2025-26 U.S. Pairs Figure Skating | Golden Skate

2025-26 U.S. Pairs Figure Skating

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BlissfulSynergy

Record Breaker
Joined
Sep 1, 2020
Recreating this thread as the previously created thread for the new season was lost due to technical issues.

International Selection Pool (ISP) for U.S. Junior and Senior Pairs:

Saya Carpenter and Jon Maravilla
Emily Chan and Spencer Howe
Nica Digerness and Mark Sadusky
Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov
Olivia Flores and Luke Wang
Sofia Jarmoc and Luke Witkowski
Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea
Milada Kovar and Jared McPike
Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman
Addyson McDanold and
Aaron Felberbaum
Juliet Meek and Devin Meek
Reagan Moss and Jakub Galbavy
Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez
Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy
Naomi Williams and Lachlan Lewer

Envelope Funding:

No pairs teams in A1 envelope

A2
Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov
Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea

B1
Emily Chan and Spencer Howe
Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman

B2
Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano
Fernandez
Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy
Naomi Williams and Lachlan Lewer

C1
Nica Digerness and Mark Sadusky
Olivia Flores and Luke Wang
Reagan Moss and Jakub Galbavy

C2
Saya Carpenter and Jon Maravilla
Linzy Fitzpatrick and Keyton Bearinger

D1
Sofia Jarmoc and Luke Witkowski
Addyson McDanold and Aaron Felberbaum

D2
Giuliana Gariti and Matthew Curtis

Alena Kerr and Mitchell Castelletti [as of 7/1/25 still appears as listed on usfigsk website; update pending per Kerr's recently formed junior partnership with Sam Herbert]

Juliet Meek and Devin Meek


For more information regarding criteria and to see the full envelope funding list for other disciplines:

www.usfigureskating.org

Team USA Funding | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org www.usfigureskating.org
 
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The last conversation in the previous season's thread included a query by @ajingmarg about Efimova/ Mitrofanov. Sharing again my response below:

I haven't heard anything about Efi/Mitro. Have you checked their socials? I would imagine they will work with Renee again. Ellie & Danny were recently in Montreal working with Marie-France and Sam Chouinard on their new programs. 🤩
 
In other news, it was indicated by a Danny Neudecker IG story that he is now training with Joy Weinberg. Thus, the rumors that he split personally and professionally with Grace Hanns apparently are true.

Additional discussion in the lost thread was regarding the novice teams who receive envelope funding. Perhaps those conversations can be posted again.
 
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I was talking about the Meeks in envelope D2. They are a sister-brother team who, I believe, will do their first Junior season (Juliet turned 13 this past weekend). They are a mirror pair which is really cool to watch.
 
BlissfulSynergy said:
Envelope Funding:

D2
Guiliana Gariti and Denis Bledsoe
Alena Carr and Mitchell Castelletti
Juliet Meek and Devin Meek

For more information regarding criteria and to see the full envelope funding list for other disciplines:

www.usfigureskating.org

Team USA Funding | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org www.usfigureskating.org
Click to expand...

Gariti's first name is spelled Giuliana, and her partner is Matthew Curtis.
ETA:​
I see now that it is USFS that misspelled Gariti's first name on the envelope funding page.
Of the errors discussed in my post, this one misspelling is the only thing that originated from USFS site.​

(Denis Bledsoe and Marian Carhart are a dance partnership.)

Alena's last name is Kerr [ETA: which she pronounces as "cur"].
Alena Kerr and Sam Herbert recently announced their new partnership as a junior pair.

ETA:​

BlissfulSynergy said:
D1
Addyson McDanold and Aaron Felberbaum
Click to expand...

Also in D1 envelope are Sofia Jarmoc and Luke Witkowski.​

BlissfulSynergy said:
... the rumors that he split ... professionally with Grace Hanns apoarently are true.
Click to expand...

Hanns updated her icepartnersearch bio on Jun 25.

In response to a separate comment in the now-lost 2025-26 thread, I had written:
Kovar/McPike are not a new pair.​
They placed outside of top six in junior pairs at 2025 Nats, and did not meet any criteria for envelope funding.​
I wish them a good season ahead.​
 
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^^ Thanks! I copied the list from the USfigskating website.

ETA: In re-checking usfigsk website, I see that I copied a few things inaccurately, re Bledsoe, overlooking Jarmoc and Witkowski, & misspelling Alena Kerr's surname. However, Kerr and Castelletti are still listed as partners on the website. There usually are typos and omissions when this list is first released, obviously due to spelling errors and unavoidable timing of everchanging partnership splits and switches.
 
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Nice news that Hannah Herrera has switched from singles to pairs and is partnered with Ivan Khobta of Ukraine. It looks like they will be training with MMPairs at World Arena in Colorado (and will represent Ukraine, which makes sense). On IG, Hannah & Ivan are already flashing a throw triple-loop. The post, by Natalia Mishketunok, indicates that Naomi Williams and Lachlan Lewer have also landed their first throw triple loop. 👍
 
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I see that @Jumping_Bean has posted in the New Partnerships thread that Chelsea Liu is now partnered with Ryan Bedard. When Chelsea announced her departure from skating last year, I thought that was the end for her. She's had a good, yet star-crossed career. There was a lot of early success for her with Brian Johnson in juniors. Later, Chelsea spent time in China with a partner, but it didn't work out for her. She returned to the U.S. and was briefly partnered with Ian Meyh; they looked good together but split after a season. Perhaps their split was injury-related. Chelsea then partnered with Danny O'Shea for the 2021-22 season. They were delightful together, showing off an amazing leg wrap swing lift that has been emulated by a number of teams (created for them by Sinead & John Kerr). Sadly, an unfortunate accident during a fall 2021 competition led to a serious concussion which ultimately ended the Liu/ O'Shea partnership.

It was surprising when Chelsea came back for the 2023-24 season with Balazs Nagy. They were spectacular together in every way, especially their boffo triple twist. But, inconsistencies on jump landings continued to plague Chelsea. I've always said it seems that she needs better height and quicker twitch on her rotations in order to accommodate the length of her legs, and avoid doublefooted landings. I'm sure the coaching team was trying to help, but ultimately, Chelsea's lack of confidence and inconsistency on jumps seemingly deep-sixed her partnership with Nagy. The break was surely also precipitated by a double dose of pressure from U.S. fed who inexplicably had L/N perform in a public matchup against Chan/ Howe, to determine which team to send to '24 Worlds. All that was needed would have been to privately monitor C/H since Spencer was coming back from shoulder surgery. Any needed performance matchups should have been done privately, more likely between Val/Max and Liu/Nagy since these two teams' results had been so close at '24 Nationals. That was the year, ironically with 3 spots for U.S. pairs at Worlds and not enough teams with solid depth and experience to send, unlike during prior years with veteran talented teams coming to the fore and only 2 Worlds spots available for the U.S.

There is depth of talent in U.S. pairs right now, but also currently issues with awaiting citizenship for Daniil Parkman, and for Alisa Efimova. So, it will be interesting to see if Chan/Howe are sent to the Beijing qualifier or McBeath/ Parkman. I tend to think C/H will be given the nod if they are healthy. C/H would be trying to win a spot for themselves to make the Olympics. I think U.S. fed will want to send Ellie/Danny; Shin/Nagy; and Chan/Howe to the Olympics if a third spot is won. Then, likely send Ellie/Danny; Alisa/Misha; and possibly Chan/Howe or Shin/Nagy to Worlds. I hope McBeath/Parkman will get 2 or 3 Challengers along with their one GP assignment, and possibly be in the running for 4CCs. The TBD at Skate America is likely between M/P; C/H; S/N; and possibly now new team, Liu/Bedard.

Honestly, while S/N are well-matched physically, I am not sure how well they match in terms of personality. I think Liu/Nagy really vibed together and were a team worth fighting for. I will forever miss seeing their amazing triple twist. As it turns out, I now wonder if a Shin/Bedard matchup might have worked. 🤔 Oh well, new season, new possibilities for the teams currently matched.
 
The great success that Kam/O'Shea have had the past two seasons with starmaking, intricate programs choreographed by Marie-France & Co at IAM has sparked a trend. Last season, Miura/Kihara branched out from working solely with Julie Marcotte and got their programs from Shae Lynn Bourne (sp) and Marie-France of IAM (fp). M/K's programs this past season were livelier and more interesting, so perhaps they are working with Marie-France again for the upcoming Olympic season? Ice dance choreographers have brought so much innovation to the pairs discipline over the past 7 years.

Meanwhile, Italian team, Conti/ Macii have made a beeline to IAM as well for the new season. Romain Haguenauer has choreographed their fp to Caruso.
 
i didn't realize Alisa didn't yet have US citizenship...is it just because the process takes so long?
 
macy said:
i didn't realize Alisa didn't yet have US citizenship...is it just because the process takes so long?
Click to expand...
Looking at the gov website, you have to be a green card holder for 5 years or married to a US citizen for 3 years before you can apply for citizenship. I think Alisa's only been here for 2 years.
 
midori green said:
Looking at the gov website, you have to be a green card holder for 5 years or married to a US citizen for 3 years before you can apply for citizenship. I think Alisa's only been here for 2 years.
Click to expand...
wow, i hope there's enough time for the process after another 3 for the 2030 games.
 
midori green said:
Looking at the gov website, you have to be a green card holder for 5 years or married to a US citizen for 3 years before you can apply for citizenship. I think Alisa's only been here for 2 years.
Click to expand...
To date, Alisa has been in the U.S. for a little over two years. It can take a pretty long time to obtain U.S. citizenship if you are not married to a U.S. citizen. I believe it's around 8 years. Misha & Alisa partnered in June 2023, so if they married that year and Alisa applied for her green card, she may have received it sometime in early 2024. Three years from then is early 2027, when she would be eligible to apply for citizenship. After applying, it could take up to 9 months or so to receive citizenship. So, let's say by late 2027 or early 2028 Alisa becomes a U.S. citizen, if indeed she and Misha are married. If so, that is, of course, their personal business and they are not required to share it with the public.

If Alisa is not married, it can take as long as 8 years to receive U.S. citizenship, unless some special consideration is given for athletic excellence, which is fairly hard to obtain. I would think they are on a speedier path for Alisa's citizenship because 8 years from 2023 is 2031, and I doubt E/M will want to miss another Olympics, if they compete another four years!

Obviously, this is all speculation based on current immigration regulations and various scenarios that E/M could be facing. I doubt there is any way for the citizenship process to be sped up for Alisa to make the 2026 Olympics. Unless, once again, special consideration is given, which seems unlikely.
 
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BlissfulSynergy said:
To date, Alisa has been in the U.S. for a little over two years. It can take a pretty long time to obtain U.S. citizenship if you are not married to a U.S. citizen. I believe it's around 8 years. Misha & Alisa partnered in June 2023, so if they married that year and Alisa applied for her green card, she may have received it sometime in early 2024. Three years from then is early 2027, when she would be eligible to apply for citizenship. After applying, it could take up to 9 months or so to receive citizenship. So, let's say by late 2027 or early 2028 Alisa becomes a U.S. citizen, if indeed she and Misha are married. If so, that is, of course, their personal business and they are not required to share it with the public.

If Alisa is not married, it can take as long as 8 years to receive U.S. citizenship, unless some special consideration is given for athletic excellence, which is fairly hard to obtain. I would think they are on a speedier path for Alisa's citizenship because 8 years from 2023 is 2031, and I doubt E/M will want to miss another Olympics, if they compete another four years!

Obviously, this is all speculation based on current immigration regulations and various scenarios that E/M could be facing. I doubt there is any way for the citizenship process to be sped up for Alisa to make the 2026 Olympics. Unless, once again, special consideration is given, which seems unlikely.
Click to expand...
Maybe they should just get married. Not like it’s never happened.
 
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