Pair Teams- Junior Level

[chattykathy]

(I asked the same question on unseen skaters.)

How are the Jr. Teams shaping up in all the sections? Seems like there are lots of new teams and with all the moving around, can anyone shed some light who will be competing out of where?

[Trillian]

Here are the teams who come to my mind, although I'm sure I'm missing a few. You're right, there's an awfully big group so far.

EASTERNS
Andrea Varraux & David Pelletier
Shantel Jordan & Jeremy Barrett
Katie Boxwell & Josh Murphy
Tanya Bakerman & Chad Brennan
Bridget Namiotka & Alex Merritt (staying novice? staying together?)
Julia Vlassov & Drew Meekins (staying novice?)

MIDWESTERNS
Brittany Vise & Nick Kole (or moving up?)
Brooke Castile & Ben Okolski
Amanda Harris & David Sanders
Sydney Schmidt & Christopher Pottenger
Katelyn Uhlig & Colin Loomis
Sheila Harkaway & Cole Davis

PACIFIC
Chelsea Meador & Josh Martin (or moving up?)
Janice Mayne & Mike Modro (?)
Nicole Hartunian & Themi Leftheris (could go Eastern?)
Jenna Yount & Grant Marron
Marisa Sharma & Jonathan Keen
Bianca Butler & Joseph Jacobsen (staying novice?)

[Sylvia]

You can add:
Lucy Galleher and John Coughlin (5th at Midwestern Sectionals last season).

[chattykathy]

Lucy Galleher and John Coughlin- that was one I was missing, are they still together?

[PlatniumAngel]

5th place novice team at Eastern's this past year, Kelly Settelen and Andrew Goldman, are they staying Novice or going Junior? She's new to Novice but he's been in it a few years.

[chattykathy]

I just heard that Tatiana Klunchoo and Deryck Szatkowski are skating together out in CA.

I didnt realize Bridget Namiotka and Alex Merritt competed out of the East either.

The Indy Pair Challenge will be the hot spot to be in August!

[PlatniumAngel]

Wow Tatianna and Deryck? I saw them trying out in Colorado they do look good together! and their personalities are perfect for eachother! I hope they do well, they are nice people. I am a bit suprised that deryck moved from Detroit!

[Trillian]

Originally posted by chattykathy
I didnt realize Bridget Namiotka and Alex Merritt competed out of the East either.

They did last season; Bridget still had her east coast club affiliation and they won the novice pairs event at Easterns. Considering how crowded Mids is this year, comparatively, it would probably make sense to stay in that section. None of them are going to be easy to get through next season, but Mids seems to have the toughest group.

With Vise & Kole, if they do stay junior, it's worth noting they have a better than average chance of getting a bye through sectionals anyway--I would consider their odds of making the JGP Final pretty good considering how close they came last year.

[maria]

What level are Alex and Bridget skating? I saw that they were added to the NACS - I guess they got back together in time.

[sitter]

Lucy Galleher and John Coughlin are still together and will be competing Junior pairs at both Broadmoor Open and Liberty. They will not be doing Indy Challenge, however, since Coughlin's NAC is going on at the same time.

Alex and Bridget are competing Junior this season.

[Clarice]

Add Andy & Lindsey Seitz to the Junior pair list - they passed their test this weekend. I don't know whether they'll be competing out of Easterns or Mids, though.

[Mme.PairChica]

Originally posted by Trillian
EASTERNS
Andrea Varraux & David Pelletier


!?? i don't get it

[Trillian]

Originally posted by Mme.PairChica
!?? i don't get it

Not the same guy--he's American and about 20 years old; it's just a coincidence. Rather common name actually; I had a teacher with the same name when I was younger.

[Aaron W]

Originally posted by Clarice
Add Andy & Lindsey Seitz to the Junior pair list - they passed their test this weekend. I don't know whether they'll be competing out of Easterns or Mids, though.

I would expect the Seitzs to be at Easterns. They competed at Easterns last year and I haven't heard anything about them moving from Florida (although I haven't been keeping up very well with news as of late).

I've asked this before, but I don't think I ever got an answer. What happened to Manny Gardner (skated last year with Tatiana Klunchoo)? Is he still skating?

[land64shark]

Originally posted by Aaron W
I would expect the Seitzs to be at Easterns. They competed at Easterns last year and I haven't heard anything about them moving from Florida (although I haven't been keeping up very well with news as of late).


The Seitzs have left JP Igloo and gone back to Davenport and their former coach Elena Cockerell. We'll see how long this lasts because Elena is very good with pair lifts and spins, but she's not a jump coach. Since their former jump coach (Elena's ex-husband Mark Cockerell) left for Clearwater, there hasn't been a jump coach to replace him in Davenport.

Couldn't tell you which region/section they'll be skating in.

[Aaron W]

I guess I need to keep more up to date with all the news, lol. :D

[Clarice]

The Seitzes are currently in Davenport, working with Elena Cockerell and Andrei Bushkov, but will also be going back to Florida periodically. One of them will home club at Southwest Florida, and the other at Quad Cities, so they will be able to compete out of either section.

[maria]

Manny has quit skating

[Aaron W]

Oh that's too bad. I had thought if the pairs route didn't work out for him, he'd make an excellent ice dancer.

But as long as this is what he wants, that's the most important thing. Glad I at least got to see him skate last year at Indy (even if the performance included a huge fall on a lift).

[land64shark]

Originally posted by Clarice
The Seitzes are currently in Davenport, working with Elena Cockerell and Andrei Bushkov, but will also be going back to Florida periodically. One of them will home club at Southwest Florida, and the other at Quad Cities, so they will be able to compete out of either section.

Well that's one way to work the sytem.;)

[Clarice]

Originally posted by land64shark
Well that's one way to work the sytem.;)

I guess so, but since they're working out of both places, it only makes sense to keep options open for the time being. :) This is done rather frequently in pairs and dance, isn't it?

[land64shark]

Originally posted by Clarice
I guess so, but since they're working out of both places, it only makes sense to keep options open for the time being. :) This is done rather frequently in pairs and dance, isn't it?

Yes it is. It's just seems a little wierd to have a brother and sister belonging to different clubs and regions. Kind of a "splitting up the family" if you will. It makes perfect sense though.

[mkice]

Originally posted by Aaron W
Oh that's too bad. I had thought if the pairs route didn't work out for him, he'd make an excellent ice dancer.

But as long as this is what he wants, that's the most important thing. Glad I at least got to see him skate last year at Indy (even if the performance included a huge fall on a lift).

I'm sorry to hear manny has quit skating also- I really liked the style he had on (and off) the ice, and appreciated being able to see him and Tatiania skate last season- I vote for ice dancing too, he had the look! Oh well, I wish him luck in his future endeavors!

[WeBeEducated]

I also think Manny would have made a good icedancer, as well as his partner.
But, for skaters who have at least some of the big jumps it is difficult to convince them that icedance holds any excitment.
Plus, they have to usually go back and spend time and money learning the beginning dances, dance holds, dance stroking(which is completely different) and that is quite an expense . The compulsory dances are a major reason more boys dont go for icedance.

By the way, speaking of Junior Pair skaters...does anyone know where Brandon Larcom is?(former partner of Sheila Harkaway)
Is he still in AnnArbor?

[lilpairsk8ter]

WeBe i believe after the problems at Ann Arbor Brandon went to train in Cleveland with Carol Heiss. Dont quote me on it though it was one of the top male skaters in Ann Arbor that did and i cant remeber if it was Brandon or Collin Loomis.

[Sylvia]

Originally posted by lilpairsk8ter
WeBe i believe after the problems at Ann Arbor Brandon went to train in Cleveland with Carol Heiss. Dont quote me on it though it was one of the top male skaters in Ann Arbor that did and i cant remeber if it was Brandon or Collin Loomis.

You're probably thinking of R.J. Westfall (formerly paired with Karissa Strong) who is now training in singles (Junior level) with Carol Heiss Jenkins.

[chattykathy]

Brandon Larcom has moved to Southern California to skate with a younger, smaller girl. I cant remember her name right now, but they will train with Peter Oppegard.

I wish him well and will miss that smile!

[maria]

I skate at Torrance w/ Peter and Brandon has not been there for two weeks, he is not skating with Tenile Victorsen, he did try-out with her though but haven't seen him since.:?:

[WeBeEducated]

Thanks for the info.