Jr. US Champs-Saratoga Sprgs, NY (Jan 21-23, 2011)

[Laura (Lori)]

This thread will be used for discussion and trip-planning for the Junior US Championships - Saratoga Springs, NY (Jan 21-23, 2011).

Discuss any topics related to this event - pre-competition, post-competition, or Game Day!

Before making travel arrangements, double-check with USS and ISU official schedules!

For those who are planning to attend the event, pertinent information gathered here (as it becomes available) will be summarized and posted for quick-reference at Rocker-U.net - www.rocker-u.net/jr_us_champs.htm - for the following topics:

Media Links - TV Coverage; Webcasts; Live Fan Chat, Etc.
Participating Skaters
Event Schedule and Time Zone Conversions
Venue Info
Ticket Info
Hotel Suggestions & Info
'Practical' Info - Clothing, Cameras, What to Bring, What NOT to Bring...
How To Meet Up With Other Fans
Transportation Tips (Ground and Air)
Sightseeing Ideas
Weather Reports
Carpooling/Room Sharing Connections
Links to Watch for More Info
Links To Results When The Event Has Concluded

Please share any info that you have about the above topics!

[Laura (Lori)]

The registration deadline has passed for Jr. US Championships, so here is the final roster – skaters who have threads here at BB are listed in bold. Will one of our young BB skaters enter the world scene with a 'breakout' competition? Will we be surprised by someone who's not even on our 'radar' yet? I'm excited - are you?

April Albanese
Harshaan Athwal
Abagail Bloomer
Sarah Burg
Lexi Burkholder
Margo Burkholder
Adam Callister
Kevin Carroll
Jin Seok Chea
Hyunsoo Chung
Mitchell Conley
Josh Cummings
Tiziano D'Affuso
Margaret Dever
Emily Elbers
Alaina Fiorenza
Julie Gehring
Claude Gilbert
Nathan Hewitt
Andrew Hodor
Tyler Kroll
Cole Krueger
John-Henry Krueger
Shaner LeBauer
Kitae Lee
Patrick Lee
Emery Lehman
Abigail Marquard
Stephen Meyer
Sophie Mittelstadt
Casey Mullarkey
Esther Munoz
Christian No
Evan Opeka
Seong-Yeul (Andy) Park
Kyle Parshall
Brett Perry
Ryan Pivirotto
Kendal Pumphrey
Ian Quinn
Katy Ralston
Sara Rehklau
Aiden Reuter
James Rodowsky
Kristen Santos
April Shin
David Skoda
Hannel So
Jaee So
Monica Sohn
Rachel Stewart
Kathryn Toth
Amanda Trimble
TJ Vongkovit
Sarah Warren
Jared Wood
Jae Kun Yoo
Soo An Yoo
Jerebelle Yutangco
Lauren Ziegelmayer

[Laura (Lori)]

Something to think about - the Krueger brothers (Cole and John-Henry) are the only sign-ups who have previously made the Jr. World team. 4 men and 4 ladies make the team, so even if both of the 'veterans' make the team, the field is wide-open for at least 6 new skaters to get some international experience!

[Deleted]

I remember the first time I saw Sarah Chen's name and Jerry Search's pics of her training in SoCal. Look at her now!

[Laura (Lori)]

Jan 12, 2011 22:08:57 GMT -8 gasp said:

I remember the first time I saw Sarah Chen's name and Jerry Search's pics of her training in SoCal. Look at her now!

They grow up so fast, don't they? ;D

[Laura (Lori)]

Top 16 after today's time trials - I believe the top four at the end of the weekend go to the Jr. World Championships in Italy (skaters with threads here at BB are in bold):

LADIES:
1) Lexi Burkholder (won BOTH time trials!)
2) Katy Ralston
3) Kendal Pumphrey
4) Rachel Stewart
5) Sarah Burg
6) Jerebelle Yutangco
7) Alaina Fiorenza
8) Kristen Santos
9) April Albanese
10) Sarah Warren
11) Abigail Marquard
12) Lauren Ziegelmayer
13) Margaret Dever
14) Emily Elbers
15) Julie Gehring
16) Sarah Rehklau

MEN:
1) James Rodowsky (won BOTH time trials!)
2) John-Henry Krueger
3) Adam Callister
4) Cole Krueger
5) Claude Gilbert
6) Evan Opeka
7) Ian Quinn
8) Brett Perry
9) Josh Cummings
10) Soo An Yoo
11) Shaner LeBauer
12) Casey Mullarkey
13) Andrew Hodor
14) Mitchell Conley
15) Jared Wood
16) Tiziano D'Affuso

Tags: Short Track Speedskating

[Laura (Lori)]

SPEEDSKATING: Katie Ralston nearing position on US Junior National World Short Track squad
by Stan Hudy / The Saratogian / January 22, 2011

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs native Katie Ralston is one more stride closer to a position on the United States Junior National World Short Track Speedskating team with a dominant performance an winning the Junior Ladies Group A 500-meter final at the Saratoga Springs Ice Rink.

“The 500 is so unpredictable and fast, I knew I had to be in front to avoid any crashes that usually happen,” Ralston said. “The 500 is my forte and my favorite race.”

Ralston is part of the more than 25 female and 32 males that are taking part in the U.S. Junior National Championship and skating as part of the Saratoga Winter Club.

The top four finishers in points, competing in the 500-, 1000-, and 1500- super final will earn spots on the U.S. Junior World Championship squad.

For Ralston, the Jr. Nationals being hosted in Saratoga Springs is a homecoming for her.

“I was invited by the U.S. Speedskating team last season and moved out to Salt Lake City in June,” Ralston said. “It’s nice to come back and see my friends and family to watch me skate. It’s nice to have a home town crowd to skate in front of.”

Ralston wouldn’t be the first Saratoga Winter Club skater to earn a spot on the U.S. squad as most recent names tapped include Clifton Park long track skater Petra Acker and Ballston Spa’s favorite skater, Trevor Marsicano.

“Saratoga Springs has a history of success from its members,” U.S. Speedskating Executive Director Mark Greenwald said. “The club has a great reputation for the competitions it has hosted here and the powerful skaters that have come from this area. People know that the coaching here is some of the best in the country.”

Greenwald appreciates the selection process and competition taking place this weekend, skating for the U.S. Speedskating team in the late 80s.

One of his goals is to see the sport expand across the nation.

“Our sport has had tremendous success in the last 20 years,” Greenwald said. “We have won a number of gold medals in short and long track, having amazing success. There are few winter Olympic sports that have matched our track record of success.

“There are currently 2,100 speed skaters in the country and it’s a blessing and a curse,” Greenwald said. “Some people are not able to skate in their home areas but there is a lot of room to climb the ladder of success.”

The exposure this weekend will hopefully continue the growth within the Capital Region and continued promotion will help bring more attention to the national program.

Today, Ralston will continue to skate towards her dream of making the U.S. Junior World Championship squad.

“I usually don’t think about the race, I just try to stay on my feet and finish,” Ralston said. “I listen to the sound of the skates and once you’ve been skating for a while you can get a sense of where they (competitors) are. I look at my coaches too to give me signals.”

Ralston will be joined by Saratoga Winter Club teammates Esther Munoz and Kathryn Toth this afternoon while Andrew Hodor, Stephen Meyer and David Skoda continue to stride towards a spot on the national team.

Warm-ups begin at 9 a.m. with quarterfinals beginning at 9 a.m. followed by semifinal and finals starting at 10:15 a.m.[/img]

Read More:
saratogian.com/articles/2011/01/22/sports/doc4d3ba994b9703074229891.txt

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After today's racing, here are the current standings - tomorrow is the final day of racing. Top four at the end of the weekend go to the Jr. World Championships in Italy (skaters with threads here at BB are in bold):

LADIES:
1) Katy Ralston (WON today's 500M!)
2) Rachel Stewart (WON today's 1500M!)
3) Lexi Burkholder
4) Sarah Burg
5) Kendal Pumphrey
6) Sarah Warren
7) Alaina Fiorenza
8) Jerebelle Yutangco
9) Kristen Santos
10) April Albanese
11) Lauren Ziegelmayer
12) Abigail Marquard
13) Margaret Dever
14) Sarah Rehklau
15) Emily Elbers
16) Julie Gehring

MEN:
1) John-Henry Krueger (Won BOTH of today's races!)
2) James Rodowsky
3) Cole Krueger
4) Adam Callister
5) Soo An Yoo
6) Josh Cummings
7) Ian Quinn
8) Casey Mullarkey
9) Evan Opeka
10) Claude Gilbert
11) Brett Perry
12) Jared Wood
13) Tiziano D'Affuso
14) Shaner LeBauer
15) Andrew Hodor
16) Mitchell Conley

[Laura (Lori)]

Here's your 2011 Jr. World Team! (Thanks to Jerry Search for the pic) L to R: Coach Joe Rohraff; James Rodowsky; Kendal Pumphrey; John-Henry Krueger; Katy Ralston; Cole Krueger; Rachel Stewart; Adam Callister; Lexi Burkholder; Coach Sooyeon Yeo - Good luck in Italy!!!


Photo Credit: Jerry Search

[Deleted]

....Julie Gehring? Hmmm....would she have a big sister?

[Laura (Lori)]

Jan 23, 2011 20:16:38 GMT -8 gasp said:

....Julie Gehring? Hmmm....would she have a big sister?

I seem to remember asking that question before, and hearing that the answer is that Julie's not part of Lana's immediate family (somebody correct me if I'm wrong). Might she be related in some other way?

Tags: Lana Gehring / Julie Gehring / Short Track Speedskating

[Laura (Lori)]

Here's the order of finish for those who made the Jr. World team - the top 3 will skate individual events, and #4 will skate the relays:

LADIES:
1) Lexi Burkholder (Jr. National Champion)
2) Katy Ralston
3) Rachel Stewart
4) Kendal Pumphrey

MEN:
1) John-Henry Krueger (Jr. National Champion)
2) James Rodowsky
3) Cole Krueger
4) Adam Callister

I'm so proud of all of these skaters!

I can't prove it of course, but I made a bet with my husband that Lexi, Katy & John-Henry would 'absolutely' make the team!

(that's my story and I'm stickin' to it... and I might be getting an IPhone for winning the bet!)

I also told him that Adam might be the surprise standout - and he delivered!

[Deleted]

Great job everyone!

[Laura (Lori)]

Okay - so WHO is Sarah Warren?

She came in 7th overall - and 3rd in the 500M at Jr. US Championships.

But I don't think I've ever seen the name - is she a new wheels-to-ice skater?

I also see that she's signed up for AmCup III. If she skates there, we'll have a thread for her soon - but I'm just curious.

[Julie]

Not related to Lana =)

[Laura (Lori)]

Mar 14, 2011 19:07:38 GMT -8 @Julie said:

Not related to Lana =)

Thanks for the clarification, Julie - and congrats on your wins this weekend - I think I might have been standing next to your mom when you got your awards!