(l-r) Amy Lin, Tyler Pierce,
Bradie Tennell, Morgan Flood
NOVICE SKATERS BRING THEIR A-GAME TO OMAHA
Te future of competitive skating in the
United States is in good hands. In Omaha, the novice-level skaters routinely demonstrated en- tertaining programs that were filled with difficult elements.
Tey kicked off the 95th edition of the U.S.
Figure Skating Championships at the Centu- ryLink Center on Sunday, Jan. 20 and finished up late Monday afternoon, Jan. 21. Te thrill of competing at the “Big Show”
wasn’t lost on any of the 74 skaters who traveled from all over the country to battle for medals in America’s Heartland. “It’s been such an amazing experience al-
ready, and I’m so grateful to be here,” novice ladies champion Tyler Pierce said after her event- best short program. Pierce found herself in a friendly showdown
with Riverside, Calif., rinkmate Amy Lin. Both ladies displayed their arsenal of triple jumps and finely tuned spins and intricate footwork. At the end of Day 2, it was Pierce finishing in front of her friend by 2.39 points. “Both of them have been really solid at home in practicing and training and working hard and staying focused,” their coach Tammy Gambill said. In the men’s division, Tomoki Hiwatashi of
Hoffman Estates, Ill., edged Oleksiy Melnyk of Reston, Va., by 2.30 points. It was Hiwatashi’s third consecutive national
title. He captured the juvenile crown in 2011 and the intermediate title in 2012. All of Hiwatashi’s 11 elements in his “Die
Fledermaus” free skate received positive grades of execution. Te Indiana-based pairs team of Christina
Zaitsev and Ernie Utah Stevens rallied past first- year team Kaitlin Budd and Nikita Cheban to claim gold.
Te winners’ coach Serguei Zaitsev believes the foundation has been laid for future success. “Tey are young and have a lot to learn, but
hopefully we are on the right track,” he said. “Ob- viously next year we will be at the junior level and we’re hoping to do the harder elements.” In ice dance, Chloe Rose Lewis and Logan
Bye stole the spotlight by winning the free dance and the title. Tey finished fourth at the novice level in 2012. On the day after the last novice event, skat-
ers were treated to breakfast and a keynote ad- dress by 1998 Olympic champion Tara Lipinski.
40 MARCH 2013
LADIES GOLD
Tyler Pierce 128.96
SILVER
Amy Lin 126.57
BRONZE
Bradie Tennell 116.91
PEWTER
Morgan Flood 112.60
MEN’S GOLD
Tomoki Hiwatashi 155.29
SILVER
Oleksiy Melnyk 152.99
BRONZE
Nicholas Vrdoljak 139.11
PEWTER
Daniel Samohin 135.07
PAIRS GOLD
Christina Zaitsev/
Ernie Utah Stevens 123.30
SILVER Kaitlin Budd/
Nikita Cheban 114.71
BRONZE
Elise Middleton/ Robert Hennings 109.85
PEWTER Aya Takai/
Brian Johnson 102.71
ICE DANCING GOLD
Chloe Rose Lewis/ Logan Bye 102.89
SILVER
Tory Patsis/ Joseph Johnson 100.42
BRONZE Sammi Wren/
Alexey Shchepetov 95.37
PEWTER
Gigi Becker/ Luca Becker 95.26
(l-r) Tory Patsis/ Joseph Johnson,
Chloe Rose Lewis/ Logan Bye,
Sammi Wren/
Alexey Shchepetov, Gigi Becker/ Luca Becker
(l-r) Kaitlin Budd/Nikita
Cheban, Christina Zaitsev/Ernie Utah Stevens, Elise Middleton/
Robert Hennings, Aya Takai/Brian Johnson
(l-r) Oleksiy Melnyk, Tomoki Hiwatashi, Nicholas Vrdoljak, Daniel Samohin
PHOTOS BY JAY ADEFF
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