Hubbells Tango To the Junior Dance Lead
by Daphne Backman
 (1/23/07) - Teams from Ann Arbor, Mich., now occupy the top three spots in junior ice dancing after Tuesday’s original dance event at the 2007 State Farm U.S. Championships in Spokane, Wash.
Madison Hubbell and Keiffer Hubbell (Ann Arbor SC), second after the compulsory dances, moved up to take the top spot heading into Wednesday’s free dance. Their tango program showcased solid lifts and highlighted their matching lines. The duo received all level fours and one level three for their performance.
“I think we had really an all-around good skate today,” Keiffer said. “Everything went really well. The midline step sequence was awarded a level four for the first time this season.”
“We’ve been really trying with the new system from last year to this year,” Madison said. “We understand it more, and we really feel comfortable with it at this point.”
In second place are training mates Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates. Samuelson and Bates had an uncharacteristic fall near the end of their program which cost them two points in deductions. The team quickly recovered to finish the program.
“I think I hit my toe pick after the rocker,” Samuelson said. “It was just a freak accident that we didn’t expect to happen.”
Though their performance today wasn’t their best, Samuelson and Bates aren’t looking back; they’re looking ahead to tomorrow.
“We have the free dance competition tomorrow, and it’s another chance for us to show what we’re able to do,” Samuelson said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to skate well tomorrow.”
Though it appears a rivalry may be brewing between the two teams as they have exchanged places at various events, rest assured it is a friendly one.
“I think it helps us tremendously to have Madison and Keiffer next to us every day to push us,” Bates said. “I wouldn’t say there is a bitter rivalry brewing but more a friendly back and forth competition rivalry.”
Scoring 75.36 thus far, Lynn Kriengkrairut and Logan Giulietti-Schmitt (All Year FSC/Stars FSC of Texas) are surprised and happy to be sitting in third after two phases of the competition. The team has only been training together since mid-July and is hoping to continue its success in the free dance.
”I think we have to lay it all out tomorrow” Giulietti-Schmitt said. “We’re confident in our free dance and we just have to make sure we don’t give the judges an excuse to (give us deductions.)”
Having the top three teams heading into the free dance from Ann Arbor is a testament to the training location.
“I think it says a lot about our coaching,” Bates said. “Yasa (Netchaeva) and Iouri (Tchesnitchenko) are really good. Even our fourth team, Brooke Huber and Karl Edelmann, are in seventh place and three points out of third. I think it’s great for Ann Arbor and our coaches especially because it really shows the dedication and hard work the coaches put in and the skaters put in.”
”I’ve nothing but positive things to say about our training environment,” Madison said. “We just love being there and the environment. We have four junior couples training there and we push each other. Yasa and Iouri have really brought up a great situation for our training.”
“It’s great to have everyone at the rink together,” Giulietti-Schmitt said. “Everyone drives each other.”
Close behind in fourth are Piper Gilles and Tim Mckernan (Broadmoor SC), who scored 75.14 and Shannon Wingle and Ryan Devereaux (Arctic FSC/Coyotes SC of Arizona) with 75.00.
Pilar Bosley and John Corona (Peninsula SC/Individual Member), third after the compulsory dance, dropped to sixth overall and are still in the hunt (73.83).
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