Junior 2016 U.S. SYNCHRONIZED SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Pure joy
Trujillo, Samantha Dreyer, Danielle Gilfoyle, Sophia Johnston, Amanda Angulo, Bailey Styz- inski, Olivia Johnston, Alyssa Dunn, Kalysa Pampuch, Taylor Kay, Ashley Schons, Emily
Jazz breaks gold medal drought by RENEE FELTON
Te kiss and cry reaction was arguably the
best of the week: a member of Chicago Jazz (Chi- cago FSC) first high-kicked her way through the announcement of the scores and then fell from the step up into the kiss and cry as she learned her team had just won its first U.S. junior title since 2008.
Eri Lee’s reaction displayed the pure joy she felt upon hearing the team’s hard work had paid off. “As I stood in the kiss and cry, all I could think about was how our hard work, dedication and devotion was represented through our skate,” she said. “Breaking 100 (points for the free skate), a major goal for us, was amazing, but winning was a dream come true. We are all so grateful for all that we have accomplished this season.” Te Chicago Jazz upset short program lead-
ers the Skyliners (Te SC of New York) to claim the title with 166.87 points. Facing a five-point
deficit entering the free skate, the Jazz put on a strong and clean free skate to the music from Carousel that earned the second-highest segment score of 102.28 points. Te Jazz entered the event having won both their international events: Neuchâtel Trophy in Switzerland and the Spring Cup in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy. Te Skyliners arrived as reigning champions
and were poised to make it two straight after a dominating short program worth 70.00 points. However, the team suffered five deductions in the Les Misérables free skate that opened the door for the Chicago Jazz. “In your head, you keep telling yourself to
focus on what you’re doing and to focus on the skate,” team member Victoria Clarke explained. “Just keep on fighting because that’s all you can do. It’s ice, things happen. We’re absolutely go-
Styzinski, Maggie Andreason, Dagne Olson, Eri Lee, Heidi Weber-Howe, Hailey Contine
ing to learn from this experience. It’s not what we wanted, but we are going to keep on fighting.” Te Skyliners netted 164.08 points overall. Te Lexettes (Hayden Recreation Centre
FSC) also suffered some big mistakes in Kalam- azoo, recording five points in deductions in the short program. Tey rebounded nicely to win the free skate with 105.84 points, but the deficit after the short was too much to overcome. Tey won bronze, their ninth consecutive junior medal, with 156.31 points. “Tey skated really well,” coach Maikki Merie-
hto said. “Overall, the program was really good. We did not avoid mistakes today either. We had a little fall at the end, but otherwise it was a strong perfor- mance. I’m proud of how they came back.” Te Fond Du Lac Blades won their first-ever junior medal, garnering the pewter with 142.27 points.
Chicago Jazz (l-r) Carmela Olarte, Melissa
20 APRIL 2016
JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
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