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2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships - HighlightsSenior Ladies and Pairs Long Programs; Senior Free Dance
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The 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships continued with the Senior Ladies and Pairs Long Programs, and the Free Dance.
Pairs skating at the U.S. Championships has been average at best in the past several years, but there are now signs of life being shown if today's Championship pairs free skate competition is any indication. The pair teams each performed with great promise, and the medals were not decided until the last beat of the last competitor's music.
The wunderkind team of Keauna McLaughlin (Los Angeles FSC) and Rockne Brubaker (Broadmoor SC) earned their second U.S. title in as many years with a performance that brought the audience to their feet before the music was over. Last season, McLaughlin (15) and Brubaker (21) won their first national title on the junior level, and made a rare leap to the top of the podium at the championship level in their first try.
 The wunderkind team of Keauna McLaughlin (15) and Rockne Brubaker (21) earned their second U.S. title in as many years with a performance that brought the audience to their feet before the music was over. |
"It still feels kind of weird to be a national champion," McLaughlin said as she blushed.
Her older partner added, "It's very exciting. I have been reading a book that talks about being in a white haze while you compete, and that you don't realize what you did until it is over. This is a feeling that I will never forget."
From the start of their routine to Romeo and Juliet, it was obvious that the champions were here to win the title. Opening with a huge level three triple twist that earned +2 and +3 from the judges, the Grand Prix finalists demonstrated why they have been so successful so early in their career.
The 2007 NHK Trophy silver medalist gained momentum with each completed move, skating with a speed that has been absent from U.S. pairs for such a long time. As they completed each element, they gained momentum, but they weren't perfect.
McLaughlin fell her jump on the side-by-side triple Salchows, but recovered with such poise that the error was all but forgotten.
"I felt good out there, and I put my heart out to the audience," McLaughlin shared. "I let them see what I was feeling. We both told the story of Romeo and Juliet, and to win is just a bonus."
The gold medalists earned a whopping 190.74 points in the competition, and displayed a mature style that was rewarded with program component scores well into the sevens. Because McLaughlin is not age eligible, the team will have to wait until next season to qualify to compete at international championships. So for now, their season is over.
"It's kind of a blessing in disguise," added McLaughlin. "Of course we would love to go (to Worlds), but this just gives us another year to grow and progress as a team."
After training solidly for just two weeks, Rena Inoue and John Baldwin (All Year FSC) came to this competition prepared to challenge for their third title. What Inoue didn't realize is that she would leave the ice with the promise of a different title- Mrs. John Baldwin, Jr.
As the couple took their final bows, Baldwin went down on one knee and popped the question to his partner of eight years.
"I wanted to do it (propose) at Worlds last year, but I didn't think it was the right time," said Baldwin. "(Our performance) was such a huge accomplishment, that this was definitely the right time."
"I didn't know what was going on out there when he asked," Inoue said timidly. "Of course I said 'yes'. I can not tell you how many good times and bad times that we have been through together, but we have always been there for each other. I think that we are very lucky to have been together for so long."
Inoue (31) and Baldwin (34) performed credibly, showing all of their most difficult tricks with varying levels of success, but the team could not overcome the strong performances of the young champions and had to settle for silver.
The newly engaged team landed side-by-side triple toes with ease, something that Baldwin has struggled with in recent years. In addition, they made a credible attempt at their signature move, a throw triple Axel that Inoue couldn't hold the landing for full credit. However, the team is reinvigorated and looks forward to training for the World Championships in March and the Four Continents Championships next month in South Korea.
"It was a great confidence boost to land the toe at the beginning of the program," Baldwin said. "That is what our coach has helped me with. Now we will go home and train hard for Four Continents so that we can do even better there."
Brooke Castile and Benjamin Okolski (Arctic FSC) skated a beautiful performance to Scheherazade, which helped them earn the bronze as well as trip to the Worlds. The defending champions are making strides in returning to the form that helped them to win their title last season, and they seem to be on the right track based on what they were able to accomplish here.
"Coming and skating here was tougher than I though it was going to be," Okolski told the press. "Things can only go up from here, so I'm excited to train for Worlds and put out a more seasoned program."
Like the champions, Castile (21) and Okolski (23) opened with a split triple twist that earned positive Grades of Execution (GOE) and a total of 6.20 points. The biggest hurdle that the team overcame was their side-by-side double Axels - an element that has recently given them so many problems. After landing the Axels, they only made one mistake when Castile made a minor bobble on the throw triple loop.
The team also earned a trip to the Four Continents Championships next month by earning 175.07 points in the competition, just shy of what they earned last season on their way to their title.
Moving up from fifth place after the short program to win the pewter medals were Tiffany Vise and Derek Trent (Broadmoor SC). Skating to music from the musical Les Miserables, the team opened with an airy split double twist with a clean catch at the hips. The next element was their signature element, a throw quadruple Salchow, which Vise landed for the first time in competition earlier this season at Trophee Eric Bompard in France. Though Vise was able to fully rotate the move, she couldn't hold onto the landing.
"It was one of our better performances minus the two falls," said Trent. "We went for the quad. It was great in the warm-up. The rest of the program we were really happy with. We earned level fours and pluses on the elements."
Vise also fell on a throw triple loop, but the team has an obvious understanding of what it takes to earn high levels and positive GOEs. The pewter medalists earned level 4 on two of their overhead lifts, their pair combination spin, and their forward inside death spiral.
"It's a shame that we missed that second throw," admitted Trent.
"We did all of the other elements and executed them well, and that all adds up," said Vise optimistically. "We couldn't let the mistakes affect the program, and we didn't, so that is something to be proud about."
Skating in the penultimate group, Vise (21) and Trent (27) had to wait until after the leaders skated to see if their competition score of 161.20 points would stand up. In the end, the team earned a ticket to compete in their first Four Continents Championships, and was also named as first alternates to the World Championships.
Finishing in a disappointing fifth place, are last year's pewter medalists Amanda Evora (Southwest Florida FSC) and Mark Ladwig (Red River Valley FSC), who dropped one spot after the short program. The duo opened with a bizarre fall on their attempt at a split triple twist which took the wind out of their sails almost immediately.
"I just caught an edge when I stepped forward, and I started to stumble" explained Ladwig. "Amanda tried pulling me up, but it didn't work."
Evora struggled with both triple throw jump attempts as well, pinching forward on both the Lutz and Loop.
"I think that we had a lot of mistakes that we did not want to do," said Evora. "We definitely did not give up, and sometimes it just happens."
Evora (23) and Ladwig (27) were named as first alternates to the Four Continents Championships, as well as the second alternates to the World Championships. The team earned a total of 158.94 points in this competition.
The new team of Caitlin Yankowskas (Colonial FSC) and John Coughlin (Kansas City FSC) showed that they are a team with great potential, finishing sixth in only their second competition together.
"We like skating with each other," said the smiling Coughlin, "and that helps us a lot," said the smiling Coughlin.
Yankowskas added, "We just wanted to have a strong showing here, and prove that we can be contenders for medals next year."
The 2008 Midwestern Sectional champions showed promise on their singles elements, and are attempting the big tricks with varying success. Though Yankowskas (17) and Coughlin (21) struggled with their levels on many of their elements, they plan to work on increasing their difficulty as their partnership develops over the off season.
"I think that we are taking steps in the right direction consistently," Coughlin stated. "Every time we come out on the ice, we want to perform well, and this was a big step for us."
The team landed a nice throw triple loop and showed a credible effort at a split triple twist to score a competition total of 153.80 points. In doing so, the team was named as second alternates to the Four Continents Championships team and the third alternates to the World team.
Skating for redemption, Naomi Nari Nam (All Year FSC) and Themi Leftheris (Los Angeles FSC) skated a much improved performance over their short program to finish in seventh place. After a disastrous short program, last year's bronze medalists recovered to show that they are on their way to recovery after a difficult autumn.
Nam (22) and Leftheris (25) opened strong with a split triple twist and beautiful side-by-side triple toes, but then played it safe throughout the rest of their program. They were eighth after the short program (145.89 points), and were named as third alternates to the Four Continents Championships team.
Chloe Katz and Joseph Lynch (The SC of New York) slipped one place to finish in eighth place overall, while Bianca Butler and Joseph Jacobson (All Year FSC) recovered to move up to ninth after a nice free skate that propelled them to being named to the World Junior Championships team.
Joining Katz and Lynch on the team, will be Junior pair champions Jessica Rose Paetsch and Jon Nuss, as well as Junior bronze medalists Chelsi Guillen and Danny Curzon. Alternates are Kaela Pflumm and Christopher Pottenger (11th Championship pairs), Meg Byrne and Nathan Bartholomay (5th Junior pairs), and Arielle Trujillo and Daniyel Cohen (10th Junior Pairs).
 Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto joined an elite group of American ice dancers when they won their fifth consecutive title at the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Saint Paul, Minn. |
Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto joined an elite group of American ice dancers when they won their fifth consecutive title at the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Saint Paul, Minn. Judy Schwomeyer and James Sladky were the first to accomplish this feat back in 1972, and ironically, this team along with Ron Ludington, invented the compulsory dance that was used in the first phase of the competition here in Saint Paul.
Belbin and Agosto (Arctic FSC) also join Judy Blumberg and Michael Seibert (1981-85), Elizabeth Punsaan and Jared Swallow (1991, 1994, 1996-1998), and Naomi Lang and Peter Tchernychev (1999-2003) as five-time champions, but remain the only team from the United States to have ever won an Olympic ice dance medal.
"This is even better than four," Belbin said with a laugh. "I think that it just feels good because of the performance we gave."
Belbin added, "We are honored to be mentioned in the same breath of such greats. We have trained with Naomi and Peter, and have worked with Liz and Jared in the past. It is just unbelievable."
The reigning Grand Prix Final silver medalists showed great passion for skating with their Chopin medley program, and earned their highest competition score (216.07) at the U.S. Championships since the new judging system was implemented in 2006.
"I think that was our best free dance this season," Belbin said enthusiastically. "I think that crowd certainly helped, but I am glad that we were able to use them to help us rather than be intimidated by them. This is the best audience that I have seen in a hell of a long time for a free dance, and I want to thank the local organizing committee for putting the schedule together."
Dressed in black with silver flair, Belbin (23) and Agosto (26) earned level 4 on each of their elements, and were also rewarded for the quality in which the elements were executed with positive GOEs. The champions were also given program component scores ranging from 8.68 all the way up to an unheard of 9.07.
"This year's free dance is such a joy to perform," stated Agosto, "especially compared to past free dances that may have been a bit more frantic or upbeat. It's such a nice feeling to use the emotion that is so prevalent in this music, and it is getting a little more natural as the season goes on."
The current World bronze medalists were of course named to the team heading for the World Championships in March, and have decided to opt out of the Four Continents Championships for the first time in order to focus on their preparations for this competition.
Earning their second trip to the World Championships and their first silver medals at the U.S. Championships, were Meryl Davis (Arctic FSC) and Charlie White (Detroit FSC). The young team is in their second year of competition at this level, and performed like seasoned pros as they skated their Eleanor Rigby program almost to perfection.
"We always say 'go out there and skate hard and good things will happen,'" White said. "We have definitely taken a big step in achieving the character that we want, and working on the connection between us. So we are very happy with what we have worked hard to improve."
It appeared as if Davis was terrified and on the brink of tears as she took her opening pose for their free dance, but she later explained that this was all part of the character of the dance.
"I'm portraying a very sad and alone character who has led a very sad and lonely life," Davis shared. "So the look of crying on my face is supposed to be there. As the program progresses, Charlie and I become closer, and he is like a dream guy that I want to be with… at the end we are torn apart and I am back to the reality of being alone again."
Davis (21) and White (20) earned a personal best score of 206.82 points, and earned a level 4 on each of their executed elements (minus their level 3 serpentine lift). However, the Sweden-bound duo was quite pleased with everything that they accomplished in the free dance and in the competition overall.
"We want to improve upon this performance and move up the rankings at worlds," White admitted. "This has been a great competition for us, and we have silver medals, too!"
The silver medalists will lead the team that heads to Seoul, South Korea next month for the Four Continents Championships.
Fan favorites Kimberly Navarro (Santa Rosa FSC) and Brent Bommentre (Philadelphia SC & HS) were nostalgic and a little bit emotional when they learned that they earned the bronze medals and their first trip to the World Championships.
"We can't wait," said a humbled Bommentre. "We are honored to be in this position because of how hard we worked and because we are going with two great teams. It's going to be an incredible experience because they are not only great skaters, but also great people as well."
Navarro admitted to being overwhelmed with emotion. "I didn't want to be disappointed, and I didn't want to focus on (making the team) either. I just appreciate it, and it is just now starting to sink in."
Skating a sultry program to Since I've Been Loving You by Corinne Bailey Rae, Navarro and Bommentre painted a romantic picture of true love gone wrong. Last year's pewter medalists wove their bodies in and out of different positions throughout the program, and seemingly represented the internal struggle as the love between two people dies.
Navarro (26) and Bommentre (23) have also been named to the Four Continents Championships team, and will take confidence from earning a personal best score of 187.94 points in this competition. They earned a level 4 on each element, save for their dance spin which Bommentre admitted to flubbing.
"We had a great skate, and we did a fantastic job on everything - except our spin that I am going to go home and practice like a million times," Bommentre shared. "We were really happy with it otherwise."
The team also incurred a deduction for going over the allowable time limit on one of their lifts, but was not bothered as much by that mistake.
"We know where the lift should pick up in the music," explained Bommentre. "We sat it down on the right time, but we picked it up early."
Finishing in sixth place, but fourth overall, Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates (Ann Arbor FSC) made an impressive debut on the championship level. The pewter medal winners skated well until the end of their program, when they both fell on a newly added rotational lift which earned them an automatic two-point deduction.
"It was the new element that we just added into our program to make the change to seniors, so obviously we aren't as familiar with it" explained Samuelson. "We knew that it was a challenge for us that we would have to overcome, but I think that the rest of the performance was very good."
Skating to Luna by Alessandro Safina, last year's Junior champions earned a level 4 on each of their other elements, and used the strength of their lead heading into the free dance to hold off a strong challenge by two teams placed behind them. The Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalists earned a competition total of 175.16 points, easily outscoring the fifth place finishers by over five points.
"This was just a great experience," Samuelson announced. "It takes a lot of hard work to be at senior, and we've learned that. We know that we have to keep improving to make ourselves better and stronger to come back for next year."
Samuelson (17) and Bates (18) have been selected to compete at the Junior World Championships where they will be among the favorites, and hope to bring home the gold medal to the United States. They will be joined by their training mates and this year's Junior champions, Madison Hubbell and Keiffer Hubbell, in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Jennifer Wester and partner-husband Daniil Barantsev (Dallas FSC) skated a happy program to music from Singing in the Rain, wearing bright yellow costumes made by Wester's own hands to finish in fifth place.
"I love happy colors," said a giggling Wester, "and this is my favorite era to portray. So when I decided to redo the costumes, I was going through the fabric store and saw the yellow and thought 'that makes me feel good.'"
The Nebelhorn Trophy champions used feel-good choreography and five level 4 elements to score a personal best total of 169.37 points overall.
"Tonight was good," said Barantsev. "I made some mistakes in other parts of the competition, but tonight was good."
After their program, an overwhelmed Wester was overcome with the emotion from a week of tough competition and a season of sacrifice for the young married couple.
"We were honestly hoping that with all of the hard work that we put in this year, that we could manage to get a little bit higher this year," said Wester with a quiver in her voice. "We want to thank all of our fans for cheering for us and supporting us this season."
Wester (22) and Barantsev (25) have been selected to represent the United States at the Four Continents Championships as a reward for their placement at these championships.
Finishing in sixth place overall, but fourth in the free dance, Jane Summersett and Todd Gilles (Broadmoor SC) far exceeded their own expectations in their first season together.
"Our goal was to come here and skate as well as we could," said Summersett. "We really didn't have any expectations of placement, so we are really happy with what we have accomplished."
Though the team has only been skating together for about nine months, Summersett (20) and Gilles (21) earned high levels of difficulty for their executed elements to place above several more seasoned teams. More importantly, the duo scored well for their program components, which can often take years to achieve.
"The match fit together right away for us," Gilles admitted. "It was nice to come back after a mistake in the compulsory to have two strong skates."
Finishing in seventh place and skating to Time to Say Goodbye, was the long-limbed Texas-based team of Charlotte Maxwell (All Year FSC) and Nick Traxler (Stars FSC of Texas). The team earned their best finish at the event, and improved their personal best score by over 14 points which motivates them for the future.
"Hopefully we get some more international experience next season," Traxler said. "Our goal is to keep moving up nationally every year."
Mimi Whetstone (Oklahoma City FSC, Inc.) and Chris Obzansky (Salt Lake FS), a second year team who skated to a peppy jive program, finished two spots up from last season in eighth place. Meanwhile, Lynn Kriengkrairut (All Year FSC) and Logan Giulietti-Schmidt (Stars FSC of Texas) finished in ninth place in their first try on the championship level. Mauri Gustafson (All Year FSC) and Joel Dear (Stars FSC of Texas) rounded out the top 10.
 Mirai Nagasu, 14, is the first lady since Peggy Fleming to win the national championship in her first try. |
It was a phenomenal competition that included four of the most prolific ladies' free skating programs in U.S. history. The top four ladies, all podium neophytes, each landed a triple-triple combination en route to knocking three of last year's medalists off of the podium; while the fourth, Emily Hughes didn't even compete due to injury.
To make matters more interesting, Mirai Nagasu (Pasadena FSC) is the first lady since Peggy Fleming to win the national championship in her first try. Nagasu was joined on the podium by girl-next-door Rachael Flatt (Broadmoor SC) who won the silver medal, Audrey Hepburn look-alike Ashley Wagner (Washington FSC), and the human rubber band, Caroline Zhang (All Year FSC).
As the results were posted, the International Selection Committee met behind closed doors to name the ladies who would be named to compete at the three upcoming ISU Championships. Normally naming the team is an easy process, as the committee selects the top finishers to represent the U.S. based on how many slots are available. The national champion is guaranteed a spot on the World Championships team, but this year, Nagasu does not meet ISU minimum age requirements to allow for her selection. Neither does Flatt or Zhang.
So, the committee had an interesting decision to make. Who should be named to the team? The fifth place finisher Beatrisa Liang seemed like a logical choice. Moving right along down the standings in sixth was Katrina Hacker (The Skating Club of Boston). Defending champion Kimmie Meissner (University of Delaware FSC) ended up in seventh. Most thought that the team would be comprised of Ashley Wagner, Beatrisa Liang, and Katrina Hacker. When it was announced, Wagner and Liang topped the list, but Hacker was listed as the first alternate. The committee determined it would be more advantageous for them to name former World Champion Meissner to the team instead. Nagasu, Flatt, and Zhang were named to the Junior Worlds Team, and joining Wagner and Liang on the Four Continents Championship Team? Katrina Hacker.
"We selected the teams based on what we thought would be the most competitive teams that we can put out there," explained U.S. Figure Skating President Ron Hershberger. "We want to give as many girls as much of an opportunity to compete as we can, and we believe that based on (Meissner's) previous results, that she deserves a spot on the team."
Hershberger further explained, "Meissner is a very hard worker, and we have no doubt that she will work hard to prepare herself well for a successful World Championships."
Beyond the controversy, the competition was a site to behold; perhaps a preview into what is in store for championships to come.
Of the contenders, Liang (All Year FSC) was the first to skate followed by Zhang. So competitive is the current group of U.S. ladies, Liang and Zhang were both relegated to skating in the penultimate group, and it seemed to work in both ladies' favor.
The "grande dame" of the lot, 19-year-old Liang, who made her 8th consecutive appearance in this competition, opened her Yellow River Piano Concerto program with pizzazz. Bebe, as she is called, started with a triple-Lutz-double toe loop combination, and then immediately landed a gorgeous triple flip.
It seemed as if Liang was going to have one of those great performances, but after she completed a level 4 flying combination spin, she popped her attempt at a triple loop. Last year's pewter medalist was up and down after that, landing two more triples and a double Axel combination, but also popping her second flip into a single.
"I really enjoyed myself, said Liang, "and I felt really different than I did during the short program. I was telling myself that this was just a practice so that I could relax. It was so great to skate here with the audience being so supportive. It definitely pumps you up when people are rooting for you."
Liang moved up one place after the short program, and finished with a total of 164.87 points in the competition.
Skating last in the penultimate group, Zhang opened with a beauty of a triple-flip-triple toe combination for which she earned a GOE of +1.00 for a total of 10.50 points for just that one element.
Skating in a pale blue dress to an instrumental version of Ave Maria, Zhang put on a master class in ballet on the ice as she stretched and twisted herself into impossibly breathtaking positions. The current Junior World champion used clean lines, pointed toes, and a fantastically arched back to draw 'oohs' and 'ahhs' from the audience throughout her program.
"I was glad to do the triple-triple," said the fast-talking 14-year-old. "After that, I was just really excited, and I wanted to do the best that I could."
In addition to hitting such amazing positions, the beauty of Zhang's skating also lies in her ability to perform high-level technical elements. Zhang was credited with four clean triple jumps and two Lutzes on which she was given a deduction for taking off on the incorrect edge (flutz) - an ongoing problem for the pewter medalist.
Zhang pulled up from seventh place after the short program, scoring a competition total of 173.16 points.
The order of skate for the final group was as follows: Hacker, Meissner, Flatt, Wagner, and finally, Nagasu. At this point, Zhang was in first place, followed by Liang, then Melissa Bulanhagui, who had a wonderful skate, and finished in eighth place overall.
Skating to Concierto de Aranjuez, Hacker opened with a triple toe-double toe-double loop combination that she performed with ease. The 17-year-old then attempted a triple (f)lutz combination, but was only able to get a single toe loop rotated on the back half. Hacker only managed three clean triple jumps, but earned level 4 on all of her spins to finish with a total of 158.28 points in the competition.
"I never thought that I would be skating in the last group at Nationals," Hacker admitted. "I worked really hard today to get through it, but I guess that I wish that I had a better program. I felt a lot of pressure today, but once I got out there, I tried to focus just on what I needed to do."
Next up was Meissner, who was in fourth place after a disappointing short program. Skating in a pale pink dress covered in complimenting colors of jewels, the defending champion planned the most difficult program of the evening including two triple-triple combinations.
Meissner opened with a fall on her first two elements; a triple flip followed by a triple Lutz. After landing a clean double Axel-double toe combination, the current Four Continents champion fell again on another triple Lutz attempt.
"That's a bummer. That's all I can say," said the dejected Meissner. "It's such a shame. I was really skating well, and I was very confident. But I just lost it."
In all, Meissner was only able to land two triple jumps in her Nessun Dorma program, but used high levels on her spins to keep her from falling further down the standings. The 18-year-old's placement was her worst showing at the U.S. Championships, with her total score of 149.22 over 30 points less than last year's title-winning score.
Flatt skated next, and opened with an easy triple Salchow to get her jumping legs underneath her in preparation for her triple Lutz-triple toe combination that came next. The Cheyenne Mountain High School honor student skated to Romantic Rhapsody by Andre Mathieu, and showed a maturity in her musical interpretation well beyond her fifteen years.
"Going into the long, I felt like I had nothing to lose and everything to gain," explained Flatt. "I really attacked everything and had a lot of fun."
The bubbly Flatt attempted and landed seven easy triple jumps, and won the freeskate, but could not overcome Nagasu's lead after the short program.
The silver medalist was excited about being named to the Junior Worlds Team and hopes to improve her skating to be even more competitive as the Olympic year approaches.
"I am hoping to get all of the international experience that I can get to prepare me for competing with all of the great skaters out there," said Flatt. "Especially the Japanese women, since they are so competitive now. As we approach the 2010 games, it is going to get more and more competitive, and I want to be a part of that."
Wagner took to the ice slowly, appearing to calm her nerves and focus her energy on her performance. The "military brat" opened her claim to the national title with a triple Lutz-triple loop combination that was the highest scoring element of the entire competition.
"It was so loud out there that I could barely hear myself think," Wagner said with a smile. "I was really nervous because I heard the crowd cheering for Rachael, so I knew that she had done well."
Skating to the Latin-flavored Jalousie, Wagner landed seven clean triple jumps, and earned level 4s on all but her straightline step sequence to clinch the bronze medal in her first try. The 16-year-old's only mistake was underrotating a double loop on the back half of a triple loop-double loop combination; a mistake that cost her the silver medal. However, the high school junior was ecstatic to be named to the World Championships Team.
"I was sitting in the "Kiss and Cry" thinking, 'Oh my God, I could be going to Worlds,'" Wagner said. "I'm just so excited for it."
As the last skater and leader after the short program, Nagasu had the whole world watching to see if she could hold up to the pressure of the moment. The high school freshman had a five point lead heading into the freeskate, but knew that she had to skate her best to have a chance at the title.
Nagasu opened with a calming spiral sequence, developing the character of a doll using music from the ballet Coppelia as the backdrop for her charge for the national championship. But then the jumping passes came; first a double Axel. A fall. Then her attempt at a triple Lutz-triple toe in which the toe was called as underrotated. A hush fell upon the audience. This performance would test a young skater's mettle, and how would she respond?
"I was really nervous going into the program," admitted the 14-year-old. "I heard the crowd, and I knew that everyone was skating well. When I fell on the double Axel, I was like 'What am I doing? I have to get myself back under control!'"
From there, Nagasu pulled it together, and fought like a champion through every element. In all, last year's Junior champion landed five triple jumps. Though she only placed third in the freeskate, her lead after the short program helped her to win her second national championship in as many years.
"My coach had to tell me that I won because I didn't have my glasses on," giggled the tiny champion. "And then I was like 'Oh my God! What?'"
But Nagasu was not disappointed in not being able to compete at the World Championships.
"I'm really happy for Ashley because she gets to go to Worlds," Nagasu said later. "I'm not disappointed in not getting to go to Worlds, because I definitely don't think that I am ready to go to anything that high yet. I just want to get more experience and be more ready for when I do get to go."
