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2015 U . S . A DULT C HA MPIONSHIPS


EVENT BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN EACH SKATER Te U.S. Adult Championships turned 21 in April, as nearly 400 skaters descended on


is number one’


the Salt Lake City Sports Complex. “Te first time I competed at the Adult Championships in 2012, it was an experience


I just couldn’t forget,” said Cindy Tipton, who competed with partner Keith Clark in the Centennial Dance event in 2012, 2013 and 2015. “When we got off the ice, I could hear so many people clapping. At first I thought it was my friends, but I looked in the stands and it was the teams who had skated before us. My competitors were cheering as loud as my friends.”


When the four-day event came to a close, nearly 300 medals were awarded in 79


events, but the friendships and love of the sport are what took center stage. “Te camaraderie here is number one,” Ted Gradman, a neuropsychologist represent-


ing the Skating Club of San Francisco, said. “Te drive that people have to come together — to do their best, support one another and encourage each other to shine in ways outside their normal lives — it’s something truly special.” Gradman is one of the nine competitors in Salt Lake City who have competed in all


21 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships. He’s joined by Colleen Conroy, Phyllis Fri- ello, Julie Gidlow, Walter Horton, Patricia McNamara, Tom Mullins, Angela Prevost and Dorothy Ray. Te group was honored at the event’s Opening Ceremony, which also featured a performance by American Ice Teatre. “Skating has this incred- level of challenge,” Grad-


ible


man said. “I’m almost 57 now, and I’m kind of amazed that I’m still getting better. Tis sport requires strength, flexibility, mu- sicality and balance, and to be better at these things now than I was 10 years ago is really ex- citing. I think that’s what keeps bringing all of us back to the ice year after year.”


Below, eight of the nine competitors who have competed in all 21 U.S. Adult Championships share a smile in the kiss and cry after being honored during the Opening Ceremony. Back row (l-r) Ted Gradman, Thom Mullins, Walter Horton, Dorothy Ray; (front row, l-r) Julie Gidlow, Colleen Conroy, Angela Prevost, Patricia McNamara. Not pictured is Phyllis Friello. Above (l-r) skaters Jose Hinojos, Todd Maine, Michael Tongko, Rachel Duran and Angie Miske cheer on the other competitors from the bleachers.


Jaclyn Yacomes


JUNIOR-SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP MASTERS BY MIMI WHETSTONE Seasoned veteran Jaclyn Yacomes of the


Washington FSC was in a class of her own, fin- ishing nearly six points ahead of the field and successfully defending her title to win her fifth medal in this event in as many years. “I felt a little tight in the beginning, but I just told myself to bend my knees,” Yacomes said. “Te performance just built from there. I was a little tired at the end, but I pushed through it and I fought for everything.” Skating to Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sona-


10 JUNE-JULY 2015


JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING


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