INTERMEDIATE
best skate this season,” Doug Ladret said. “We’ve had ups and downs throughout the year, but we trusted the process. He got here, did two great skates and ended up with a medal. It’s great.” Finishing fourth was Eric
Sjoberg, of Middleton, Md., with 87.54 points.
— Mimi Whetstone
INTERMEDIATE PAIRS Winning the pairs event
brought excitement for Alicia Bertsch and Austin Hale that was difficult to contain. “We feel pretty confident in
how we did,” Bertsch said as she hopped up and down next to her partner.
“I feel good about it,” Hale agreed. GOLD MEDALIST
ANNA GRACE DAVIDSON
INTERMEDIATE MEN When the free skate concluded
in Omaha, nearly 10 points separat- ed 12-year-old Andrew Torgashev from his competitors. “Tis would only happen in
my dreams,” said the Florida skater. “I was really nervous coming out, but I had to put it aside and do what I know I can.” Coached by his parents, Ilona
Melnichenko and Artem Torgashev, the 2012 U.S. juvenile champion earned 107.92 points for the week, giving him his second U.S. title in as many years. “Tat’s the best I’ve skated all
season, so I’m really proud of it,” Torgashev said.
After a flawless short program
to “Nostradamus” by Tonci Huljic, Torgashev entered the free skate with a nearly five-point lead. De- spite a fall during his footwork se- quence, he earned 68.07 points for his rock-and-roll-themed free skate, besting the field by another five points. His final performance fea- tured three triple jumps, including the highest-scored element of his program, a triple Salchow-double toe combination that garnered 6.10 points.
Earning the silver medal, Eric
Stinehart, of Wilmette, Ill., earned 98 points, nearly 10 points ahead of the bronze medalist.
“I felt a little shaky on some
things, but I think I did pretty well based on what I’ve been practicing,” Stinehart said. Stinehart performed his free skate to selections from Te Firebird, complete with a triple toe-double toe combination and two Level 4 spins.
After a 13th-place finish at last
year’s championships and a fifth- place finish in the short program, Micah Tang, of Gilbert, Ariz., per- formed an impressive free skate for 56.98 points and the bronze medal. “I was actually really happy being in fifth place after the short program,” Tang said. “To be able to get a medal is incredible.” Tang, who trains under the coaching team of Doug and Lara Ladret, executed a flawless free skate to music from Conan the Barbar- ian. His program included an array of difficult elements including a high-flying triple toe and a dou- ble Axel-double toe-double loop jump series. He finished with 88.55 points.
“He did awesome, that was his SKATING 51
Teir performance boasted talent, skill and chemistry that was difficult to beat. Teir final score, 67.83, was six points higher than the previous year’s champions, making them confident they would place even with four teams left to skate following their program. “We skated clean,” Hale said.
“We’ve only done that a couple of times.” Bertsch, who lives in Willis, Mich., said they only were able to
practice as a team on the weekends and throughout the summer since they are from different cities. Hale, who lives in Richland, Wash., said the distance didn’t keep them from forming a friendship that took on a personality of its own on the ice. “Yeah, I guess we get along,” he teased. “Off the ice we’re pretty close, so I think that helps.” “Like you said,” responded
Bertsch, “we were quiet, now we just can’t shut up.” In preparing for the U.S. Championships, the team prac- ticed the technique of their jumps and lifts. Te key to their success, Bertsch said, was nothing more than hard work. Teir coach, Alena Lunin, pushed them, and they both agreed it paid off in the end. “Trows, good, strong lifts and
nice twists!” exclaimed Lunin, who was proud of their performance. “I think the main goal was to skate clean and show their hard work over there, since they don’t spend a lot of time together; just only on the weekends. I think it’s good that they looked unison; we do spend a lot of time on that and they were able to show that.” Darbie Burke and Griffin
Schwab, of New York, earned the silver medal. Teir performance
GOLD MEDALIST TORGASHEV ANDREW
PHOTOS BY MELANIE HOYT
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