2016 PROGRESSIVE SKATE AMERICA
A GRAND OPENING
U.S. wins seven medals over all disciplines Team USA used its home-ice ad-
vantage to the fullest, winning seven medals — including two golds — at 2016 Progressive Skate America in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, Oct. 21–23. Reigning World silver medalists
Ashley Wagner and Maia and Alex Shibutani led the way with titles in la- dies and ice dance. Team USA won at least one medal in all four disciplines. Te kickoff event to the 22nd an-
nual Grand Prix Series returned to the Sears Centre Arena (2014), about a half hour from Chicago. “Te seven medals were not only a
record for Skate America at a Grand Prix event, but more importantly I thought our skaters performed really well,” U.S. Figure Skating Senior Director of Ath- lete High Performance Mitch Moyer said. “Tey have good performances to build on and I look forward to see how they progress through the Grand Prix season and into the championship events in the spring.” Te competitors, Moyer said,
showed great improvement since Champs Camp in August. “Tey went home and worked
on the feedback from our officials and they all came better prepared for Skate America,” Moyer said. Te big surprise of the compe-
tition for the U.S. was Mariah Bell, a last-minute substi-
tute for the event. In only her second Grand Prix Series event, she rallied to win the free skate and the silver medal. Te 2015 and 2016 men’s cham-
pions, Jason Brown and Adam Rip- pon, delivered inspired performances en route to the silver and bronze med- als. Brown landed a quad, although judged under-rotated, for the first time in competition in his free skate. Haven Denney and Brandon
Frazier, who missed the entire 2015 season because of a knee injury and surgery to Denney, won the silver pairs medal. Te two also won the silver medal at Skate America in the same building in 2014. U.S. ice dance continued its
dominance with the Shibutanis, and Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue claiming the top two spots on the podium. Te U.S. has won eight consecutive Skate America titles and 12 of the last 14 in ice dance.
Ashley Wagner won her second Skate America title in five years with two contrasting programs, and kept the audience engaged and cheering.
SKATING 9
JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
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