Pair Breakup

[WeBeEducated]

Howerton and Pottenger have broken up.:(
They wont be at Nats.
The only good thing about that is that Sandoval and Ibarra(first alternates from Mids) will get to go now.

[Debbie S]

Geez - what happened? I don't mean to be nosy, but it's a strange time to break up. I thought that if they could stay together after their LP breakdown at 02 Nats and come back to win Jrs the next year, they were definitely a pair that wouldn't split easily.

Speaking of Ibarra, has Tiffany Vise (aka icetiff) found a partner yet? I'd love to see her come back.

[Sylvia]

Debbie S, Tiffany Vise paired up with Derek Trent this past summer and they recently won the bronze medal at Golden Spin of Zagreb :) - they have a bye in senior pairs to Nationals. Here's their USFSA bio (their medal just promoted them from Reserve to Team C): http://www.usfsa.org/team/pairs/visetren.htm

[Trillian]

Too bad--in spite of their youth, these two had been together more than five years, which is pretty impressive for any partnership, let alone one between two such young skaters. However, it's common (and often not a bad decision) for teenage pairs to move on to new partners eventually, so chances are there was a good reason for the split. It's a shame they couldn't finish out the season, though.

Anyone know if both skaters plan to keep going? I wish them the best of luck either way.

[jkl]

Let me join those that are disappointed to hear of this breakup. I saw great potential in this team and wish them both well.

[WeBeEducated]

I am disappointed and surprised too.
What a beautiful line and elegance they had.
Both love skating, plan to continue skating pairs with new partners when a good match is found, and they remain good friends.
Deciding/disagreeing on a coaching change seems to be one of the major contributing factors in the breakup.

[MelissaR]

I personally know both Steven and Amy and I believe your breakup statement is totally incorrect. I know he is at a family gathering and she is recooping from the serious ankle injuries she sustained just before Mids. They may be off the ice for a while while Amy heals. Who is your source of information? If you are unwilling to inform us of your source then please don't post these things that only can only hurt. I do not see any of this information posted on their web site. www.kataniye.com/pairofpairs I'll believe it when I see it there.

[WeBeEducated]

"Ankle injury" wasnt even discussed.
Unable to reach a mutual decision about coaching was a major issue.
A lack of strong , consistant jumps by one partner was also a concern.
No animosity or anger is involved.
Friendships are intact, and respect is mutual.
That's the news from my reliable source.

[MelissaR]

Again WeBeEducated, PUT UP OR SHUT UP! Reveal your SECRET source. or have it put on their web site. I deplore this type of posting without firm proof from a reliable source. You have made fools of us all!

[who]

MelissaR, for all we know, you could be lying too...

[haribobo]

1) I don't think Webeeducated should have to reveal his source if s/he doesn't want to. Threats like "put up or shut up" are hostile and if they need to be said, private messaging is a good place for it...

2) Are we sure Amy/Steven and the people involved wanted this information public, if it is true? I mean, perhaps they authorized webeeducated to post this, I don't know. But if not, it's probably better to wait and let them announce the split themselves (if there even is a split), or wait till the USFSA site puts up the info.

[Trillian]

Because no one's identity can be proven on these message boards, a poster's reliability can only be established over time depending on how accurate their posts turn out to be. Those of us who are familiar with WeBeEducated's history on this board are aware that this is a poster whose "sources" are actually people within the sport and the info is reliable or it wouldn't be posted here. Many of us on this thread, including myself, aren't going to believe just any old thing posted by an anonymous source--trust me, I've warned against that myself in the past. But it's a different story when someone's info is known to be trustworthy based on past occasions.

MelissaR, perhaps you should check someone's posting history (you can do that by looking at their profile) before assuming they don't know what they're talking about. And for that matter, what incentive have you given us to believe you? You're going to need to take the time to convince us of your own reliability before we'll have any reason to think we can trust you as a source.

[celtic]

I have to agree that WeBeEducated is a poster with reliable, accurate information, and the reasons posted for the break-up are isues I have heard about this pair team, also. At least one of the parents of this pair team is a frequent poster on the boards, and if untrue posts were being made about the team, he would, rightfully, post a rebuttal, don't you think?

I wish both skaters well and hate to see this break-up. Good luck to Steven as a singles skater, too, which is something he has to concentrate on for upcoming Nationals.

[Trillian]

Originally posted by celtic
Good luck to Steven as a singles skater, too, which is something he has to concentrate on for upcoming Nationals.

Actually, Steven finished fifth overall at Mids according to the results on the USFSA site, so he should be first alternate. Has one of the other qualifiers withdrawn? Either way, it looks like he's done very well in singles this year, which should do a lot to help his partner search (not that he'd have a problem anyway).

[Trillian]

I've just been given additional info from someone much closer to the situation--Howerton & Pottenger have not split, I'm certain that the person in question knows the whole story in this case. For those who aren't assured of my credibility, feel free to check my posting history. WeBeEducated, I'd suggest you double check your sources. As a poster who has been fairly accurate in the past (enough so that several of us were willing to defend you), I would hope the false info this time was due to a miscommunication of some kind.

And have a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

[PlatniumAngel]

Wow, if they did break up This is some shocking news! As soon as somebody knows for SURE please be sure to post! Thanks.

[WeBeEducated]

My source was Steve , who wrote the information online in an instant message, which I viewed with my own two eyes.

However, I know how sensitive pair relationships are, how difficult emotionally a break up can be for the skaters, parents, and fans.

For example, Nussear and Forsythe continued to indicate they would be competing at qualifying competitions, remained on the USFSA team listing, and made no announcement about a breakup. When a poster said that Emily herself told her at the mall that she wasnt skating, many refused to believe it. Did they show up at Mids? No, of course not.
I have seen over and again that few "rumours" are totally false about partner break ups.
I also know that teens can consider themselves "broken up" one day and be back together the next.
Maybe that's what happened in this case.
I hope so.
But right after Mids he did clearly indicate in an instant message that I saw(sent to someone in my home)that he would not be going to Nationals in pairs and gave the reasons why which I stated above. There was no ambiguity in his comments.
It was stated as a fact, not as something he was pondering. If he had said he was "thinking about" breaking up the team I never would have mentioned it.
Maybe my post has encouraged some renegotiating.
I am thrilled if they patched it up.

[Debbie S]

Originally posted by Sylvia
Debbie S, Tiffany Vise paired up with Derek Trent this past summer and they recently won the bronze medal at Golden Spin of Zagreb :) - they have a bye in senior pairs to Nationals. Here's their USFSA bio (their medal just promoted them from Reserve to Team C): http://www.usfsa.org/team/pairs/visetren.htm

Thanks, Sylvia!

[Trillian]

Originally posted by WeBeEducated
My source was Steve , who wrote the information online in an instant message, which I viewed with my own two eyes.

Well, if that's the case, I can see why you considered the info reliable.

I've been told more recently, by someone as close to the situation as anyone besides the two skaters themselves could be, that they have not split. In this case I'd be inclined to believe the more recent info--but people are probably going to believe whatever they've seen/heard for themselves, so I can't change anyone's mind.

I'd also be inclined to wait for permission from someone involved and/or an official announcement before posting to a public message board.

[WeBeEducated]

I am a HUGE fan of Howerton and Pottenger, which is why I was called over to the computer to see the online conversation("MOM! You are not going to believe this!") and why I imagined that it was perhaps already a done deed.
Next time I wont speak so soon, especially when it involves teens.
And I hope things have improved and all is well with them.

[Arsenette]

Originally posted by Trillian
I'd also be inclined to wait for permission from someone involved and/or an official announcement before posting to a public message board.

Actually I'm more inclined to follow this route. If at all possible until it is actually made as an official announcement I would like to close this thread until that happens. Regardless of sources and such - reliable or otherwise - until it is public domain (i.e. announcement on either their personal site or USFSA announcement) we really should not be discussing it. Without written proof this becomes rumor.

Thanks.