![\"\"](\"https:\/\/figureskatersonline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Ellie-Korytek-All-Year-FSC-Timmy-Chapman-Central-Florida-FSC-US-Champs-23spIMG_3491.jpg\")
<\/a>SAN JOSE, Calif. — The 2023 U.S. Championships showcased a great group of young talent at the junior level, and several new faces deservedly earned spots on the podium.<\/span><\/p>\nThe event started off strong with the junior pairs event. Ellie Korytek and Timmy Chapman took first in both the short program and the free skate, earning the junior title.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This was their first season together as a team, and despite challenges that rose throughout the season, they managed to skate two great programs with only two of their elements between both programs receiving negative GOE.<\/span><\/p>\n Chapman shared of the experience, \u200b\u200b”This represents lots of hard work. We put in so many hours \u2014 as much as we could especially with all the obstacles that we faced together. My partner had (injury) challenges that she had to face on her own, and even when we met those fortunate events, we still worked as hard as we possibly could and still did as much as we could,” via <\/span>U.S. Figure Skating FanZone<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Naomi Williams and Lachlan Lewer took the silver medal, also in their first season as a pair. Williams had only competed individual prior, so their feat was quite unique. They included a triple twist in each program, and Lewer shared, \u201cThe twist again. I think the twist was actually much better than in the short. The throws were better. The axels were really nice. I think our skating was a little better. I think I personally looked up a lot more and smiled a lot more.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Lilianna Murray and Jordan Gillette took the bronze, the first medal each have earned at Nationals. Gillette, in particular, has been patiently awaiting a national medal. He shared, \u200b\u200b\u201d\u200b\u200bIt means a lot to me. This is my fifth season competing pairs. At the junior level, I just got my first national medal. It really validates all the hard work I\u2019ve put in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Olivia Flores and Luke Wang earned the pewter and seemed to most enjoy the environment of nationals. Flores shared, \u201cAll the competition feels friendly. At smaller competitions, it\u2019s always competitive. You try to be better than other people. But here, everyone\u2019s like, \u2018We all made it\u2019 and everyone just enjoys it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In the ice dance event, Leah Neset and Artem Markelov took home the gold medal, giving them their second-straight U.S. junior title. They finished the rhythm dance in seventh place, but they managed to jump up to first after the free. They also earned a personal best in the free with a stunning performance.<\/span><\/p>\n Neset shared of the experience, \u201cIt definitely took a lot of focus to come back, but I\u2019m really happy with how it turned out in the end.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Helena Carhart and Volodymyr Horovyi finished less than a point behind in second. Their partnership began in 2019, and this is their first national medal together.<\/span><\/p>\n Carhart shared, \u201cI think we\u2019re so grateful to have the opportunity to come and to be able to show everyone what we\u2019ve been working on. We\u2019re so blessed to [be] on the podium, but it\u2019s a pleasure to skate with Volodymyr every day. We get along so well. I wouldn\u2019t want to be here with anyone else.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jenna Hauer and Benjamin Starr took third place. The team first started skating together in 2017 before ending their partnership in 2019. They resumed their partnership in 2020 and have competed on the international circuit together, but this is their first junior national medal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hauer shared, \u201cLast year was our first year at juniors and we were sixth at Nationals. To climb from where we were to this year, even from the start of the season, it feels like we\u2019ve totally leveled up, and it feels like we belong here, and so to earn a medal here, it feels really great, especially because last time we were here [in San Jose], we won gold for the juvenile competition, and so to do that, feels great.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Elliana Peal and Ethan Peal took home the pewter medal, and they also earned personal bests in the free dance and overall score.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ethan Peal gave some insight to into their mindset, sharing, \u201cI think throughout the whole season, it\u2019s just been focused on bettering ourselves as a team and building out the strongest parts of our skates, so I feel like coming into here, we let go of anything that was potentially going to hold us back and solely focused on our strengths as a team.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nIce Dance<\/b><\/h3>\n
Women<\/b><\/h3>\n