2022-23 Retirements, Splits and New Partnerships

[surimi]

Mitsuki Sumoto has retired:


Wishing him the best in the new journey he's set on.
I feel very sad for him. He was such a hopeful junior, and never quite got to break through due to health issues and, twice, due to pure bad luck: He was supposed to compete in Coupe du Printemps in 2020 which got canceled due to covid, and then at domestic NHK Trophy 2021 where he had a slight fever just before SP, and was not allowed to compete.
I hope he has no regrets.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Cayla Smith and Andy Deng (2022 JGPF Bronze medalists in pairs) have split:



Cayla is going to be continuing her career as a singles skater for the time being (she finished 3rd in Intermediate women at US Midwestern Sectionals, and will thus likely be taking part in Novice Nationals) and will simultaneously be looking for a new partner.

 

[ladyjane]

Rather sudden (to me) with Cayla and Andy. I just read an article about them on the US Figure Skating web site (app. a week ago on the 2nd of January) how they were a pair on the rise, with bits of interview in it, and how they were looking forward to Nationals. What a pity. I hope they will do well in the future, both of them, whether skating or otherwise.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Oh wow, they looked to be a pair with lots of potential. Is Andy moving on to other endeavors? Or is he looking to partner with someone else? It's weird that they would split just before U.S. Nationals, unless injuries are involved. Or maybe it's just that Andy wants to pursue an academic career?

 

[el henry]

This was Cayla's post. It is the usual generic statement on such splits, no specific reasons.

 

[dorispulaski]

That is so very sad

 

[purplecat]

I was so bummed out to read about their split... thought they had a lot of promise.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Cayla Smith and Andy Deng (2022 JGPF Bronze medalists in pairs) have split:



Cayla is going to be continuing her career as a singles skater for the time being (she finished 3rd in Intermediate women at US Midwestern Sectionals, and will thus likely be taking part in Novice Nationals) and will simultaneously be looking for a new partner.

Update:
Andy also wishes to continue his career and is searching for a new partner:

 

[moonvine]

Update:
Andy also wishes to continue his career and is searching for a new partner:

Well that’s..,.odd.

 

[Ziotic]

Sort of off topic, but has there ever been a team (dance or pair) that have split but then got back together later on?

 

[Seven Sisters]

Sort of off topic, but has there ever been a team (dance or pair) that have split but then got back together later on?

Yes of course. Lajoie/Lagha come immediately to mind, there have probably been others.

 

[SnowWhite]

Sort of off topic, but has there ever been a team (dance or pair) that have split but then got back together later on?

Yes of course. Lajoie/Lagha come immediately to mind, there have probably been others.

Lajoie/Lagha are the first ones that came to mind for me too. They teamed up in 2011, and split in 2015 after winning the Canadian novice title. Marjorie moved to train with Igor and briefly teamed up with Anton Spiridonov, and Zach started working with Marie-France, who convinced them to get back together that summer. They competed on the JPG in October 2015, so obviously that's a split that didn't last very long, and reuniting has clearly worked out well for them.

Another example, also in ice dance, would be Aldridge/Eaton. They split in 2015 and reunited in 2017, but it only lasted the one season. He teamed up with Yura Min after that.

I can't think of an example in pairs off hand, but I'm sure it's happened.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Sort of off topic, but has there ever been a team (dance or pair) that have split but then got back together later on?

In addition to the teams mentioned before, US junior ice dancers Jenna Hauer/Benjamin Starr, who had their international debut on the JGP this season, are another example. They split towards the beginning of 2019 after placing fourth at Intermediate Nationals and teamed up again less than a year later in January 2020.

 

[gordana]

And of pairs teams I can recollect Haven Denney/ Brandon Frazier. I don't remember in which season they split, but I know for sure it took place and then they reunited and had been together until Haven's quitting from skating.
Another team are Lana Petranovic and Antonio Souza Kordeiru from Croatia. In the offseason of 2021-2022 Lana was on Ice partner search and then they competed until the Europeans and finally split after it due to Antonio's injury.

 

[blue_idealist]

A long time ago, but Calla Urbanski and Rocky Marval split and got back together (twice, I think, although one time was when they were both pro, IIRC).

 

[midori green]

That's sad about Cayla and Andy. I really liked them! They seemed to match well in line and skating level. Interesting timing with nationals so soon, but I guess if you know you're splitting maybe there's no point(?). Intrigued to see what they each do next. I saw Cayla just passed her novice and junior freeskate tests (per Fort Wayne Ice Skating Club Facebook page). Hmmm....

 

[moonvine]

That's sad about Cayla and Andy. I really liked them! They seemed to match well in line and skating level. Interesting timing with nationals so soon, but I guess if you know you're splitting maybe there's no point(?). Intrigued to see what they each do next. I saw Cayla just passed her novice and junior freeskate tests (per Fort Wayne Ice Skating Club Facebook page). Hmmm....

They have both stated they are looking for other partners. She has said she would skate singles by searching for other partners.

 

[midori green]

They have both stated they are looking for other partners. She has said she would skate singles by searching for other partners.

I read that. I should've said I'm curious to see where they end up. At 17 and 14 they're young. Who knows where future partnerships or singles careers will take them. Happy to see they're both continuing, and interested to watch their journeys. ❤

 

[skylark]

As our paths no longer align, Cayla and I will be going separate ways. I wish her the best of luck with what comes next in her life.

I admire Andy's phraseology!

And of pairs teams I can recollect Haven Denney/ Brandon Frazier. I don't remember in which season they split, but I know for sure it took place and then they reunited and had been together until Haven's quitting from skating.

If I remember correctly, Haven and Brandon were pretty young, and it was a case of their families not being in the same state. They skated with others for three years, and then got back together. Worked out the location issue somehow.

I didn't recall the 3 years, but my friend Wiki says so.

 

[el henry]

I admire Andy's phraseology! ...

If I were to guess, Cayla and Andy had the same person/team assist their phrasing.

Cayla wrote:

Unfortunately, our paths are no longer aligned and I want to wish him the best as he moves on in his life.

It is a good turn of phrase for these sorts of statements.