Bailey and Herring Take the Early Lead in Novice Compulsory Dance
by Daphne Backman
 (1/21/07) - In an event filled with new partnerships, Sara Bailey and Kyle Herring (Charter Oak FSC/University of Delaware FSC) skated a soft and elegant waltz and a fierce paso doble to finish first in both dances and take the lead in the novice ice dancing competition at the 2007 State Farm U.S. Championships in Spokane, Wash.
The novice compulsory dance kicked off the week-long U.S. Championships in the Spokane Convention Center. Novice finals and the senior events will take place at the Spokane Arena. The novice dancers skated before a capacity crowd at the Convention Center, which holds 4,000.
Bailey and Herring, who formed their partnership in April 2006, were hoping to be near the top but not expecting it. The duo finished first in both dances with an overall score of 49.87 and has built on confidence that their short but successful partnership has given them.
“That was our one goal after our results at sectionals; to come out today and really skate with some confidence,” Herring said. “We really tried to go out there and do what we knew we could do”.
The University of Delaware FSC has two additional teams in the medal hunt in the novice ice dancing event. The teams just happen to be training mates of Bailey and Herring.
”It’s a lot of fun because we’re a very close group of friends and we get along really well”, Herring said. “It’s good to have someone to not necessarily compare yourself to, but to motivate and push yourself. We all kind of keep each other going every day.”
Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani (SC of New York/Broadmoor SC), the 2006 U.S. intermediate champions, are taking in all of the experience in their first trip to the U.S. Championships. They are currently in second place with a score of 48.90, less than one point behind the leaders. The Shibutanis enjoy both dances because of their differences. Their goal coming into these championships was to skate well.
”I think everyone has a goal coming into nationals,” Alex said. “I know it sounds sort of corny, but our goal was to skate well, and that is what we try to do every time out.”
Maia added, “We were really happy to make it this far and this is just a wonderful experience.”
Both Maia and Alex felt the audience was supportive and were pleased to see the number of people in attendance for the event. They are also appreciative of the support fromtheir training mates from Colorado Springs. They look forward to supporting their teammates throughout the week once their event has concluded.
In third place after the compulsory dances are Anastasia Cannuscio and Dean Copely (University of Delaware SC/SC of New York) who finished third in both dances, scoring 46.26. Both were pleased with their performances in this round. Copely’s leap at the end of their paso doble gained applause from the audience.
”It’s famous at our rink,” Copely said. “I don’t have a name for it yet, but last week I made it a double loop and it was perfect.”
Cannuscio is part of three sets of siblings competing at the same level in the novice ice dancing event. Her sister, Isabella, is also competing at these championships. Some siblings can develop rivalries, but Anastasia Cannuscio doesn’t feel that she and Isabella have the sibling rivalry that some others may.
“We’re not really that competitive,” Cannuscio said. “It’s not really that awkward, though you would think it would be really, really weird.”
In fourth place scoring 44.96 are Isabella Cannuscio and Ian Lorello (University of Delaware SC). Cannuscio and Lorello finished fifth in the European Waltz and fourth in the paso doble. Lorello is part of the third set of siblings competing, as his brother, Alexander, skates with Genevieve Deutch.
Elyse Matsumoto and Andrew Skillington (43.64) are in fifth, with Madison Chock and Greg Zuerlein (43.16) rounding out the top six.
The event concludes on Monday evening with the novice free dance event at the Spokane Arena.
|