2008

U.S. Nationals

Senior Pairs

Photos copyright 2008 by George S. Rossano

In their first Senior Championships, Keauna McLaughlin & Rockne Brubaker are poised to win it all after giving a mature performance marred by just one minor error.  Except for a hand down on throw triple Salchow, all there elements were well executed, the best of which was a big clean triple twist with a real catch of the lacy in the air -- a feat that eludes most U.S. pairs teams.  Except for the throw, their GoEs for the most part were plus ones and twos.

Performing to the "Moonlight Sonata," there program components were uniformly god as well, with marks in the mid to upper sixes, and a few judges going into the sevens.  This fresh new (to Senior) team is exactly what U.S. pairs skating needs, and if they can hold up under the pressure the old timers will have a job on their hands to beat this team.

Last season Rena Inoue, we thought, made it clear that her competition days were over, but she did not count on the Baldwin persistence.  So back again at this competition are Rena Inoue & John Baldwin after a season of touring.  Their elements were generally well executed, with GoEs of zero through plus two, but missing was their signature throw triple Axel.

In Program Components they barely edged ahead of McLaughlin & Brubaker by 0.34 points, with marks in the mid to upper sixes.  It was a capable skate essentially at the level they left us last season.  Following 2007 Worlds, the team left coach Peter Oppegard.  They now work with Phillip Mills and John Baldwin Sr.

Reigning National Champions Brooke Castile & Benjamin Okolski placed third in the Short Program and were scored third in both TES and PCS.  Their eleemtns were generally well skated, though two were scored negative.  On the plus side, their triple twist was solid and their opening level 4 pair spin very well done.  On their side by side jumps, however, Okolski fell, and the element was called single Axel, an error that cost them 4.2 points.  Their straight line step sequence was also scored negative by 0.20 points.

Skating to "L,Arena" from "Kill Bill, Vol. 2," their Program Components were mainly in the mid sixes for a well choreographed routine with above average, but not championship quality, expression of the music.

Rounding out the top four, who were a distinct group from the rest of the teams, were Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig. had issues with three elements, with the others just adequately executed.  On throw triple Lutz there was a near fall, and for side-by-side triple Salchow Evora under-rotated the jump for a downgrade.  Their side-by-side combination spin was also scored slightly negative with four of five judges marking it down.  Their opening triple twist was big, but received GoEs from -1 to plus two, with the judges going negative marking down the catch which was marginal at best.

For Program Components te team was marked in the low sixes, with one judge going as low as 4.75.  Skating to "Stray Cat Strut," if was a pleasantly choreographed routine that was rewarded mainly in Interpretation, while their Skating Skills mark dropped below six -- reflecting the fact this team's strength is presentation over technique.

The remaining teams in this event are in another, lower world.  Only Tiffany Vise & Derek Trent have much of a chance to move up into the medals.

Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker ran away with the title in the Championship Pairs division.  Their program to “Romeo and Juliet” earned a 124.20 for a total score of 190.74.

Although they fell on their throw quad Salchow and throw triple loop, they did a stellar split double twist that earned plus one, two and three GOES and some nice lifts.