FIGURE SKATING ROUNDUP: Toronto Winter Invitational
It came down to the last event, but the University of Toronto Varsity Blues figure skating team came out on top, placing first at the 2015 Toronto Winter Invitational, January 29-30, at Varsity Arena.
Blues win Toronto Winter Invitational
It came down to the last event, but the University of Toronto Varsity Blues figure skating team came out on top, placing first at the 2015 Toronto Winter Invitational, January 29-30, at Varsity Arena.
The Blues finished with 72 points, one point ahead of the second place Western Mustangs (71). Guelph placed third with 57 points.
Down by six points heading into the final event, Toronto's Tiffany Lung, Carol Yeung, Katrina de Liberato and Lila Asher came up with a first-place finish in the pair four women to pass the Mustangs and take the top spot in the standings.
Other first-place finishes from Toronto included Elspeth Mathau in the senior silver solo dance, Paul Parkingson in the open men event and Ashley Hui and Kaitlyn Liu in the intermediate similar pair women.
Standings
1. Toronto, 72
2. Western, 71
3. Guelph, 57
4. Ryerson, 47
5. McMaster, 43
6. Queen's, 32
7. Brock, 25
8. Waterloo, 25
9. Laurier, 17
10. McGill, 15
11. Carleton, 1
The Varsity Blues are back in action February 17-18 when they head to Guelph, Ont., for the 2015 OUA championship.
Source: Toronto Varsity Blues
Western skaters win six medals at Toronto Winter Invitational
TORONTO – The Western figure skating team claimed six medals at the second event of the OUA season, as they took part in both solo and group events at the Winter Invitational this past weekend at University of Toronto. The team finished second overall with a total of 71 combined points, falling just short of the first place Toronto Varsity Blues, who had 72 points.
The Mustangs saw three gold medal finishes that went to Jessica Reid in the Open Solo Dance event, to Lauren Malott, Carly Smith, Chandler Buchanan and Reid in the Dance Fours event, and to Christina Liao and Margaret Purdy in the Senior Similar Pairs event.
Silver medals went to Malott and Carly Smith in the Senior Similar Dance, Liao in the Freeskate, and to Amy McMillan and Kendra Stirling in the Intermediate Similar Pairs.
The Mustangs will be back in action February 17-18, 2015 when they travel to Guelph for the 2015 OUA championship. The two-day championship sees skaters compete across various men's and women's events, including solo, dance, and pairs performances, as well as synchro.
Source: Western Mustangs
Gryphons finish 3rd at Toronto Invitational
The Gryphon figure skating team found the podium Friday (Jan. 30) evening, earning an overall team bronze medal at the Toronto Invitational. The team was fourth after the first day of competition and was able to skate their way to a third place finish in an extremely close competition. The second day of competition included five lead changes between five teams (with only eight events in the day).
The second day of competition was highlighted by medal performances in four of the eight events skated. Veteran Kelsey Sobkowich skated a flawless short program earning her a bronze medal. Sobkowich would later skate with veteran partner Leeann Duncan in the senior similar pairs event where they finished second. The pair were joined by veteran Mackenzie Wilson and rookie Julia Cenedese in the pairs fours event where the team would capture another silver medal. The Gryphon team would bring home one more silver medal in the men's event where Francis Adamo would finish second.
The Gryphon team finished the two day event with a total of 57 points, bringing home the bronze medal. The team will be looking to continue this momentum into the OUA championships at home on February 17th and 18th.
Source: Guelph Gryphons
Rams make history again
TORONTO – The Ryerson Rams figure skating team had a historic showing in its first competition of the 2014-15 season, finishing fourth overall at the OUA Winter Invitational at the University of Toronto on January 29 and 30.
Ryerson picked up two gold medals, a silver and two bronze to help earn 47 total points in the competition.
The Rams made history by winning gold in the synchro event. It is the first gold medal performance in synchro at any competition in team history.
Christina Pulla (Whitby, Ont.) picked up Ryerson's second gold in the novice short program, while Lauren Hildebrand (Fredericton, N.B.) won silver in the senior silver solo dance. Lisa Makeeva (Toronto) captured bronze in the gold free skate, and first-years Sawyer Buchanan and Lisa Cassleman earned bronze in the senior silver dance pairs.
Ryerson will look to build on its success at the upcoming OUA Championship this February 17 and 18 at the University of Guelph. Last year, the Rams won their first ever team medal at an OUA Figure Championship, capturing the bronze medal.
Source: Ryerson Rams
