Here we are with the senior pairs in their free skate. We are starting at about 10:50 EST with the first two groups of three, we'll then cut to ice dance and come back live on NBC for the final groups in pairs and dance. **denotes my picks in USFSA Fantasy Skating
1) Erika Smith & Nathan Bartholomay
1) Erika Smith & Nathan Bartholomay
Music: Alexander
- That was a nice cartwheel move at the beginning
- Solid lifts
- Nice throws, they are really putting on a nice showing here
- That group 5 star lift was really stellar, especially with the music
- This music is very nice for them, and I like the choreography as well
- FS Score: 47.00 (TES) + 41.99 (PCS) = 88.99
- 43.60 (SP) + 88.99 (FS) = 132.59
2) Chloe Katz & Joseph Lynch
Music: Music from Henry V
- That was a bit of a rough catch on the split twist
- Their speed is very nice
- I like that their costumes go together but don't match
- Wow she took a tough fall onto her stomach on the 1st throw, hits boards
- That is unfortunate for her, they were really flying
- She doubles her side by side triple toe loop, he is clean
- Group 5 lasso into hand-to-hip lift with him actually skating crossovers under her
- She holds onto a beautiful triple throw lift
- She shows some nice flexibility
- Their lifts are nicely placed on the hilights in the music
- FS Score: 52.35 (TES) + 42.37 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 93.62
- 46.38 (SP) + 93.62 (FS) = 140.00
3) Lisa Moore & Justin Gaumond
Music: No, No, Nanette
- I loved them in the short skating to Singin in the Rain
- They have a nice jazzy, whimsical quality about them
- Throw double loop was clean, and she landed safely
- SBS double toe-double toe
- I like Peter Carruthers, am not a fan of the "creative" death spiral where the lady grabs the foot going in
- She was so tilted in the air on that last throw and just crumbled
- FS Score: 43.63 (TES) + 38.51 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 81.14
- 46.44 (SP) + 81.14 (FS) = 127.58
4) Gretchen Donlan & Andrew Speroff
Music: Stairway to Heaven
- Nice strong catch on the triple twist, good flow out
- She hung onto that SBS triple landing for sure
- I like the upside down entrance into the press lifts, they shift to a hand to hip with Andrew skating underneath of her
- I though she had that double axle, but she lost her footing
- Gorgeous flowing landing on her throw
- Nice low death spiral position
- They put up some great lifts, especially with difficult entrances
- Their second throw is equally strong
- This is a very nice program, conceptually and choreographically
- They should go solidly into first here
- Andrew is so strong for her and really shows her off nicely
- Gretchen could use some ballet to teach her to stretch out her legs and point her feet
- Coach Sheryl was in tears!
- FS Score: 51.29 (TES) + 46.34 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 96.63
- 48.62 (SP) + 96.63 (FS) = 145.25
5) Becky Bereswill & Trevor Young
Music: Chicago
- I hope they use actual Fosse movements
- Her dress is incredible
- They have some nice speed
- Good solid double axel-double toe
- I really love the choreography in this piece
- Opting for a split double twist
- I really like this team and I hope they place high enough to get some senior Grand Prix assignments
- She has learned quickly to process the lifts and throws
- Becky really eeks out the landing on that throw triple loop, she was so tilted and still pulled it out
- That reverse overhead is so difficult and they hit it like it's nothing
- He lifts her so elegantly and makes her look so light
- This is such an entertaining program and she they've really chose the best selections form Chicago
- Mistake at the end, he loses the pivot on the death spiral and and almost loses her
- FS Score: 47.11 (TES) + 42.84 (PCS) -1.00 (DED)= 88.94
- 48.77 (SP) + 88.94 (FS) = 137.71
6) Molly Aaron & Daniyel Cohen **
Music: Malaguena
- They are on my fantasy team so I'm pulling for them
- I like that they took a moment to really get into character before beginning
- She puts her hand down on the first throw, but it had a lot of height
- Molly takes a hard fall on the opening jump
- They hit some nice unique positions in their overhead lifts
- Not the best skate they have every done, they won't be too happy about that one
- FS Score: 49.40 (TES) + 43.39 (PCS) -3.00 (DED) = 85.59
- 47.24 (SP) + 85.59 (FS) = 136.83
7) Lindsay Davis & Themisthocles Leftheris
Music:
- Missed skate due to late NBC coverage
- FS Score: (TES) + (PCS) = 97.18
- 51.07 (SP) + 97.18 (FS) = 148.25
8) Tiffany Vise & Don Baldwin
Music: Mona Lisa Overdrive/The Mission
- Missed skate due to late NBC coverage
- FS Score: (TES) + (PCS) = 96.97
- 54.29(SP) + 96.97 (FS) = 151.26
9) Marissa Castelli & Simon Shnapir
Music: Avatar
- Missed skate due to late NBC coverage
- FS Score: (TES) + (PCS) = 100.44
- 51.48 (SP) + 100.44 (FS) = 151.92
10) Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett
Music: Rhapsody in Blue
- We now have Tom Hammond, Sandra Bezic, and Scott Hamilton as the live commentators, such an upgrade, though I do love Peter Carruthers
- Caydee is so sassy, and Jeremy has worked so hard to live up to her performance levels
- Nice clean catch on the triple twist
- Side by side triple toes, beautifully landed, good work Caydee, such a fighter
- Nice throw triple lutz on a huge musical crescendo
- Jeremy steps out of the first double axel in the sequence but the second set is clean
- This middle section in center ice is gorgeous
- Just beautiful choreography by David Wilson
- Great spin sequence, great unicson
- Nice position by Caydee in the lasso lift
- Nice strong landing by Caydee in the second throw triple
- Great hand to hip lift
- This is wonderful music for them and they use it beautifully
- That's a nice position by Caydee in that death spiral
- They have such great speed and exuberance in this ending section
- They get such nice lift positions, especially with Jeremy on just one foot
- Great pair spin here at the end, wonderful camel positions
- FS Score: 59.36 (TES) +58.34 (PCS) = 117.70
- 57.79 (SP) + 117.70 (FS) = 175.49
11) Mary Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker **
Music: The Addam's Family
- Marybeth is ready to light it up
- I like their look together
- Not a clean catch, but huge height on the split triple twist
- Nice Triple-double combo
- Oh wow something happened there and they both tripped over each other
- Wonderful recovery into a lasso lift
- I wanted this so much for them
- She recovered so well and landed that lift like a champ
- Nice spiral sequence from both of them
- She gets a great low death spiral position
- They have a really nice look on the ice and performance quality
- They need to work a bit on their side by side jumps, especially the timing, but that will come with time
- She eeks out that throw like a fighter
- They have some phenomenal lifts, what a great pair partner he is
- This little tango moment is so fun
- I love the spin sequence on the traditional Addams Family music
- They stay in perfect unison in the spins until the very last position change
- What a performer she is
- I am so impressed by how fast she has learned all of these elements, what a little champ she is
- I hope they stay together because they have so much potential
- FS Score: 44,16 (TES) + 52.29 (PCS) -2.00 (DED)= 105.45
- 58.10 (SP) + 105.45 (FS) = 163.55
12) Caitlin Yankowskas & John Coughlin **
Music: Ave Maria
- Alright lets light it up guys, you've got this
- This opening pose is to die for
- I'm crying already, can't contain my emotion
- Opening double axels are crisp and clean
- Gorgeous split triple twist
- Not the most beautiful, but Caitlin lands that throw like the fighter she is
- Great three jump series, so in sync
- Everything looks so effortless, they are just letting it happen and not forcing it or muscling it
- Great death spiral and fantastic spin sequence, spins get a little out of sync at the end
- Caitlin really does look like an angel
- I love the way she seems to float in that spiral sequence
- Gorgeous throw triple, she lands it like it is nothing at all
- Their lifts are effortless because he is just so strong for her and she has such incredible positions
- That ending pose is phenomenal
- FS Score: 61.97 (TES) + 62.18 (PCS) = 124.15
- 64.30 (SP) + 124.15 (FS) = 188.45
13) Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig
Music: Nessun Dorma
- This should be another big number if they can skate perfectly
- These costumes are gorgeous
- Their triple twist has such quick rotation
- Great Side by side triple toes on a huge musical crescendo
- This music and choreography are fantastic for them
- That was very strong throw triple lutz
- Now when we get into the more lyrical part of the program is where they really shine
- Slight unison loss at the end of their spins
- Fantastic spiral sequence
- Side double axles, they both fight for each jump, possibly two-footed and/or step out
- Those side by side camels are such an interesting position for spins
- Their lifts are phenomenal and they perform them in the back half of the program to gain a lot of points on them
- Throw triple loop was huge, Amanda has to put her hands down to control it
- That one hand to hip lift onto one foot is just stellar, especially on these musical crescendos
- Not perfect, but a very very nice skate for them indeed
- Exit from the last lift was a little clunky but I think they did enough to stay in second, in my opinion
- FS Score: 62.09 (TES) + 60.26 (PCS) = 122.35
- 62.87 (SP) + 122.35 (FS) = 185.22
