NACS Assignments

[icefreak]

Lake Placid
July 10-13, 2003

Novice Ladies (4 US/ 4 CN)
Tosha Hanford
Samantha Karson
Erika Smith
Stephanie Zastrow

Novice Men (4 US/ 4 CN)
Charlie White
Lenny Raney
Ricky Reeder
Allen Davis

Novice Dance (4 US/ 4 CN)
Kaitlyn Weaver/ Charles Clavey
Adrienne Koob-Doddy/ Robert Antonelli
Marion Pennington/ Zachary Varraux
Ryland Stucke/ Elizabeth Palmer

Junior Men (4 US/ 4 CN)
Colin Pennington
David Weintraub
Tommy Steenberg
James Hanley

Mentor
July 31-Aug. 3, 2003

Novice Ladies (4 US/ 4 CN)
Lauren Hennessy
Stephanie Dal Porto
Rebecca Hughes
Juliana Cannarozzo

Novice Men (4 US/ 4 CN)
Douglas Razzano
Jon Nuss
Laithe Al-Zubi
Stephen Carriere

Novice Pairs (4 US/ 4 CN)
Julia Vlassov/ Drew Meekins
Bianca Butler/ Joseph Jacobsen
Stephanie Gaumond/ Justin Gaumond
Mariel Miller/ Nathan Hess

Junior Paris (4 US/ 4 CN)
Sydney Schmidt/ Christopher Pottenger
Katelyn Uhlig/ Colin Loomis
Jenna Yount/ Grant Marron
Jonathan Keen/ Marisa Sharma

Edmonton
July 31-Aug. 3, 2003

Novice Ladies (4 US/ 4 CN)
Melanie Drogseth
Nicole Tahtouh
Jessica Leatham
Kimmi Jeffers

Novice Men (4 US/ 4 CN/ 2 MX)
Princeton Kwong
R.J. Westfall
Andrew Gonzales
Daisuke Murakami

Novice Pairs (4 US/ 4 CN)
Sarah Glassberg/ Brandon Hanson
Kaile Eison/ Daniel Eison
Kylie Gleason/ Taylor Toth
Andy Seitz/ Lindsey Seitz
Bridget Namiotka/ Alex Merritt

Junior Ladies (4 US/ 4 CN/ 2 MX)
Felicia Gostisbehere
Katy Taylor
Jessica Houston
Brianna Perry

Thornhill
Aug. 14-17, 2003

Novice Ladies (4 US/ 4 CN)
Katrina Karpowitsch
Courtney Layton
Kaysi Kitsell
Katie Thordarson

Novice Men (4 US/ 4 CN)
William Brewster
Daniel Raad
John Coughlin
Jonathan Cassar

Novice Dance (4 US/ 4 CN)
Michelle Scott/ Alex Clark
Duke Wensel/ Katherine Copely
Calvin Taylor/ Blake Rosenthal
Michaelee Scarincio/ Justin Morrow

Junior Dance (4 US/ 4 CN)
Trina Pratt/ Todd Gilles
Meghan McCullough/ Joel Dear
Shannon Wingle /James Warren
Phillip Lichtor/ Samantha Cepican

[Dave Amorde]

Note: These events are held along with regular "club" events, and also include entries from Mexico.

Considering some of the ranting and raving regarding prices and logistics for Nationals, some of you might want to seriously consider attending and supporting these events. Not only will you see some serious talent, but you will see it for cheap, in arenas filled with exuberant families and friends. The atmosphere can't be beat.

[maria]

Any predictions?

[Trillian]

Originally posted by maria
Any predictions?

I'd imagine Pratt & Gilles can medal in the junior dance event, and all four of our U.S. junior ladies can contend for medals (it's a terrific group--a sweep wouldn't surprise me). Not sure how our junior men and pairs will fare, but we're probably capable of picking up at least one medal in both events depending how they skate.

Lots of good novice ladies competing for the U.S.; there should be no trouble winning at least one medal in every location (that's been typical in the past, anyway). I'm especially curious to see the novice debut of Melanie Drogseth, who's won consecutive national juvenile and intermediate titles over the last two years--she's one of my favorite local skaters. Her fellow Boston skater Juliana Cannarozzo, who's finished second to her at the national level for the last two years, will also be one to watch. I also suspect Katie Thordarson and Erika Smith, both of whom just missed making nationals out of the tough field at Eastern sectionals last year, can both medal--they're both at least as good as many of the skaters who did make nationals, if not better.

Adrienne Koob-Doddy and Robert Antonelli should do very well at their dance event (very possibly will win), and we have several strong novice pairs competing. Julia Vlassov & Drew Meekins and Bianca Butler & Joe Jacobsen should both be strong medal contenders at their event. Both are young teams but skated extremely well all last season. I'm a little surprised to see Namiotka & Merritt listed (wasn't it reported that they've split?), but if they are still together, they should also fare well.

[chattykathy]

I'm a little surprised to see Namiotka & Merritt listed (wasn't it reported that they've split?),

Alex Merritt made the circuit trying out with jr. pair girls like Sheila Harkaway and Christie Baca. He didnt want to re-locate but some of the girls were willing to go to Denver. He decided it wasnt worth changing, he is very connected to his coach there I heard.

She is a pretty good skater too in her own right, so yes I agree, they will do well, especially with that split twist they have!

[Sparkey]

Sorry, Trillian, but I think we've got two or even three Canadian teams who can beat K-D/A. :lol:

[Trillian]

Originally posted by Sparkey
Sorry, Trillian, but I think we've got two or even three Canadian teams who can beat K-D/A. :lol:

Assigned to the same event? There's the eight place novice team, the sixth place pre-novice team, a team that was sixth in their novice sectional event, and a team that didn't compete at sectionals. Which of these teams are you expecting to beat K-D&A?

[A.H.Black]

I agree with Trillian about Koob-Doody/Antonelli and Butler and Jacobsen. Thats assuming, of course that they haven't experienced any unequal growth spurts recently.

I also expect good things from James Hanley and I would love to find out that Laithe Al-Zubi has gained some control because he's lots of fun to watch.

[Sparkey]

Rettino and Lapointe were injured for sectionals last year, and only started training again a couple of weeks before div's, and still managed to place fairly well (tho not well enough for nats). This year they're healthy and ready. Pellerin and Dupuis are very strong, just had a poor showing at nats (which can happen). Hurst and Stoveld had a NAC last year . Don't know if anyone saw them, but for the last two years I've been watching them, and they are VERY entertaining, and won the Possibilities award (Skate Canada) this year. It's only McKenzie and Gfeller that I've never seen, but they're coached by Julie Marcotte, so WATCH OUT USA!:D

[Sylvia]

Canadian NACS assignments are at:
http://www.skatecanada.ca/english/teams/assignments/athassts.html#nacs

Having heard good things about Myriane Samson's recent progress (she won the silver in Canadian Pre-Novice last season), I'm looking forward to hearing how she does at the Lake Placid novice girls' event.

[deanna]

Right on Sparkey about our Novice Dance teams! I, too, have not seen Mackenzie and Gfeller but the other 3 teams are strong and a word for you Trillian. Never prejudge a team simply by their placement at Nats. Kids can improve since Nats as we all have seen when we look at kids who don't make nats and then go out and win their event the following year! I am sure your American teams are strong but so are the Canadian teams, so why don't we all wait with anticipation for the event. Good luck to Team Canada!

[Trillian]

I wasn't insulting the Canadian dance teams, merely pointing out that on paper Koob-Doddy & Antonelli look like the favorites at their event--they were fifth at U.S. nationals and medaled internationally in Europe this spring. They have a level of experience and accomplishment that the other teams, both U.S. and Canadian, haven't achieved yet. I'm not saying it's impossible that other teams will beat them, but I don't see why it's offensive to point out that their results have been the best thus far. It's simply the truth. I'm not connected to K-D&A--haven't even seen them skate. I'm just looking at it logically.

But whatever. The results will speak for themselves. :)

[deanna]

Well Trillian, I agree that the results will speak for themselves. Thats great for Koob-Doddy/Antonelli that they medalled in Europe. Our dance teams that train in Quebec already have a very European flavour to their skating. I don't know if you have visited Quebec before. Julie Marcotte is one of Canada's top dance coaches and of note her Junior dance team who won their event at our Nationals were just awarded two Senior GP assignments. In other words, she produces results! Anyways, I am sure it will be a very exciting event and good luck to both the Canadian and US competitors in this event.

[maria]

Out of the novice pairs at NAC who is moving up to Junior?

[Sylvia]

6/9 update in the U.S. NACS assignments at:
http://www.usfsa.org/programs/athprog/nacs.htm

Katherine Copely/ Duke Wensel have been shifted from the Thornhill novice dance to the junior dance event to replace Shannon Wingle /James Warren who have split (their names have been removed from the Reserve team envelope).