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Photos From 2003 Nationals - Dallas, Texas
Copyright 2003 Ann Jensen - all rights reserved

Bridget Namiotka & Alex Merritt
Julia Vlassov & Drew Meekins
Lindsey Seitz & Andy Seitz
Kaile Eison & Daniel Eison
Sydney Schmidt & Christopher Pottenger Photos
Samantha Skavdahl & Cole Davis
Katelyn Uhlig & Colin Loomis Photos
Sarah Glassberg & Brandon Hanson
Jenna Yount & Grant Marron Photos
Bianca Butler & Joseph Jacobsen
Mariel Miller & Nathaniel Hess
Marisa Sharma & Johnathan Keen

In the short program the elements were the 2 twist, side by side 2 lutz, death spiral, aide by side spins and pair spins. I will just list when there was an obvious error - or low quality in one of the elements.

The Free Skates went pretty well actually. Given the state of US pairs in general, I was pleasantly surprised by this crop of Novices.

Bridget Namiotka & Alex Merritt

Wow. Huge elements skated to Big Bad Voodoo Daddies. Alex is about 6 years older than his partner, but the size difference isn't all that bad. The twist was just huge. I am sure they have a triple.

Zorro. 3 twist ( I knew it) with a collision. 2 lutz..2 toe. Throw 2 sal. side by side camels to sits were awkward. Her free leg is bent at the knee. Star lift that reversed her position in the air. Throw 2 loop. she stepped out of 2 flips. They did a cool pair spin where he would come out and spin her some and then step back into it. Hard to describe but it was new and different.

Julia Vlassov & Drew Meekins

Very very fast skaters. I believe she singled the lutz, but it may have just been their timing is different. Their music said Requiem #5... bu tthis was clearly something classical as done by Trans-Siberian Orchestra -

Mission Impossible and the Pick Panther. 3 twist with a serious rescue by him at the end. a throw jump I missed. then she stepped into a 2 toe afterwards - that was interesting. Great platter that came down and dismounted around hsi neck. 2 lutz. 2 flip. lift went to one arm. Throw 2 sal. She collapsed one the death spiral, but he kept it going. cool pair spin where he picked her up and put her down and continued the spin. 1 axel.. 2 toe. They looked less cautious than Schmidt and Pottenger. I might have had their free skate in first.

Lindsey Seitz & Andy Seitz

A version of the 1812 Overture that sounds like it is probably by Bond. Twist was a bit short of rotation. He fell on lutz. Everything else was serviceable.

Music is "reflections of earth. Good fast press lift. Throw 2 sal. 2 twist with a rough catch. side by side spins were off at the exit. throw 3?? loop (fall). Side by side 2 flips. Star lift to one handed to flip dismount. 2 lutz...steps... 2 toes.

Kaile Eison & Daniel Eison

The spins wer a little weak in this program. His position was odd in the camel and the pair spin was slow. The twist was lower than most in the competition. She stepped out of the lutz and put her hand down. Their footwork was very nice.Tocatta and Fugue.

Overature to Funny Girl was the music. She fell backward off her heel in the 2 twist. Throw sal. side by side spins were off on the exit. Press lift into a bent leg star lift. She fell on side by side jumps. Nice wspiral. Throw loop wit a wrap. They did a jump I missed and then she put her hand down on side by side loops.

Sydney Schmidt & Christopher Pottenger

Local kids had a huge skate. They did side by side flying camels that were just awesome. Everything was just spot on - The death spiral was lovely and they held it forever. Music was Last of the Mohicans.

Not as strong as their short. I thought they might even have lost first. Romeo and Juliet. 1 axel...2 toe. throw 2 loop. A rally nice complex lift with a one armed section. 2 ?? landed low. 2 lutz. throw 2 sal.

Samantha Skavdahl & Cole Davis

Hall of the Mountain King as done by a big band. They got very close to the boards on the set down from the lift. Side by side spins were off and on. The footwork was a little slow. They had a very good entrance to the death spiral.

Gypsy Airs. 2 twist. 2 flip...2 toe. Some ordinary spirals. fell on throw sal. platter to one hand to star to flip. press lift. throw 2 loop (fall)/ Sideways star lift. real rough side by side spins - he missed hoting the camel position. 2 lutz.

Katelyn Uhlig & Colin Loomis

Beautiful program to "The Swan". They are coached by the Meros - seems like all the kids I see them put out have really well put together programs and solid skating skills. I am impressed. Her landing of the lutz was a bit rough. The lift and twist were strong. She stumbled a bit on the opening business - nothing serious. Side by side spin was off a bit at the end.

Soundtrack to Black Hawn Down. 3 twist with a collision. Star lfit where she kicked her feet together and went back to the star position. throw 2 sal. some trouble with the 2 toes..then 2 sal. side by side flying camels were nice. throw 2 loop. 2 fli. Nice footwork with toss at the end.

Sarah Glassberg & Brandon Hanson

Their unison was a tad off in the side by side jumps - I almost thought he had singled his. The side by side spins were on except at the very end. He gets up a little on his toe picks in the lift. They skated to a very "elevator music" version of "Don't be Cruel". The elements were fine...but I was not thrilled by the program.

Music was a collection of Epic Soundtracks - Terminator, The Abyss and Conan. 2 twist. He put a hand down on the side by side 2 lutzs. She hung on to a throw axel. They did side by side single axels then 2 flips. Side by side double loops. Awkward set down to a small dance lift. Back press lift with a nice twist dismount. One other lift. Ended before the music.

Jenna Yount & Grant Marron

Pretty strong skate. Slight roughness on the entrance to the death spiral...life was a little slow, but secure. The pair spin was rough at the transition point between positions. Shostakovitch Overature.

The Planets. This was an awesome skate. If I hadn't been so shellshocked I would have stood for them Amazing. 2 twist. 2 lutz... 2loop. throw 3 sal. 2 toes. throw 2 loop. saide by side axels. nice platter to one handed. Fast and smooth and secure throughout.

Bianca Butler & Joseph Jacobsen

Very strong and beautiful program to Coppelia. Everything was completed with style and speed. The entrance to the death spiral is not the most perfect position...but not bad compared to a lot of the rest of the field.

Exodus was the music. 2 twist. Throw 2 loop. Side by side sals - I thought they were only doubles, but she was short of rotation and 2 footed it, so they may have been trying triples. 2 loops...2 toes.Press lift ot a one hand. side by side and pair spins were very mice.

Mariel Miller & Nathaniel Hess

Carmen. His lutz was messy, but he got it done. Nice conbinations in the side by side spin.

Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini. 2.5 twist that she landed hanging over his arm. he fell on side by side 2 lutzs. They tried to continue to sequence.. it was a mess. then he almost fell on crossovers. Press lift to one hand to flip out dismount. 2 sals. nice positions on side by side spins. Back inside death spiral. Scrapey layout star lift with aq flip out. 2 footed throw loop (maybe trying a triple?) I missed another throw. side by side 2 toes. FOrward Inside Death Spiral. Slipped a bit on the ending.

Marisa Sharma & Johnathan Keen

Very fast and aggressive (Peter Oppegard is coach and choreographer). Their side by side spins were off at the very end. He carries his shoulders very high. The pair spins went slow at the end. But this is nit-picking - it was a very strong skate. Skated to very familiar music...Zorro?

Soundtrack to Minority report.2 twist. she put a hand down on the 2 axel. Throw 2 sal. loop -tap - 2 flip - 2 toe. throw 2 loop. Press lift.Their lifts seemed slow. side by side spins were off and they ended a bit late. There is an onteresting delay ont heir throw jumps - almost liek he doesn't want to let her go. I'd love to watch it in video and see what is going on with it. It obviously works for them..

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Last updated: January 26, 2003 3:15 PM