who will place in the junior events at US nationals?

[i'm a cat WAW]

i have no clue, everyone is sooooo good this year. well everyone is consistant this year. what are ya gunna do if everyone skates clean?:?

[pattern99]

just cus I'm REALLY, REALLY biased and since these guys skate great...I predict a showdown at Easterns and then at Nationals with a medal sweep by these three sweeties: Adam Aronowitz, Mark McLeod, and my hunny, Aaron Gilespie!!! That's ma boyz!!! And anyone who knows these guys, knows that this is indeed a possibility!

*patt99*

[NiceIce]

Last year Aaron Gillespie didnt compete and I had heard he had quit skating and was participating in swimming instead.
did he change his mind?
Tres Rouse will definately factor in the story of Easterns if he is doing Junior this year.

[pattern99]

Aaron is back and doing great! He just came off of a great skate at Mids and placed 3rd... :D

Patt99

[adrianchew]

I'll be at Regionals to watch them skate. ;)

[pilgrimsoul]

I don't know a whole lot about the junior skating scene, but at 2002 Nationals, an adorable junior skater named Katie Stewart just stole my heart! I hope she makes another appearance this year and does well. She skates in Detroit. I remember reading recently that she withdrew from a competition, but no reason was given. Does anyone have any news about Katie?

[Jack]

I am not sure what is up with Katie these days, but yes, she is fantastic!! So much personality and charisma, she is great. And she's one of those skaters that you love to watch, but can't quite put your finger on why. You just know their is somehting special about her that makes you want to see more. Quite a quality to have. I hope she has a stellar season this year, I tink she may have moved up to senior, but not sure on that. I know that she struggles with her triples at times, but her double axel is a work of art, dang, it's like she has wings when she launches into a double axel... it's really gorgeous! :D

[Trillian]

At nationals? It's pretty wide open at this point, which is pretty common in a post-Olympic year since it seems a lot of skaters move up to seniors then. I'm guessing at least our top two novices will be medal contenders in junior ladies, along with the top remaining juniors from last year (DeSanctis, Sheaffer), but there will probably be others who surprise people--Sandra Rucker, for instance, could be a factor. Among the men there are also a lot of potential medalists. Brauninger looks like the favorite, but Aronowitz, Phan, Campbell, Wong, Rouse, and maybe others are worth watching. Appel & Harris will be trying to defend their junior pairs title, but I'd bet Howerton & Pottenger will be very strong challengers to upset them; past that, it's wide open. In dance, Frisch & Bommentre are favorites, but Matthews & Zavozin, Davis & White, Russell & Metzger, Solomon & Cohen, Steed & Hill, Devins & O'Keefe, and Donowick & Ungar could finish in almost any order behind them.

[what?meworry?]

trillian---last year russell/metzger demonstrated significant ability and potential for a strong placement, but this year has been a big question mark given that they were not at lake placid and didn't rate well at their first international assignment. the odds are that they will not get a second international assignment.

do you think 1) they have been asked to do a new free dance? 2) usfsa will place them above what they would otherwise "earn" or 3) there is some mitigating circumstance that will be corrected by nationals?

otherwise, i totally agree, the rest are up for grabs!

p.s. i think m&m will win junior at nationals.

[habanero]

Originally posted by what?meworry?
trillian---last year russell/metzger demonstrated significant ability and potential for a strong placement, but this year has been a big question mark given that they were not at lake placid and didn't rate well at their first international assignment. the odds are that they will not get a second international assignment.

do you think 1) they have been asked to do a new free dance? 2) usfsa will place them above what they would otherwise "earn" or 3) there is some mitigating circumstance that will be corrected by nationals?


The Russel / Metzger situation this year is very complicated. I hear lots of different things when I get into the Bay Area -- which lately has been a little too often.

I spoke with one person who saw video of Yugoslavia -- she claimed R/M's skating was very good and they placed far below where they should have. Persistent comments going around to the same effect.

There are rumors of a judging problem too, more than one may have had to write letters for placing them too low. Can't confirm, but heard it more than once. I've heard almost everything possible from "the 5 Judges placing them lowest had the top 5 teams in the CD" to "their FD and OD is too avant-garde for an unknown team." Take your pick! Your guess is as good as mine.

Apparently both OD and FD are non-traditional and include difficult elements that look like major slips but are intentional. I heard too that their Samba even contains an unusual (but spectacular) highlight. I generally hear that their FD is "very different" -- avante garde just might be a better term.

I do agree that if D/U place reasonably well (end up with points), they will get the last JGP slot. I also think R/M may be in a lot more danger of being held down at Nationals than held up.

[pattern99]

I hope Max and Morgan do well! Besides...besides being a strong dance team, Max is a real sweet heart and works majorly hard. So... yeah! :P Basically, I hope EVERYONE has a great season and skates well. Of course, I hope my hunny (aaron) does well too... awww!!! Any predictions on Mark McLeod?? I hope my three (Mark, Adam Arronowitz and Aaron do well.)

Patt99