2012 US Nationals Ladies- Top 5?

[macy]

who will be in the top 5 in senior, junior, and novice ladies? with so many youngsters coming up and the faltering of many US ladies so far this season, who do you think will make a good showing in January?

 

[blue_idealist]

In seniors: Alissa, Mirai, and Ashley will definitely be in the top 5. That'll probably be the podium, in that order. I think the other two spots in the top 5 will go to Rachael, Christina Gao, or Agnes, although it's hard to say which two right now.

 

[pangtongfan]

Gold- Czisny
Silver- Nagasu if she doesnt choke, Wagner if Nagasu chokes
Bronze- depends on Nagasu whether it is Nagasu or Wagner
4th- Agnes
5th- total surprise, wont be Flatt or Gao, maybe Zhang

 

[skateflower]

Could Nina Jiang sneak into top 5? She looked really strong at the Sectionals.
I'm rooting for her. She's definitely better than zhang.

 

[macy]

in my opinion,

1st- czisny
2nd- nagasu
3rd- wagner
4th- zawadzki
5th- keiser

as far as the rest of the top 10 i think it will be siraj, cesario, gao, zhang, flatt. not in any particular order.

for junior:

1st- gold
2nd- miller
3rd- long
4th- bell
5th- kulgeyko

novice:

1st- chen
no idea who the rest are, but i'll put $50 on it right now chen will win. she's awesome.

 

[used2sk8]

Don't forget Vanessa Lam, JGP Final qualifier!

 

[christinaskater]

Gracie can win senior nationals if she wants. Her age is perfect for senior worlds!

 

[dorispulaski]

Possibly. But I believe she is entered for juniors?

 

[Spun Silver]

Does anyone know how Amanda Dobbs is doing? She made such a splash in both pairs and singles at Nationals a couple of years ago and since struggled with injury. In a recent exhibition (see vid in ryanbfan's Holiday on Ice thread), she looks wonderful, but the only jumps she did were 2As so I'm not sure if she's ready to compete again.

Also, what about Kristine Musademba? She showed such promise at about 13, and had great showings as a junior, then got injured in (I believe) her first senior year.

 

[Mrs. P]

Does anyone know how Amanda Dobbs is doing? She made such a splash in both pairs and singles at Nationals a couple of years ago and since struggled with injury. In a recent exhibition (see vid in ryanbfan's Holiday on Ice thread), she looks wonderful, but the only jumps she did were 2As so I'm not sure if she's ready to compete again.

She didn't qualify for Nationals this year. She finished 10th in Mids, with a 79 LP where she only did two triples (one was DG) and the others were just doubles. She did not attempt a 3 Loop in her LP at all.

In addition Alexe Gilles and Becky Berswell also failed to get out of sections as well.

 

[burntBREAD]

Does anyone know how Amanda Dobbs is doing? She made such a splash in both pairs and singles at Nationals a couple of years ago and since struggled with injury. In a recent exhibition (see vid in ryanbfan's Holiday on Ice thread), she looks wonderful, but the only jumps she did were 2As so I'm not sure if she's ready to compete again.

Also, what about Kristine Musademba? She showed such promise at about 13, and had great showings as a junior, then got injured in (I believe) her first senior year.

Amanda Dobbs, unfortunately, did not qualify for Nationals. I believe Musademba has retired?

 

[macy]

Does anyone know how Amanda Dobbs is doing? She made such a splash in both pairs and singles at Nationals a couple of years ago and since struggled with injury. In a recent exhibition (see vid in ryanbfan's Holiday on Ice thread), she looks wonderful, but the only jumps she did were 2As so I'm not sure if she's ready to compete again.

Also, what about Kristine Musademba? She showed such promise at about 13, and had great showings as a junior, then got injured in (I believe) her first senior year.

Amanda i'm assuming didn't have a good showing at sectionals, she didn't make it to nationals. and i haven't seen anything of musademba.

 

[macy]

right?! she posted a 115 at sectionals for her freeskate with a fall on a 2A. it would have been up by 120 if she had skated clean with only a junior program. that's so good.

 

[Spun Silver]

Wow, that was fast. What a community! Thank you!

Sorry to hear about Musademba stopping. Best wishes to her. As for Amanda, too bad about sectionals! Is she still doing pairs as well? I think her partner had a bad injury too. I hope she regains her triples, if she wants to keep competing.

 

[blue_idealist]

Dobbs didn't get out of sectionals? That's too bad. She skated SO well at 4CC one year (I think 2010). I'm not that surprised about Alexe Gilles, it's been downhill for her the last couple of seasons.

 

[JDLutz]

I see it this way

1st-Czisny. Even if she's flawed, I think she'll win, She's shown that she is the skater that the USFSA can rely on(wow it feels strange to say that!!!)

2nd/3rd-Nagasu or Wagner- It's all in Mirai's hands, she needs to just hold it together and silver is hers, but if she even fumbles, Ashley will take the silver like it's nobody's business, that girl has the hunger that Mirai seems to lack and has shown that she is a fighter

4th-Cesario-Loved seeing her on the JGP, I think that she didn't peak there, thankfully, so I think that she could make a splash in San Jose!

5th-Keiser or Zhang- Leah goes in with no pressure, and she's a dynamic skater, so it could happen, and Caroline Is improving(despite S.A LP) she is showing that she wont give up, so I think she could get it together by Nats, plus her SP is one of my favorites this season

-It has been heart breaking to watch Flatt,Zawadzki, and Gao so far this season, I would love to be wrong, but I just don't see any of them stepping up in san jose.

 

[Layfan]

Geez, I think it's as difficult to predict as in past years. But if Alissa and Mirai do well, I hope, and believe, they will be 1-2 in whatever order. But if Agnes, Ashley or Rachael are clean it could still be their game. I know they didn't do as well or weren't as well received by the judges at the GP series but you just never know who were hit their stride at nationals. My money is on Mirai and Alissa, though. I think Cristina has the biggest uphill battle. She had such a hard time at the GPs and looked so upset. I am sure her goal right now is to have two good programs at Nationals and prove to herself that she has it in her and I wish her all the best and believe she can do it. Oh, I forgot about Carolina... I can't count her out either considering how wishy washy the U.S. ladies are in general these days. But to me at this point it is clear that Mirai and Alissa are the best of the bunch when they are on.

I hope Alissa gets more and more comfortable with her long program and shows more and more fire. She did well at the GP though, considering it was early in the season and her goal was making the GP final, which she did. I hope Mirai somehow finds the fire and consistency and motivation she showed at 2010 nationals and the Olympics. She is no longer considered an underdog and that has been hard for her so I hope she finally finds a way to embrace being a favorite.

 

[FlattFan]

I predict Vanessa Lam will make top 5. Maybe even silver.
She can definitely beat Nagasu and Wagner if they under perform.
She's the only american to make it to the jr. grand prix final.

 

[Layfan]

A lot of people could beat Alissa and Mirai if they underperform. That is why it is anyone's game. I hope they do well, though. I also hope Vanessa does well. She is a beautiful skater even if she still lacks speed and height on her jumps. I will enjoy watching her at nationals and maybe she will surprise with a podium finish.

 

[demarinis5]

Alissa
Mirai
Ashley
Rachael
Caroline Z.