Baram and Tioumentsev Claim U.S. Junior Pairs Title With Senior
Quality Performance
Sonia Baram (Los Angeles FSC) and Daniel
Tioumentsev (Dallas FSC) triumphantly claimed first at the 2022 U.S.
Championships in the Junior Pairs competition, taking gold with a
171.36 and finishing nearly 26 points ahead of the rest of the
competition.
This vibrant and talented team, who train in
Irvine, California with Jenni Meno and Todd Sand, the three-time
U.S. pairs titlists and three-time World medalists, Chris Knierim,
the three-time U.S. titlist and Christine Binder, displayed a
gold standard as they skated with the speed, aptitude and grace of
premier world contenders.
For their program to ‘Pilgrims on Journey’ from
Child of Light and ‘Primavera’ by Ludovico Einaudi, Baram and
Tioumentsev, who have only been skating together for less than two
years, racked up a 109.10, making them the only pair to score more
than two figures in the free skate showdown.
The duo did such elements as a lovely split
triple twist for which they earned grade of execution marks of plus
threes and plus fours, side-by-side triple Salchows followed by two
double toe loops, a throw double Salchow, a throw double loop and
soaring lifts in which they covered the length of the ice with
command and flow.
At the same time, their components were also
exceptional, as they interpreted the music with effectiveness,
aptitude and balletic style that reflected many hours of hard work
both on the ice and off. They earned a 54.61 for components, a
total that came up more than five points higher than the
second-place finishers, Isabelle Martins and Ryan Bedard.
At the conclusion of the competition, it was
clear the two were happy with their performance.
“I’m really proud of ourselves,” said Baram,
who also qualified and competed in the U.S. Championship junior
ladies event in Nashville.
Tioumentsev agreed.
“Our goal was to make sure to get everything
done,” said Tioumentsev. “And for [Sonia] to come out and do two
events is [awesome]. I’m just really proud of her.”
The two, who focus on all their elements,
particularly the lifts, jumps, spins and ballet in their daily
training, said they have very much enjoyed competing in Nashville
and hope to do some sightseeing with their friends and family during
the remainder of the week.
“I love it here, it’s really beautiful,” said
Baram.
Isabelle Martins (Chicago FSC) and Ryan Bedard
(Northern Ice SC) clinched the silver medal with their dramatic free
skate to ‘Caruso’ by Lara Fabian for which they scored an 89.82 and
144.71 total, marks that put them nearly 15 points ahead of the
third place finishers, Catherine Rivers and Timmy Chapman.
Martins and Bedard, two-time U.S. junior silver
medalists going into this competition, train with Rockne Brubaker,
the two-time U.S. pairs titlist and Stefania Berton in Geneva,
Illinois.
In their program, they did a split triple
twist, high-level lifts and a throw triple Salchow and throw triple
Loop in which she slightly two footed both landings.
“We’re happy we made it and gave it all we
could give,” said Martins.
“We just wanted to go for everything and give
it 100 percent,” said Bedard.
Catherine Rivers (Knoxville FSC) and Timmy
Chapman (Central Florida FSC) took bronze, catapulting from fifth in
the short to third overall with a top-grade free skate for which
they earned an 85.05 and 130.75 total score.
This team skated to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by
Maksim Mrvica and executed such notable elements as a split double
twist, side-by-side double loops, a throw double loop and
beautifully extended lifts.
“Just going out there and skating felt so
good,” said Rivers who is a Tennessee native. “I had this energy
from the crowd and the other skaters and feel like such a part of a
big team.”
Chapman agreed.
“I felt like the skate was really good,” said
Chapman. “I feel like we accomplished our goals and our mission. It
was also great we have an audience.”
Rivers and Chapman, train, like Baram and
Tioumentsev, with Jenni Meno and Todd Sand, Chris Knierim and
Christine Binder in Irvine, California.
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