2014 U.S. ADULT CHAMPIONSHIPS


so far ahead of his competitors that he won the title easily with 53.90 points. With his recent graduate degree from the Cranbrook Academy of Art,


Szabo will soon be headed to the D.C. area where he has been hired to teach photography. But with the support of his friends and his father, John, Szabo hopes to compete next year in Salt Lake City. Two-time champion Davin Grindstaff (2001, 2007) of the Georgia FSC, skating to selections from Cinderella, took home the silver medal with a fast, light and well-presented program that included eight doubles, including a beautiful double flip-double toe loop. A stellar competitor who has stood on the podium in all 12 Adult Championships he’s attended, it’s clear from watching him that Grindstaff simply loves to skate. “I feel like I’m getting better with age,” Grindstaff said. “My speed, my


power, my artistry, I feel like it’s all improving.” Te multitalented Grindstaff coached three skaters at this year’s champi- onships, which allowed him to attend the entire week in Hyannis, Mass., and his joy was present in his performance which earned him 48.29 points. Tird place went to another former champion of this event (2011),


Grant Chien-Hao Huang of the Kansas City FSC. An athlete who always skates with great intensity and acknowledges the crowd, Huang opened with a gorgeous double Lutz-double loop with his arms over his head, and completed seven more double jumps to earn 43.66 points and the bronze medal. It was an amazing accomplishment considering Huang was in a car ac- cident that totaled his car and injured his ribs just three weeks prior to the championships. He clearly was in pain and his stamina was affected by his abbreviated training coming into the competition. And yet another former champ (six titles) and sentimental favorite, Larry


Holliday of the Chicago FSC, earned the pewter medal with 43.55 points. Skating a sophisticated program to selections from Casablanca, Holliday un- derrotated both triple Salchows (his signature jump) at the beginning of his program, but fought through the rest of his performance to earn fourth place.


CHAMPIONSHIP MASTERS INTERMEDIATE-NOVICE LADIES BY ANDY SCHELL


Looking as if she were wearing a million-dollar dress dipped in diamonds,


Stephanie Galuszka rocked the building. Skating to selections from 42nd Street, the Wyandotte FSC member and


dynamic crowd favorite opened with a huge double toe loop-single loop com- bination. She followed with a massive Axel that landed right on the beat of her music. Both elements, and many more throughout the program, earned her positive GOEs for execution. “I’m just so happy!” Galuszka beamed after winning. But it wasn’t always so. A dental hygienist with an 8-year-old daughter,


Galuszka burned out as a 12-year-old protégé at the U.S. Junior Champion- ships and then took 19 years off from skating. Each year since coming back, she’s endeared herself further to the adult skating community. Tis gutsy and jazzy program she choreographed with coach Cindi Ezzo had the audience cheering with every element. She confidently played to the crowd and the judges, making both sides of the rink happy to watch her bring home the gold with 41.30 points. Suzanne Himmerich of the Washington FSC, skating first, exhibited a true connection with her music, Celt- ic Woman’s cover of “You Raise Me Up.” It was clear that Him- merich was happy to be on the ice for her sixth U.S. Adult Championships.


(l-r) Suzanne Himmerich, Stephanie Galuszka, Beth Delano, Joy Dubost


“I chose this music because skating


has


always been there for me,” Himmerich said. “It does raise me up.” Back on the podium for the first time since


14 JUNE/JULY 2014 AD


Stephanie Galuszka Michael Rubke


JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING


MIA CORSINI/U.S. FIGURE SKATING


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