Alexa Scimeca & Christopher Knierim

Haven Denney & Brandon Frazier

Tarah Kayne & Danny O'Shea

All Photos © 2015 George Rossano

(10 February 2015)  Alexa Scimeca & Christopher Knierim won the gold medal and the free skate at the 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in the Senior Pairs event, and did so in convincing style, setting records for the short program, the free skate, and the overall score for a pair at the U.S. Championships. The team also completed the first ever quad twist by an American pair in competition.

The team, who is coached by Dalilah Sappenfield and Larry Ibarra, opened the program with the quad twist, and were able to contain the excitement for the entire program, completing all their other elements with only small flaws here and there. Skating to ”An American in Paris" by George and Ira Gershwin, with choreography by Julie Marcotte, the only major error was when Scimeca singled and stepped out of one of the Axels in their planned double Axel - double Axel sequence. The team landed their triple Salchows, a past nemesis, cleanly. The throw triple flip and throw triple loop featured great height and distance, and fine flow out on the landing. The pair had advice from a Cirque du Soleil choreographer to help them develop a unique exit from their level 4 hip lift, and also completed a strong level 4 reverse entry lasso lift. Scimeca had a slight trip on the exit of their level 4 Axel entry lasso lift in their record setting performance.

As Scimeca remarked, “Normally when you see people win a national championship it looks so easy, but that program was a nail-bitter for me. It was just hard. I had to be really in the zone when we were going through it. I got really excited in the end and almost fell on the dismount.”

The team has confidence that they can continue to learn, based on their experience learning the quad twist. “We weren’t thinking of the quad twist at Skate America (in October), and it’s here now. We just kind of go with the flow,” Scimeca explained.

2013 World Junior Champions, Haven Denney & Brandon Frazier, finished the competition in second place overall, with the silver medal, and a score of 199.92 points, winning the right to a rematch with Scimeca & Knierim at the 2015 World Figure Skating Championships. It wasn't an easy task. As Brandon Frazier said at the post free skate press conference, “I think with the long, that’s the most we had to fight this season so far, but we still put out a good performance, and we are proud of that." He continued on, "When we started this season we had no expectations for where we are today. The way we went into this season, we wanted each performance to be better than the one before and that’s exactly what we’ve been accomplishing. Whether we are sitting, here, there, or even in these seats at all, I can’t be more proud of partner and myself. We’ve done more than what we expected. We learned a lot. We are very excited. It’s a start of new quad, there are great teams, and we are happy to be in this position."

The relatively young team, at nineteen and twenty-two years of age, has had some help making their programs look more adult. Haven Denney credited Ingo Steuer, coach of former World Champions Savchenko & Szolkowy and an addition to their coaching team of John Zimmerman and Silvia Fontana this season, during an interview following their silver medal performance at 2014 Skate America. “Ingo makes us more mature," Denney explained.

The idea for their program to "Pride Rock" from the "The Lion King" soundtrack by Hans Zimmer was suggested to the pair by Denney's sister, former U.S. pair champion Caydee Denney who is sidelined this year by injuries. During the free skate, the team displayed the smooth oneness that being a couple since the ages of seven and ten on both roller skates and on the ice provides. Particularly outstanding is their ability to match the highlights of their skills with the high points in the music, especially during the choreographic sequence, which had the crowd clapping along. There were small errors. Denney pitched forward a bit on the landing of her throw triple loop, but their other elements, including a level 3 triple twist, two level 4 lifts, one level 3 lift, a level 3 back outside death spiral, a level 2 back outside death spiral, a level four side-by-side spin, and a level 3 pair combination spin were well done.

Only the side-by-side double Axel-double Axel sequence garnered some negative scores because a slight mismatch in the landings of the second Axel.

The bronze medal went to Tarah Kayne & Danny O'Shea, the silver medalists at the 2014 Four Continents Championship, with a total score of 185.31 points. Kayne, who is 21, underwent surgery for a labrum repair in late July 2014, but seems completely recovered. As she commented, “We’re just happy that we made it to nationals after the season we’ve had so far. There were definitely times when we didn’t think we would have progressed this much after my surgery to be able to compete, so we’re very happy with both of the performances we put out.”

While Kayne was recovering, O'Shea had to demonstrate their programs at Champs Camp alone, "It’s definitely been a roller coaster ride this season, for sure, as I’m sure Tarah can attest to. At Champs Camp she had just had her surgery four weeks before that. I did Champs Camp by myself. I skated programs, and they told me I had the best lifts, so that was good. It’s been quite a ride. She’s been just as strong as you can imagine through the entire thing."

Kayne fell on the throw triple loop, but otherwise was able, with O'Shea, to complete all their other elements for positive GOE's. Skating a heart-felt routine to "Spartacus" by Aram Khachaturian, to choreography by Jim Peterson, Kayne & O'shea, the 2014 Golden Spin of Zagreb bronze medalists third place in the free skate and third place overall by completing two level 4 lifts and one level 3 lift, a double Axel-double Axel sequence with good synchronization, beautiful side-by-side triple Salchows that took off and landed in exact unison, a level 4 combination pair spin, and level 4 side-by-side combination spins.

O'Shea summed up the whole experience, "We couldn’t be happier and I couldn’t be more proud of my strong partner.”

The fourth place finishers, Madeline Aaron & Max Settlage, improved on their seventh place finish in the short program to skate a strong fourth place performance in the free skate, which combined to give them a score of 175.74 points. The 2014 U.S. Junior Pair champions, .wearing costumes designed by Elena Pollack and Jill Settlage, skated to Selections from "The King and I" by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein to choreography by Julie Marcotte. The program was very much driven by the story from the musical and featured an extended interpretation of the scene where Anna teaches the King to waltz. Max Settlage discussed the team's choices this way, "We wanted to stay as close to the characters as we could…we took a lot of inspiration from the ballroom scene.”

The team, who is coached by Dalilah Sappenfield and Larry Ibarra, got good heigh on their level 3 triple twist, completed a throw triple loop with good distance, a well-synchronized double Axel-double Axel sequence, and a level 4 flying combination spin with good unison, and completed side-by-side triple Salchows, and earned positive grades of execution on all their elements except for the throw triple Salchow, which Aaron fell on. The couple has set themselves up well to reach their goal of making the 2018 Olympic team.

Moving up to fifth place overall from from sixth place in the short program were Jessica Calalang & Zack Sidhu.with a personal best score at U.S. Nationals of 174.32 points. Key to the team's placement was a much improved triple twist. A focus for the team and their coaches, Todd Sand, Jenny Meno and Christine Binder this year has been to improve the pair's triple twist, and to improve on their eleventh place finish at the 2014 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The team has accomplished both goals. When interviewed at the 2014 U.S. International Classic in September, Zack Sidhu talked about their twist, "We worked on getting it up higher, and getting a better catch; before, it used to crash a little bit. We worked with our coaches and also with Rockne Brubaker, to try to get it smoother."

"Last year, the twist was tiny; this year, it's growing," Calalang said. "Next season, it will be even better." The twist cannot improve much more. The team received a level 3 for their twist, with all but one GOE at +2.

The only serious flaw in their program to selections "Romeo and Juliet" by Nino Rota, a program that has worked well for them all year, was a fall by Sidhu on the triple Salchow. Calalang & Sidhu received positive GOE's for all their elements with the exception of the side-by-side triple Salchow. All their lifts were level 4, as was their flying camel combination spin. The crowd really appreciated their engaging performance as the team concluded their program with a level 4 combination pair spin with some unique positions.

Marissa Castelli & Mervin Tran, who showed a near perfect short program to capture third place, finished in eight place in the free skate to place in sixth overall with a total score of 169.14 points. The most costly problem was difficult for the audience to see, but it caused the team to lose all points for their pair combination spin. Castelli took a step between the two halves of the spin, and so the team received no credit for a change of foot.

As the rule states, "If there is no change of foot or no change of position by one or both partners, the spin will be called a ...a “Pair Spin” in Free Skating (wrong element – no value as well. " Without this error, Castelli & Tran might have finished higher.

The students of Bruno Marcotte, Richard Gauthier and Bobby Martin skated an intensely interesting program to "Adios Nonino" by Astor Piazzolla, choreographed by Julie Marcotte. The team displayed interesting transitions and surprising elements, and showed a good connection, musicality and speed throughout, despite only having had the program since September.

Still, their newness to each other and the program showed. Castelli is still learning the throw flip, a skill she never attempted with her former partner Simon Shnapir, and only attempted a double here. Both Castelli and Tran had problems with an attempted triple toe-double toe combination. Tran fell, and Castelli popped the first jump of the combination to a double. Castelli had some difficulties with the landing of the triple Salchow. Tran had some balance issues in the hip lift, the element preceding the disastrous pair spin. However, the other elements were strong, especially the first two lifts, an Axel entry lasso lift, and a reverse entry lasso lift, level 4 side-by-side flying camel spins in good unison, and the choreographic sequence.

Still, both partners remained positive. Castelli commented, “We got here, did the best we did in the short, and we love the potential. We’re just thankful for the crowd’s support," and added, “It wasn’t our best today, but we’ll definitely be back with more.”

Tran was even more positive, "“The program just needed more polish, that’s about it.”

The seventh place finishes, Gretchen Donlan & Nathan Bartholomay, scored a total of 168.05 points, and finished sixth in the free skate. Donlan had finished as high as fourth in Senior Pairs with her previous partner, Andrew Speroff. Bartholmay was last year's silver medalist with his former partner Felicia Zhang. The team's choreographers, Jim Peterson and Judy Blumberg, picked a classical piece of music, "Clair de Lune" by Claude Debussy, performed by The Philadelphia Orchestra, to showcase Donlan's balletic poise and lovely extensions. Not only did the pair have to contend with the general difficulties of learning new pair skills. Bartholomay was off the ice for eight weeks after surgery to remove bone spurs. Donlan spent the time attempting to improve her jumping skills, an effort which should pay off in the future. However, the fact that the duo had only had four weeks of on-ice training prior to this competition showed.

Although the team completed a beautiful level 2 triple twist, a level 3 back inside death spiral, and strong lifts, there were errors. Bartholomay doubled a triple Salchow while Donlan went for the triple, but fell. Their planned double Axel-double Axel sequence had no unison and the second Axel was singled. Finally, Donlan fell on their throw triple loop.

DeeDee Leng & Simon Shnapir rallied to score 105.26 points to finish in seventh place in the free skate, but their total score left them in eighth place with a total of 160.29 points. Still the team felt pleased with their overall performance to "Miss Saigon" by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil. As Leng commented about the free skate, "“It was definitely much better, but there is more recovery we can do.”

Shnapir agreed, and gave the credit to Leng, “She definitely shined in this one, she really brought her A-game.” The Olympic bronze medalist is looking to the future, "“This is the toughest year we’ll have to go through and experience. We’re very thrilled, we’re happy we’re here.”

The team has not yet mastered all the senior level skills together, and struggled particularly with the jump elements, but showed very strong lifts and a huge throw triple Salchow. Leng fell on a triple toe loop, and the pair was unable to complete their planned triple Salchow combination.

Anya Davidovich & AJ Reiss earned a total score of 142.15 to finish in ninth place in the free skate and overall in the competition. Davidovich, age 17, and Reiss, age 22, are a newly paired team who are coached by Peter Oppegard. Like the other new teams at this competition, their programs have been a mix of elements that came easily to them, done well, with elements that will require more time to learn. The pair skated to the soundtrack of the 1955 movie "The Gadfly, by Dmitri Shostakovich. The program had a rough start. Reiss was out of position for the catch of their Basic level triple twist and then fell while attempting a triple toe loop. The couple rallied to complete some very nice elements, including a throw triple Salchow preceded by a dance lift, a good quality level 4 reverse lasso lift with a carry and a well-controlled exit, a level 3 Axel entry lasso lift, and a level 3 flying camel combination spin.

Alexandria Shaughnessy & James Morgan scored a total of 131.20 points to finish in tenth place. Completing both programs at U.S. Nationals was a victory of sorts for the team, which has been dealing with serious injuries all season. Late last August, Shaughnessy, fractured her jaw, which had to be wired shut in order to heal. The team was forced to cancel their international assignment. Later in the season, Morgan seriously injured his wrist. The duo, who is coached by Carrie Wall and Bobby Martin, skated their free program to Concerto per il tuo Ricordo," performed by the Berlin Symphony Orchestra. Shaugnessy under-rotated and fell on her triple Salchow. Perhaps due to lost training time, some of their elements were not as difficult as those attempted by other teams. They executed a level 1 double twist and a throw double loop, rather than triples. However, the pair’s lifts were very strong, as was their side-by-side level 4 combination camel spin, which had great speed and good unison.

The eleventh place couple, Olivia Oltmanns & Joshua Santillan, finished eleventh in both the short program and the free skate, and earned 116.44 points total. The team, who made their debut in the senior ranks at U.S. Senior Nationals at this event, has a very small difference height, which gives them an appealing appearance on the ice, but affects their ability to perform lifts. Two of the team's lifts received no credit at all. On an attempted hip lift with a carry, Santillan lost balance and had to abort the lift after the carry, but before he had made any rotations. Later in the program, in a step-in lasso lift, Santillan was unable to get Oltmanns aloft at all and again aborted the lift. The duo's best element was a pair of smooth and slickly executed side-by-side triple Salchows.

Cali Fujimoto & Nicholas Barsi-Rhyne finished in twelfth place in the free skate and twelfth place overall with a total score of 111.91 points. Fujimoto had very recently had the flu, and her performance and stamina throughout this event was affected. However, the team still managed to execute some lovely elements in their program, which they call "Angels and Devils." Particularly beautiful was a beautful level four hip lift that included a carry with Barsi-Rhyne executing an outside spread eagle. The mirror pair also managed a level 3 combination camel spin, a neat trick when rotating in reverse. The duo only attempted a double flip-double toe loop combination and suffered a fall during their attempted double Axels.