boots, because there’s a real showdown brewin’ in Omaha. Reigning U.S. champion Ashley Wagner
has her toe pick dug in deep knowing a bunch of young pups are aiming for her crown. Wag- ner, who in 2012 corralled three gold med- als and tacked on a Grand Prix Final silver, isn’t about to blink. But she better keep her eyes peeled on youngsters Agnes Zawadzki, Christina Gao and Gracie Gold, who are fresh off their first Grand Prix Series medals on the senior circuit. Also lurking in the shadows are wily veterans Mirai Nagasu and Alissa Czisny. Both are former U.S. champions, so this ain’t their first rodeo. If you’re looking for a good fight, get
a front-row seat for the men’s competition. Three-time U.S. champion Jeremy Abbott will draw a line in the sand and dare Evan Lysacek
22 JANUARY 2013
to cross it. You remember these cowboys, don’t you? They make sport out of kicking each other off the top spot of the podium. After a two-year drought, with Lysacek taking a little R&R to enjoy his Olympic success, the epic battle resumes. But beware – there are other tough hombres as well. Adam Rippon, Ross Miner and Armin Mahbanoozadeh will return to protect the piece of the podium they earned last year. And don’t count out Richard Dornbush, either. He won the silver, ahead of Abbott and Miner, in 2011. In the pairs competition, there’s about to
be a new sheriff in town. Big John Coughlin went down with a hip injury, putting the title he and partner Caydee Denney won in 2012 up for grabs. While that may sound like a tall order, Boston’s Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir look to be up for the task. But they better watch out for Denney and Coughlin’s
stablemates, Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knei- rim, who have a triple twist second to none. But if it comes down to a turf war, Boston’s other team, Gretchen Donlan and Andrew Speroff, plan to stake a claim. Wrapping up this whole rodeo will be Mer-
yl Davis and Charlie White, who will be looking to blow the dust off the history books. Davis and White have their sights set on a fifth U.S. ice dancing title, which would put them in plenty fine company. But the real roll of the dice will be for the other spots on the podium. Maia Shibu- tani and Alex Shibutani, the two-time U.S. silver medalists, will be scrapping with Madison Hub- bell and Zachary Donohue for second place. If they slip, Lynn Kriengkrairut and Logan Giuliet- ti-Schmitt are just a step away. Yep, this will be one Wild West show. And when the dust settles in Omaha, only the best will be standing tall.