2010 US Nationals - Pairs Discussion *SPOILERS*

[Isk8NYC]

2010 US Nationals - Pairs Discussion *SPOILERS*

Short Program Skate Order:

Caydee Denney, Southwest Florida FSC
Jeremy Barrett, Southwest Florida FSC

Brooke Castile, Arctic FSC
Benjamin Okolski, Arctic FSC

Ameena Sheikh, Detroit SC
Aaron VanCleave, Detroit SC

Marissa Castelli, Skating Club of Boston
Simon Shnapir, Colonial FSC

Tiffany Vise, Broadmoor SC
Don Baldwin, Los Angeles FSC

Andrea Best, Detroit SC
Trevor Young, Detroit SC

Kendra Moyle, Dallas FSC
Steven Pottenger, Dallas FSC

Rena Inoue, All Year FSC
John Baldwin, All Year FSC

Keauna McLaughlin, Los Angeles FSC
Rockne Brubaker, Broadmoor SC

Amanda Dobbs, Peninsula SC
Joseph Jacobsen, All Year FSC

Laura Lepzinski, Detroit SC
Ethan Burgess, All Year FSC

Tracy Tanovich, Southwest Florida FSC
Michael Chau, Southwest Florida FSC

Molly Aaron, Coyotes SC of Arizona
Daniyel Cohen, Skating Club of Boston

Lisa Moore, ISC of Fort Collins
Justin Gaumond, All Year FSC

Caitlin Yankowskas, Broadmoor SC
John Coughlin, Kansas City FSC

Amanda Evora, Southwest Florida FSC
Mark Ladwig, Red River Valley FSC

[Isk8NYC]

Results after SP:

PlaceName
1 Caydee Denney, Southwest Florida FSC Jeremy Barrett, Southwest Florida FSC
2 Caitlin Yankowskas, Broadmoor SC John Coughlin, Kansas City FSC
3 Amanda Evora, Southwest Florida FSC Mark Ladwig, Red River Valley FSC
4 Rena Inoue, All Year FSC John Baldwin, All Year FSC
5 Brooke Castile, Arctic FSC Benjamin Okolski, Arctic FSC
6 Amanda Dobbs, Peninsula SC Joseph Jacobsen, All Year FSC
7 Keauna McLaughlin, Los Angeles FSC Rockne Brubaker, Broadmoor SC
8 Molly Aaron, Coyotes SC of Arizona Daniyel Cohen, Skating Club of Boston
9 Tiffany Vise, Broadmoor SC Don Baldwin, Los Angeles FSC
10 Ameena Sheikh, Detroit SC Aaron VanCleave, Detroit SC
11 Marissa Castelli, Skating Club of Boston Simon Shnapir, Colonial FSC
12 Kendra Moyle, Dallas FSC Steven Pottenger, Dallas FSC
13 Tracy Tanovich, Southwest Florida FSC Michael Chau, Southwest Florida FSC
14 Andrea Best, Detroit SC Trevor Young, Detroit SC
15 Lisa Moore, ISC of Fort Collins Justin Gaumond, All Year FSC
16 Laura Lepzinski, Detroit SC Ethan Burgess, All Year FSC

[sk8ryellow]

Well as many have seen on ice network Rockne and Keaunna didnt do very well and did not even make the top 4 in the short program. I just wanted to know if anyone wanted to share thier opinion if they think they can make the olympic team.




My Opinion: I think they have lost thier edge and competitiveness after leaving world arena and they wont make the team.

[sk8ergalgal]

I think they can still make the team if they skate their heart out and do a clean long program and prove everyone wrong. I believe they still have a chance because they are the pair team with the most experience and I think that is important in an Olympic team selection.

[A.H.Black]

I think they can still make the team if they skate their heart out and do a clean long program and prove everyone wrong. I believe they still have a chance because they are the pair team with the most experience and I think that is important in an Olympic team selection.
I disagree that they have the most experience. I agree that they still have a shot. I don't think they made a mistake by going to Mr. Nicks. I have seen a much greater connection between them and have enjoyed this years programs. I think the realization of what they might become has had an impact. Now we will see what they are made of.

I think the results at the end of the free program will be greatly different than after the short.

[Isk8NYC]

Aren't Inoue and Baldwin the team with the most experience?

Is John Baldwin any relation to Don Baldwin?

(I was very confused in watching Don skate because I thought they had announced John. I looked and said "Is he wearing a rug?" Then I realized it was someone else.)

[A.H.Black]

Aren't Inoue and Baldwin the team with the most experience?

Yep. Evora and Ladwig have been together for a long time as well as Castile and Okolski.

[TreSk8sAZ]

Aren't Inoue and Baldwin the team with the most experience?

Is John Baldwin any relation to Don Baldwin?

(I was very confused in watching Don skate because I thought they had announced John. I looked and said "Is he wearing a rug?" Then I realized it was someone else.)

Brothers, IIRC

[Isk8NYC]

Brothers, IIRCLove it when parents give kids rhyming names, lol. That would explain why I was so confused - they have the same coloring.

[MQSeries]

Only two pairs for Olympic this year?

Happy for Denney and Barrett. If they can improve their inbetweens, stroking, transitions, etc. then they'll be very competitive with the top pairs in the Worlds.

Ouch for Keauna and Rockny. Growing pains?

[sk8ryellow]

I think the pairs team spots are really just open to anyone who wants them at this point.

[kayskate]

Watching pairs short on NBC. Rene Inuoe (33) and John Baldwin (36) just completed a throw 3axel. You rock! What an inspiration.

Kay

[Skittl1321]

That was one of the best US pairs competitions I can remember watching. When did the discipline get competitive?

Fingers crossed for Amanda/Mark going to the Olympics. If they don't get it, I wouldn't want to be the person who has to tell Amanda. She almost made me cry she was so happy. (I think this is their first non-pewter podium too).

On another board a lot of people are saying it would be wise to name them to the olympic team but either I/B or Mc/B to the world team- since they have more potential for placement, and worlds placement affects next year, while olympics doesn't. And none of the US pairs will place at the olympics, so that's really just for the title of olympian.

[sk8ergalgal]

Good job for Denney & Barrett! Although it still seems to me like they are not really a pair yet and can still grow and develop their connection between each other. I kind of agree with what the other board is saying.. about Worlds & Olympics.

[jazzpants]

Fingers crossed for Amanda/Mark going to the Olympics. If they don't get it, I wouldn't want to be the person who has to tell Amanda. She almost made me cry she was so happy. (I think this is their first non-pewter podium too).

I don't think you'll have to worry about that...

http://www.usfigureskating.org/Story.asp?id=44090&type=media

I am sad for Baldwin and Inoue, but unfortunately, they were clearly outskated by the other two pairs.

[sk8ergalgal]

Are Inoue and Baldwin done competing now?? Were they just attempting to make the Olympic team this season?? Is that why they werent named for the Four Continents and World teams?

[Skittl1321]

I don't know about 4CCs but it's being reported by news outlets that I/B declined the invitation to the World's team, with Baldwin saying something along the lines of "they are using us to get a better placement for next year"

[herniated]

Regarding M & B. Just let me begin by saying that I've enjoyed watching them progress. And I too feel that the 'pressure' has gotten to them .

But...when they were first paired together she was 13 or 14 a very little, tiny thing. She is still tiny but she did GROW and got heavier. Please don't misinterpret 'heavier' she is a tiny tiny young thing. But..Rockne is only like 5'9" (?) and he had two hernias repaired this year. I think maybe K got a bit too big for him. And maybe that explains her and his inconsistency with side by side jumps. As she got taller and more mature her timing may be 'off' therefore throwing off both of them?

Hopefully in this next year they will stick together and work through thier 'growing' pains so to speak. I think it's her growth. Never mind the fact that they just had a coaching change. Another poster did not think that had anything to do with it but you never know. They just don't look as confident as before.

[Mel On Ice]

I saw a new story this morning and I hate to see Baldwin potentially end his career with USFSA this way. They were outskated and the invitation to Worlds was a gift.

[sk8ryellow]

Regarding M & B. Just let me begin by saying that I've enjoyed watching them progress. And I too feel that the 'pressure' has gotten to them .

But...when they were first paired together she was 13 or 14 a very little, tiny thing. She is still tiny but she did GROW and got heavier. Please don't misinterpret 'heavier' she is a tiny tiny young thing. But..Rockne is only like 5'9" (?) and he had two hernias repaired this year. I think maybe K got a bit too big for him. And maybe that explains her and his inconsistency with side by side jumps. As she got taller and more mature her timing may be 'off' therefore throwing off both of them?

Hopefully in this next year they will stick together and work through thier 'growing' pains so to speak. I think it's her growth. Never mind the fact that they just had a coaching change. Another poster did not think that had anything to do with it but you never know. They just don't look as confident as before.


My mom and I were talking and we both agreed that they robbed Rockne of a skating carrer because last year he couldnt go to worlds because Keaunna was to young and this year he cant go to the olympics because she messed up. I understand that pairs is a TEAM sport but I think that Rockne could have gotten a much better partner. Besides Keaunna is outgrowing him!

[Isk8NYC]

Hopefully in this next year they will stick together and work through thier 'growing' pains so to speak. I think it's her growth. Never mind the fact that they just had a coaching change. Another poster did not think that had anything to do with it but you never know. They just don't look as confident as before.
ITA - Rockne used to skate with Mariel Miller and I believe her growth had something to do with his looking for another partner. However, he has always been very honest about his ambitions, so this must be disappointing to him.

[Petlover]

I am just so excited with Denney and Barrett. I've known Jeremy for almost 13 years, and a harder working nicer guy you just couldn't find. Of course, being from Tampa Bay and being friends with lots of people at the Ellenton rink, I am just over the moon that Evora and Ladwig get to go also.