MWF scholarship winners
are big winners at Jr. Worlds
February 28, 2008
MWF scholarship winner Adam Rippon took the gold medal at the Junior World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Rippon had drawn to skate first out of the top contenders in the free skate. Performing to “Moonlight Sonata”, he nailed a triple flip-triple toeloop combination, a triple Lutz, triple loop, triple Lutz-double toe-double loop as well as another triple flip and two double Axel.
He earned a level four for all three spins and a level three for both step sequences and picked up 130.55 points (66.27 element score/64.28 program component score), which added up to 199.90 total.
It was Rippon’s first appearance at Junior Worlds. “It feels great. I wish I just could have skated a little bit better, but I’m so happy with the result. I was hoping it would be enough, but I didn’t think I had skated well enough to hold the lead after the free skate, but I’m happy with the overall result”, Rippon commented right after he knew that he had won. “Coming into the Junior Worlds I had a lot of expectations for myself, not for results, but for my skating. I put a lot of pressure on myself, and before the short program, I told myself I had to shut my head off. I think I did a pretty good job doing that for the short program, but for the long program, I tried to shut my head off as much as I could and just run on auto-pilot. The pressure of Junior Worlds is so much. To be able to perform - not my best but still be able to perform well – I’m very happy”.
MWF scholarship winner Brandon Mroz , who was ranked third in the Short Program, slipped to fourth (186.20 points). He, too, skated very well and hit a triple Axel-double toeloop, another triple Axel and five more clean triples.
Inthe ladies event, MWF scholarship winner Mirai Nagasu won the Bronze medal.
The leader after the short program, Nagasu started with a beautiful spiral sequence and a solid double Axel, but then struggled with her first triple Lutz and wasn’t able to add the planned triple toe. The U.S. Champion then went on to complete a triple flip-double toe-double loop, a triple Salchow and a triple loop, but she stumbled on her second Lutz.
The 14-year-old was awarded a level four for the flying sit spin. The Junior Grand Prix Final picked up 97.82 points (48.73/49.09) and slipped from first to third with 162.89 points.
“I’m a little disappointed in myself for not doing a little bit better in the free skate and fighting out there, but overall I’m not disappointed in my placement at all and I think it was a very good competition”, Nagasu said. “I think this was a good way to end my season, because I learned something. Going into the short program I had nothing to loose and everything came through for me, but in the long program, I think I let my nerves take control of me instead of me taking control of them which disappoints me a little bit”, she added.
MWF scholarship winners
shine at nationals
January 26, 2008
Recipients of the 2008 Michael Weiss Foundation scholarships have proved themselves winners at the 2008 U.S. National Championships in St. Paul, Minn.
Mirai Nagasu wins senior ladies title
Mirai Nagasu overcame a fall on her opening double Axel and a third-place finish in the free skate to capture the U.S. title.
The ninth grader from Arcadia, Calif., became only the second skater in history to win the U.S. senior ladies crown the season after taking the junior title.
Nagasu, just 14 years old, carried a 5.08-point lead into the free skate, and needed nearly all of it to fend off Rachael Flatt and Ashley Wagner.
Skating to Leo Delibes' "Coppelia," the 4'11" sprite fell on her first jump but Nagasu recovered with a solid triple flip-double toe combination and three other triples. All four of her spins -- as well as a beautifully extended spiral sequence -- gained Level 4.
The teen earned 120.18 points for her free skate and took the title with 190.41 points overall, edging out Flatt by 1.68 points.
"I was really nervous going in to the program, because I heard the crowd going wild for Rachael and Ashley," Nagasu, who skated last, said.
"When I fell, I said, 'What am I doing? I have to get it back under control and then attack.' "
The endearing teen had to be told by her coach, Charlene Wong, that she had won the title.
"I didn't have my glasses on, and she said, 'Oh my God, you won!' I just said, 'What?' "
Nagasu, who won the silver medal at junior worlds last season, didn't seem too disappointed about missing out on a trip to Sweden.
"I definitely think I'm not ready for anything that high yet," she said. "I want to get more experience and get ready before I get to go to worlds."
In the Junior Ladies Championship, Angela Maxwell won the silver medal while Kristine Musademba finished fourth.
Adam Rippon wins junior men's title
Adam Rippon won the gold men in the junior men competition. The 2007 Junior Grand Prix winner displayed seamless footwork and forceful triples with grace, proving that he will be giving the senior men a run for their money next year.
"Being the champion in anything feels great," Rippon said. "But being the champion of such a strong event, where you could make one mistake and it would cost you a medal, feels great, especially to be part of a strong developing junior team for the upcoming years at the senior level and for the future of American figure skating."
The last to skate, Rippon had a lot to overcome after Brandon Mroz posted an incredibly high 203.63 overall score. But he managed to top Mroz with an additional 10 points, posting a personal best score of 213.76.
"Brandon and I are friends off the ice," Rippon said. "Whenever I compete against him I feel like I have to push myself to skate better."
Rippon opened his free skate, set to Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata", with four nearly perfect jumps -- a triple flip-triple toe, a triple Lutz, a triple loop and a double Axel. His next combo spin and circular step sequences earned adequate Level 3's, followed by a stellar flying sit spin that notched up a Level 4.
He continued zipping across the ice with energy to spare, completing another seven jumps -- a triple Lutz-double toe-double loop; triple flip; double Axel-triple Salchow sequence, and a double Axel -- a jump arsenal for which he gained additional points. After closing the program with more Level 4's on his straight line sequence and combo spin, Rippon received a standing ovation from the audience.
The 18-year-old will move up to the senior level next year.
"There is always pressure for a junior coming into the senior level," he said. "But I feel that if I can train well and keep my skating progressing at the same rate that it has been, thanks to my coach, I should skate well as a senior."
Mroz, who placed second in the 2008 Junior Grand Prix Final, fell behind Rippon, though not for a lack of effort. While Rippon finished 10 points ahead, Mroz's 203.63 overall score was 20 points above the rest of the field, earning him his second silver of the season.
Ricky Dornbush was 4th, Keegan Messing finished 5th, Armin Mahbanoozadeh finished 8th and Austin Kanallakan was 10th.
2008 MWF Scholarship winners!
Congratulations to all!
January 18, 2008
I am proud to announce this year’s Michael Weiss Foundation Scholarship Winners! The following young athletes are very thankful for the support that many of you have generously donated to the Foundation.
As you know, these skaters have already had very successful seasons, and look to continue at Nationals in Minnesota next week! Go get ‘em guys!
RETURNING recipients
Mirai Nagasu
Adam Rippon
Brandon Mroz
Ricky Dornbush
Ellie Kawamura
Kristine Musademba
Armin Mahbanoozadeh
And these are our NEW recipients for this year:
Austin Kanallakan – He is a Novice National Champ, Junior National Medalist, and Junior Grand Prix Final Medalist. We welcome him to the Michael Weiss Foundation Family this year!
Angela Maxwell – She is the Novice National Champion, and is competing this year at the Junior level at Nationals. She has proven herself with a Bronze medal at the JGP in Lake Placid earlier this year. And she can even do a back flip already!! A girl after my own heart!
Keegan Messing – He is a Novice National Bronze medalist, and he is debuting at Nationals as a Junior Man in Minnesota.
Emmanuel Savary – an up and coming, talented young man who has already been featured on the U.S. Figure Skating website!
Grisha Fournier – young talent who is training in California, and is focused on a successful 2008 season!
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NICOLAS CASTANEDA
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