: Also really liked Elizabeth Hong. And many others, I just don't remember all the names.

Hong was really lovely.

Yes, Hong's a graceful, elegant skater - she had a very beautiful performance to "With You" (female solo vocal from Ghost The Musical). IIRC, she has a very nice FS to classical music. Coaches in the kiss & cry with her were Naomi Nari Nam & Amy Evidente, both of whom also coach Josephine Lee who's in 1st (60.92) after landing 3F, 2A, 3T+3T< (step out) with all level 4s.
Junior Ladies SP 2nd-4th:
Clare Seo 57.04 - 3Fq, 2A, 3Lz+3T<
Hannah Herrera 55.48 - 3Lz+3T, 2A, 3F
Mia Kalin 54.58 - 3Lz+3T, 2A, 3Fq fell out

ETA link to this May 2021 press release re. the winners of USFS' 2021 Athlete Alumni Ambassador (3A) award ("a scholarship program that recognizes skaters who have achieved figure skating excellence while actively volunteering"):

2021 Athlete Alumni Ambassador (3A) Award Winners Announced | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org

Elizabeth Hong, Pasadena FSC (overall) – Time away from the ice during the pandemic helped Elizabeth Hong find a new perspective on the social interactions she and fellow Pasadena FSC skaters were missing out on. As the Pasadena FSC junior board vice president, Hong helped organize virtual events where skaters could connect with each other and others in the community, including a virtual 5K in October 2020 raising mental health awareness. Despite a blade injury and concussion upon her return to training, Hong continues to persevere and be a part of the skating community.

ETA #2:

So it's impossible to recognize people in masks, but I think Joshua Farris is coaching Carina Capone.

Yup, sure looks like him!

 

[Sylvia]

Senior Pairs SP starting order/results (protocols will be linked from here afterwards): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/30105/CAT019SEG031.html

ETA top 3:

Katie McBeath/Nathan Bartholomay 60.30 ("Leave a Light On" by Tom Walker)
Kate Finster/Matej Silecky 55.62 ("Carry You" by Ruelle)
Valentina Plazas/Maximiliano Fernandez 54.03 (ballet music - eta: Sleeping Beauty Wedding Pas de Deux by Tchaikovsky)

 

[crzesk8dad]

Anyone know what the delay is for Senior Women in Henderson? Or is it Peacock?

 

[Wyliefan]

Anyone know what the delay is for Senior Women in Henderson? Or is it Peacock?

I was wondering too.

 

[Wyliefan]

Oh, here we go!

 

[Sylvia]

Peacock is on... Senior Women SP starting order/results (protocols will be linked from here afterwards): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2021/30105/CAT020SEG033.html

Looking forward to seeing Mariah Bell debut her SP to "River Flows In You" by Yiruma.

 

[crzesk8dad]

Anyone know what the delay is for Senior Women in Henderson? Or is it Peacock?

Maybe dinner ended late for the officials.

 

[Wyliefan]

I could do without the Florida Georgia Line rink music.

 

[Sylvia]

I was told that the delay in starting this morning was a missing Zamboni driver or something like that.