2009 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships - Senior Free Dance; Senior Pairs' and and Ladies' Long Program - Highlights

2009 U.S. Nationals

Jan 20-27, 2009
Cleveland, Ohio

Jan 21
Jan 22
Jan 23
Jan 25
FULL RESULTS

The 2009 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships continued with the Senior Free Dance and the Senior Pairs' and and Ladies' Long Program.

Senior Dance (Free Dance)

For the first time since 2004, the United States has new Ice Dancing Champions. Meryl Davis (Arctic FSC) and Charlie White (Arctic FSC) took the torch from former training mates and friends Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto, who withdrew from the championships due to injury.

"I think that we all wish Tanith and Ben a speedy recovery," said Davis. "They have been a staple in U.S. skating for so many years, and they have done so much for our sport - specifically ice dance. We really miss them here, and hope that they get better soon."

Navarro echoed those sentiments."We hope that Tanith and Ben are healthy and get to go to Worlds. It will benefit all U.S. ice dancers. It would be weird not to have them at Worlds, so hopefully they will be there."

The withdrawal put a damper on what was a spectacular competition, with all of the top finishers performing with the technical skill and artistic vision to skate with the best in the world.

Davis (22) and White (21) were clearly the class of the field, leading from the first phase of the competition, and growing their lead after each of their programs.

"It's kind of surreal right now," Davis said with a smile. "We said the other day that this is something that we have been dreaming of for years. To realize that dream now is surreal, but amazing nonetheless."

"It's a great feeling," added White. "To be able to come here and skate three really good programs just adds to it."

The newly-crowned champions skated a powerful and emotionally charged performance to music from Samson and Delilah that earned them a standing ovation. Along the way, Davis and White earned positive grades of execution on all eight of their program elements, as well a level four on six of them.

"We went out there hoping to give the whole package, and I think that we accomplished that," said White. "We were able to perform well technically, and I felt that we really expressed the program well, which is something that we have definitely been working on a lot. I think that we can be really happy with our performance. We didn't have to hold back, and we felt like that we were able to give our all."

Davis and White outscored their closest competition by more than 11 points, earning a whopping 99.82 points in the free dance. Overall, the University of Michigan students earned a competition total of 201.68 points, outscoring silver medalists Emily Samuelson (Ann Arbor FSC) and Evan Bates (Ann Arbor FSC) by 20 points.

"A few years ago on the junior level, we lost to Charlie and Meryl by 21 points," giggled White's roommate Bates. "Maybe in another 40 years, we can beat them."

Samuelson (18) and Bates (19) moved up two spots from last year's championships, and had a stellar competition in just their second year on the championship level.

"Hopefully this says good things about our future," Samuelson said. "It is the first season that we have been at senior nationals where we were strong and ready to compete because I was sick last year. To go out there and skate a strong performance is very meaningful."

Skating to Tonci Huljic's Amazonic, the 2008 World Junior Champions showed world-class elements and style that will bode well for them as they head towards the World Championships in March. Their lone mistake was on the combination spin, which earned them a level one and negative grade of execution.

"It was just a little mistake that won't happen again," Bates explained of their miscue. "Overall we're really happy, and we're excited that we get to go to the World Championships in our home country. To make our Worlds debut in the United States is something that doesn't happen very often, and we are honored to go there and skate for our country."

Other than that one mistake, the silver medalists were nearly perfect, earning a level four on five of their elements which helped them to earn a personal best of 88.39 points in the freeskate. Samuelson and Bates earned 181.64 points in total in the competition.

Finishing in third place and winning the bronze medals for the second consecutive year, were Kimberly Navarro (Santa Rosa FSC) and Brent Bommentre (Philadelphia SC and HS).

"I thought that we skated great," admitted Bommentre. "To come out first in the warm-up is always a tough thing to do, and it always makes you a little more nervous. I thought that we handled that well, and we really focused on putting it all out there today in this performance."

Navarro (27) and Bommentre (24) skated a quirky number to the music of Fatboy Slim, and received perhaps the most fanatical cheers of the night from a large group of 'NavBoms' fans. The dance, choreographed by Dancing With the Stars' Louis Van Amstel, was in stark contrast to all of the other traditional dances of the evening.

"We have re-worked almost every piece of this dance since the Grand Prix," revealed Navarro. "It has been a work in progress up until a couple of weeks ago, and we have had a great team of people helping us get this together."

The bronze medalists earned a level four on five of their elements, and secured their place on the podium by earning 86.78 points in the free dance. Overall, Navarro and Bommentre scored a total of 176.30 points, far below their personal best.

Making an impressive debut on the championship level are the 2008 Junior Champions, Madison Hubbell and Keiffer Hubbell (Ann Arbor FSC), who are the training mates of silver medalists Samuelson and Bates.

Madison (17) and Keiffer (20) have a nice international look with long lines and difficult trick, and skated a mature program to Sognami by Damiano and Gianluca Nincheri.

The brother-and-sister duo earned high levels on all but one of their technical elements - the combination spin, for which they received a level one. Still, the couple performed well, highlighting the program with some impressive hydroblading moves that drew gasps and applause from the crowd.

The Hubbells scored 84.48 points for their free dance, and earned a competition total of 171.51 points - a new personal best.

Just missing out on the medals was the new team of Morgan Matthews (SC of New York) and Canadian Leif Gislason (Ice Works FSC). After a disappointing placement in the compulsory dance, Matthews and Gislason finished third in the original dance, and moved up from sixth after their The Muse free dance.

Matthews (21) and Gislason (25) have been paired together for less than a year, but are already capable of performing high-scoring elements. The tandem earned 83.00 points for their free dance, and just edged out Jane Summersett (Broadmoor SC) and Todd Gilles (Broadmoor SC) with a competition total of 169.52 points.

Summersett (21) and Gilles (22) maintained their sixth place finish from last season, struggling on their twizzle sequence and allowing Matthews and Gislason to edge them out by .27 points.

Finishing in seventh place was the new team of Trina Pratt (Broadmoor SC) and Chris Obzansky (Salt Lake Figure Skating), while Lynn Kriengkrairut (All Year FSC) and Logan Giulietti-Schmitt (Ann Arbor FSC) moved up to eighth.

Senior Pairs (Long Program)

The U.S. Pairs are finally getting somewhere. After many years of having a dismal showing at the National Championships, this year there were several noteworthy and inspired performances that could provide the framework of a budding rivalry in the next several years.

Reigning champions Keauna McLaughlin (Los Angeles FSC) and Rockne Brubaker (Broadmoor SC) rebounded from a shaky short program to win their second consecutive title over a promising new team that should challenge them for years to come.

"I think we owe part of (the title) to our competitors," said a gracious Brubaker. "I don't think that we could have done it if we didn't have such worthy opponents."

The champions' West Side Story routine was not without its share of issues, however. After opening with their trademark triple twist lift, Brubaker singled the back half of a triple Salchow-double toe loop combination. Two elements later, McLaughlin took her turn, and fell on a triple toe loop.

"This is the hardest competition that we have ever done," said an exhausted Brubaker. "All week everyone has been telling me that you can win five titles in a row, but the second one is always the hardest. To defend a title for the first time adds a lot of pressure, and on top of that, [Keauna] has had the flu all week."

Still, McLaughlin (16) and Brubaker (22) gave a polished and otherwise technically strong program to repeat as champions - the first time that has happened since Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman did it back in 2001-02.

"Winning this title was so hard for us," McLaughlin admitted. "There were times during the program when I thought that I couldn't do it. I wanted to stop or take a breather, or have a trash can to cough in to. I don't know how I did it, but I got through it, and I am really happy that it's over with."

McLaughlin and Brubaker won the freeskate by a little less than three points with a total of 117.64 points, and finished the competition with 178.76 points.

Leading after the short program, newcomers Caydee Denney (Southwest Florida FSC) and Jeremy Barrett (Southwest Florida FSC) took to the ice as an unknown entity. Their competitive nerves untested, the young team performed with the hearts of a champion, and clinched the silver medals after skating with each other for just a few short months.

"We wanted to make sure when we were out there that we took one element at a time," Barrett said. "That is the way we train every day. We made sure that we didn't get too far ahead of ourselves, and we fought for every element."

Like the champions, Denney (15) and Barrett (24) opened with an impressive triple twist lift, followed up with an easy triple toe loop-double toe loop sequence. As their program to Spartacus wore on, the audience support grew in appreciation of the technical ability that Denney and Barrett were showcasing. As the only clean performers of the night, the silver medalists earned 114.76 points in the free skate, and their total of 176.27 points put them on their first World Championships team.

"Being in second and going to Worlds, I don't think that it has sunk in yet," said Denney. "I had fun out there, and this is just a bonus to skating two clean programs."

Finishing third was the veteran team of Rena Inoue (All Year FSC) and John Baldwin (All Year FSC), earning the bronze medal. This is the seventh straight podium finish for the Olympians, but they were not disappointed with the final results. Instead, they were disappointed in their performance.

"For Rena and I, tonight was a satisfactory performance," Baldwin said. "It wasn't a memorable performance. I lost a little steam after what I did on the triple toe. It's always hard when you miss something at the beginning of your program to keep the momentum going. But I think that our lifts and our throws were well done."

In third place after the short program, Inoue (32) and Baldwin (35) made mistakes early, with Baldwin underrotating and stepping out of the first element - the triple toe loop. The engaged couple then crashed into each other on the landing of their triple twist lift before Baldwin again stepped out of a double Axel combination.

"I am very satisfied with the outcome," admitted Baldwin. "I think that the best two teams are going to the World Championships, and I think that they will represent the U.S. very well."

The former national champions earned 109.97 points in their freeskate, and 171.08 points overall for third place, their lowest finish since 2003.

With an emotional and inspired performance, Amanda Evora (Southwest Florida FSC) and Mark Ladwig (Red River Valley FSC) moved up to fourth place overall skating to Tchaikovsky's Pas de Deux.

"It just felt so good to skate how we know we can skate in front of everybody," said an elated Evora (24), as tears streamed down her cheeks. "We've been together for seven years, and everyone has always wanted us to do a good program and see us do well. To finally have done that in front of this audience meant so much to me. Dreams come true. It doesn't matter what place you get, otherwise none of us would be chasing for that moment."

"It puts a smile on my face when we skate like this," admitted 28-year-old Ladwig. "And it makes it so much easier when I know that she is enjoying it, and knowing that somebody loves doing it as much as you."

The pewter medalists earned a personal best score of 106.97 in the free skate, and also increased their competition personal best to 159.95 points.

Finishing in fifth place with another disappointing performance, were the 2007 Champions Brooke Castile (Arctic FSC) and Benjamin Okolski (Arctic FSC). The former champions presented a beautiful picture on the ice, but seemed resigned to making the same mistakes in the freeskate.

"I just feel like I need more time to get my legs where they need to be to have that competitive edge," said a disappointed Castile. "We need more experience competing at the big events. Because we haven't competed so much, I feel like our skating has gotten a lot better, but we just need that experience so that we can draw from it in our performances."

A score of 102.55 points placed Castile (22) and Okolski (24) sixth in the freeskate, but their competition total of 157.01 points kept them in fifth place over Chloe Katz (SC of New York) and Joseph Lynch (SC of New York), who placed sixth.

After a difficult freeskate, Caitlin Yankowskas (Colonial FSC) and John Coughlin (Kansas City FSC) fell from fourth place after the short program to seventh overall, while Tiffany Vise (Broadmoor SC) and Derek Trent (Broadmoor SC) finished in eighth.

Senior Ladies (Long Program)

It was a crazy night of skating in the championship ladies free skate competition in which Alissa Czisny (Detroit SC, Inc.) held off the rest of the field with an error-laden performance that had many questioning the results.

Leading by more than five points after the short program, the gold medalist opened her Dr. Zhivago routine by nailing her first five elements, including three triple jumps. But heading into the next element, a triple Lutz, Czisny started showing signs of her old self, and things started to go wrong.

"I was a little bit disappointed with my program because I've been skating much better than that," said the 21-year-old. "I guess I just wanted the moment to be perfect, but I know what I have to work on now."

After falling on the Lutz, Czisny doubled an intended triple toe - the final triple planned in her program. However, the champion showcased her world-class spins and spirals that earned her high levels and precious technical points that she used to keep her close enough for the win.

"I was a little surprised to see that I won," admitted the new champion. "I hadn't seen how anybody else had skated, but I guess that my short program saved me."

Finishing third in the free skate because of her mistakes, Czisny fought off a charge from skaters who were more technically competitive than she on the strength of her component marks. The 2007 U.S. bronze medalist scored just 112.31 points for her free skate, but used her short program cushion to eke out the win. Her total of 178.06 points is a new personal best for Czisny.

"Throughout the years, there's been a lot of disappointments and hard times," Czisny said. "I think I've been able to take all of them and learn from them. It's made me a better person, it's made me a better skater, and I think I've learned a lot. A lot about life."

Finishing with the silver medal for the second consecutive year was Rachael Flatt (Broadmoor SC). The 2008 Junior World Champion had a technically stunning program to music by Claude Debussy, but she did not perform with the charisma or flair of the champion.

Flatt opened with an easy double Axel, and immediately barreled into a triple-flip-triple toe combination in which the back half was down- graded by the technical called. In all, the 16-year-old was credited with six clean triple jumps, and outscored Czisny by almost eight points on the executed elements scores.

"It wasn't my best because I had my triple flip-triple toe downgraded," noted Flatt, "so I was a little disappointed with that. But I am very pleased to be going to Worlds, and look forward to skating even better there."

Flatt's total of 113.59 points was good enough for second place in the free skate, and her total 173.78 points helped her to collect her first ticket to the World Championships.

"I'm very excited just to go to worlds in general," Flatt said with a smile. "I will feel a little bit of pressure to make sure we have three spots for the Olympics, but I'm not going to focus on that. I'm just going to focus on doing better programs than I did at nationals."

In third place was Caroline Zhang (All Year FSC), last year's pewter medalist and 2007 Junior World Champion. Skating to Ave Maria, Zhang received the loudest ovation of the night from the Cleveland audience, but was unable to move up from third to earn a spot on the World Team.

"Of course I wish things had worked out differently," the 15-year-old admitted. "I am a little disappointed that I am not going to Worlds, but I hope with the extra time, I can rework the technique on my jumps."

Zhang opened with a triple flip-triple toe loop combination, and like Flatt, did not receive full credit for the element. However, she was credited with six clean triple jumps, and earned high levels on her spins and spirals to help her step onto her first podium on the senior national level.

"I think my program today was pretty good overall," said Zhang. "I just had a little mistake on my triple flip-triple toe. I got all of the levels on my spins and spirals, so I'm happy with that."

Zhang placed fourth in the free skate with 112. 17 points, and had a competition total of 165.33 points.

After a disastrous short program, last year's bronze medalist Ashley Wagner (SC of Wilmington) found herself in 12th place. However, the free skate was a new competition for the talented skater, and she propelled herself into fourth place overall by winning the free skate with a fantastic performance.

"Ever since (last year's) Worlds, I have had this mental block," shared Wagner. "I feel like tonight I really got over it. I know that it is going to be a lot of work to get back to solid and consistent programs, but this gives me that little confidence boost to definitely get back to that."

Wagner landed five triple jumps, and earned a level four on all of her spins and spirals in her Spartacus routine. But skating early due to her short program placement, Wagner had to wait almost two hours to see if her scores would hold up.

"I sit, I cross every single thing that I can on my body," Wagner said after her skate. "The rest is up to how everyone else skates, but it will be a long wait, I think."

Wagner earned 115.05 points for her free skate and a total of 165.33 points in the competition to earn the pewter medal.

Last year's champion, Mirai Nagasu (Pasadena SC) took to the ice looking like a lamb being lead to slaughter, wiping tears from her face as she took her opening pose. In sixth place after the short program, Nagasu has been fighting demons all week.

"Just the fact that I was able to defeat the evil side of me was an accomplishment," said the 15-year-old, "and I fell like I have matured from that."

But the little girl grew into a woman right before our eyes, as she fought her demons and skated an inspired performance that seemed to take the weight of the world off of her tiny shoulders.

Though the 2008 World Junior bronze medalist stood up on six triples. She didn't receive full credit for either of her underrotated triple flips, but none of that mattered. The young champion was ecstatic to have gotten through her program, and learn for herself just how strong she can be.

"I was really nervous because I definitely did not want to do what I did in the short program," Nagasu admitted. "My biggest fear was putting all of that practice into coming here to waste. I'm glad that that I put it to good use and prove to myself that I can still be a contender."

Nagasu was fifth in the free skate with 105.20 points, and scored 159.99 points in the competition.

Finishing in sixth place was Princeton-bound Katrina Hacker (SC of Boston), a beautiful skater who will be leaving competitive skating after this season to focus on her education.

"I'm going to go to Princeton next year, but I am going to keep on skating because I love to skate," Hacker said. "It's such a big part of my life that I don't want to give up something that brings so much joy and pleasure to my life. But I am done competing."

Hacker landed five triple jumps, none more difficult than the loop, but skated cleanly and with passion to Scheherazade. Hacker equaled her placement from last season, and earned a level four on each of her non-jump elements save the circular step sequence.

"Every jump that I did, I just told myself the things that I needed to hear to get them done," Hacker explained. "I think that my sports psychologist has really helped me to get to this point. I have been practicing so well at home... skating two clean shorts and two clean longs every day. I just expected to skate like this, and it is a very satisfying end to my career."

Hacker scored 101.49 points for her farewell performance and 156.28 points overall.

In fourth place after the short program, Brittney Rizo (SC of Boston) made some minor errors and slipped to seventh place. Angela Maxwell (Dallas FSC) had a great performance that included six triple jumps to move up from 13th to eighth place overall.

Alexe Gilles (Broadmoor SC) finished in ninth place with her five triple program, while Laney Diggs (All Year FSC) placed 10th.