February 12, 2014
Rams set to host OUA figure skating championship
HAMILTON, Ont. – Ontario University Athletics (OUA) figure skaters head to Toronto this week as Ryerson University hosts the 2014 OUA figure skating championship from Thursday, Feb. 13 to Friday, Feb. 14 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. The opening ceremony kicks off at 8:45 a.m., followed by the bronze rhythm dance.
Skating will continue until 5 p.m. on Friday when the event concludes with the medal presentations and awarding of the team banner.
The Western Mustangs are seeking their fourth consecutive banner and they’re in good shape to do it as four of their five 2013 all-stars return to the ice. The Mustangs skated to gold at the Carleton Invitational in December as Christina Liao (Hamilton, Ont.) finished in second place in Gold Singles and newcomer Gary Wong (Thornhill, Ont.) took the top place in Men's Singles. In the dance categories Clarissa Luo (London, Ont.) and Aysha Thomas (Russell, Ont.) took home first place in Junior Silver Similar dance, while Carly Smith (Whitby, Ont.) and Lauren Malott (Waterdown, Ont.) also finished with a gold medal in Senior Silver Dance. Burlington, Ont., native Kendra Graham took home a silver medal in Open Individual Dance. Seniors Andrea Richards (Keswick, Ont.) and Carmen Wong (Thornhill, Ont.) clinched gold in the Intermediate Similar Pairs. The perennial favourites finished in uncharacteristic fourth place at the OUA Winter Invitational. Despite their recent falter, the Mustangs are still the team to beat this weekend.
The Guelph Gryphons finished in fifth place at last year’s championship, but based on 2014 results are ready to be major contenders at the Mattamy Home Ice this week. The Gryphons finished second at the Carleton Invitational and locked in first place at the OUA Winter Invitational in January. 2013 returning all-star Anjulie Dabydeen (Oakville, Ont.) won the Ladies Gold Freeskate while veteran Francis Adamo (Guelph, Ont.) managed top marks in the men’s event. Rookie Kelsey Sobkrowich snagged her first gold as a Gryphon in the Women’s Short Program. All-star veteran Amanda Sproule (Keswick, Ont.) will also skate for the Gryphons at the championship.
The Queen’s Gaels clinched silver on home ice at last year’s championship and are poised to make the podium once again this season. The Gaels locked in bronze medal team finishes at both the Carleton Invitational and Winter Invitational events and return 2013 Senior Similar Pairs champions Nicole Grenon (Calgary. Alta.) and Anna Krzemien (Kingston, Ont.).
The Toronto Varsity Blues were OUA bronze medalists last season but have an outside shot at the podium this year after fifth and sixth place finishes at the Carleton Invitational and Winter Invitational. The Blues lost their veteran all-stars to graduation, but have seen strong performances this season from Daniel Chung (Toronto) and the pairs teams of Jillian Burston (Thornhill, Ont.) and Jacqueline Daniel (Orillia, Ont.) and Kaitlyn Liu (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Ashley Hui (Ottawa).
The Ryerson Rams finished just shy of the podium last year and are looking to make the most of the home-ice advantage this week. Returning Senior Silver Solo Dance all-star Katherine Bilinsky (Toronto) has been true to form so far this season. Her and partner Lisa Makeeva (Toronto) won the Senior Free Skate Pairs at the Winter Invitational. Balinsky and Makeeva weren’t the only top finishers for the Rams; Alysha Gjos (Sault Ste. Marie) and Julia Withers (Kenora, Ont.) took gold in the Intermediate Free Skate Pairs while Lauren Hildebrand (Fredericton, N.B.) and Barbara Basar (Toronto) finished atop the podium in the Junior Silver Dance Pairs.
Other schools competing at the OUA figure skating championship include Brock, Carleton, McMaster and Waterloo. Both days will be webcast live at the Ryerson Rams Portal.
2013-14 OUA FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday, Feb. 13
Friday, Feb. 14
Skating will continue until 5 p.m. on Friday when the event concludes with the medal presentations and awarding of the team banner.
The Western Mustangs are seeking their fourth consecutive banner and they’re in good shape to do it as four of their five 2013 all-stars return to the ice. The Mustangs skated to gold at the Carleton Invitational in December as Christina Liao (Hamilton, Ont.) finished in second place in Gold Singles and newcomer Gary Wong (Thornhill, Ont.) took the top place in Men's Singles. In the dance categories Clarissa Luo (London, Ont.) and Aysha Thomas (Russell, Ont.) took home first place in Junior Silver Similar dance, while Carly Smith (Whitby, Ont.) and Lauren Malott (Waterdown, Ont.) also finished with a gold medal in Senior Silver Dance. Burlington, Ont., native Kendra Graham took home a silver medal in Open Individual Dance. Seniors Andrea Richards (Keswick, Ont.) and Carmen Wong (Thornhill, Ont.) clinched gold in the Intermediate Similar Pairs. The perennial favourites finished in uncharacteristic fourth place at the OUA Winter Invitational. Despite their recent falter, the Mustangs are still the team to beat this weekend.
The Guelph Gryphons finished in fifth place at last year’s championship, but based on 2014 results are ready to be major contenders at the Mattamy Home Ice this week. The Gryphons finished second at the Carleton Invitational and locked in first place at the OUA Winter Invitational in January. 2013 returning all-star Anjulie Dabydeen (Oakville, Ont.) won the Ladies Gold Freeskate while veteran Francis Adamo (Guelph, Ont.) managed top marks in the men’s event. Rookie Kelsey Sobkrowich snagged her first gold as a Gryphon in the Women’s Short Program. All-star veteran Amanda Sproule (Keswick, Ont.) will also skate for the Gryphons at the championship.
The Queen’s Gaels clinched silver on home ice at last year’s championship and are poised to make the podium once again this season. The Gaels locked in bronze medal team finishes at both the Carleton Invitational and Winter Invitational events and return 2013 Senior Similar Pairs champions Nicole Grenon (Calgary. Alta.) and Anna Krzemien (Kingston, Ont.).
The Toronto Varsity Blues were OUA bronze medalists last season but have an outside shot at the podium this year after fifth and sixth place finishes at the Carleton Invitational and Winter Invitational. The Blues lost their veteran all-stars to graduation, but have seen strong performances this season from Daniel Chung (Toronto) and the pairs teams of Jillian Burston (Thornhill, Ont.) and Jacqueline Daniel (Orillia, Ont.) and Kaitlyn Liu (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Ashley Hui (Ottawa).
The Ryerson Rams finished just shy of the podium last year and are looking to make the most of the home-ice advantage this week. Returning Senior Silver Solo Dance all-star Katherine Bilinsky (Toronto) has been true to form so far this season. Her and partner Lisa Makeeva (Toronto) won the Senior Free Skate Pairs at the Winter Invitational. Balinsky and Makeeva weren’t the only top finishers for the Rams; Alysha Gjos (Sault Ste. Marie) and Julia Withers (Kenora, Ont.) took gold in the Intermediate Free Skate Pairs while Lauren Hildebrand (Fredericton, N.B.) and Barbara Basar (Toronto) finished atop the podium in the Junior Silver Dance Pairs.
Other schools competing at the OUA figure skating championship include Brock, Carleton, McMaster and Waterloo. Both days will be webcast live at the Ryerson Rams Portal.
2013-14 OUA FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday, Feb. 13
| 8:45 a.m. | Opening Ceremony |
| 9 a.m. | Bronze Rhythm Dance (Dance Fours)#1 |
| 9:34 a.m. | FLOOD |
| 9:54 a.m. | Sr/ Similar Pairs FS#1 |
| 10:43 a.m. | Sr Silver Similar Dance Pairs 1 |
| 11:10 a.m. | Sr Silver Similar Dance Pairs 2 |
| 11:37 a.m. | FLOOD/LUNCH |
| 12:37 p.m. | Jr Silver Similar Dance Pairs Dance 1 |
| 12:37 p.m. | Jr Silver Similar Dance Pairs Dance 2 |
| 1:04 p.m. | Open Individual Dance 1 |
| 1:29 p.m. | Open Individual Dance 2 |
| 1:55 p.m. | FLOOD |
| 2:15 p.m. | Intermediate Similar Pairs FS |
| 2:59 p.m. | Short Program |
| 6 p.m. | Annual OUA Coaches Meeting |
Friday, Feb. 14
| 9 a.m. | Gold Singles |
| 9:49 a.m. | Sr Silver Solo FS |
| 10:33 a.m. | FLOOD |
| 10:53 a.m. | Sr Silver Solo Dance 1 |
| 11:16 a.m. | Sr Silver Solo Dance 2 |
| 11:38 a.m. | FLOOD |
| 11:58 a.m. | Pairs Four |
| 12:53 p.m. | FLOOD/LUNCH |
| 1:53 p.m. | Gold Creative Dance |
| 2:29 p.m. | Open Men's Singles |
| 3:14 p.m. | FLOOD |
| 3:34 p.m. | Synchronized Skating #1 |
| 4:31 p.m. | FLOOD |
| 5 p.m. | Medal Presentations |
