Skaters make their mark in championship competitions

U.S. silver medal pairs champions Tiffany Scott and Philip Dulebohn

UD skaters displayed their winning form at competitions here and abroad at the January U.S. National Figure Skating Championships in Boston and the European Figure Skating Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia, also held in January.

"This was a banner year for the University of Delaware at the nationals," Ron Ludington, Ice Skating Science Development Center, said.

"Three national titles were registered by our skaters. The best part about that? They are all young, with very bright, promising futures," he said.

At the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships in Boston, Tiffany Scott and Philip Dulebohn took the silver medal championship for pairs, winning a place in the world championships in Vancouver in March as World Team members.

Last year the pair placed ninth in the world championships.

"Tiffany Scott and Philip Dulbohn are happy to be back on the World Team and look forward to improving from last year's results," Ludington said.

Other skaters who won in the junior category at the nationals and will compete in the World Junior Figure Skating Championships, held from Feb. 25-March 4 in Sofia, Bulgaria, include:

* Debbie Blinder and Jeremy Allen, who won a gold medal in the junior pairs category;

* Kendra Goodwin and Chris Obzansky, who won a silver medal in the junior ice dance category;

* Johnny Weir, who won sixth place in the senior men category; and

* Sara Wheat, who won ninth place in the senior ladies category.

In addition, Kelsey Drewel received a gold medal in the novice ladies category, and Shaun Rogers won a pewter medal for fourth place in the junior men category.

"We are sending eight skaters from the University of Delaware to junior worlds, which is a record in the history of the Ice Skating Science Development Center," Ludington pointed out. "This also is half of the contingency that we sent to nationals. I'd say those are excellent numbers."

European UD skaters made their mark at the January European Figure Skating Championships 2001 in Bratislva, Slovakia.

In ice dancing, Irina Lobacheva and Ilia Averbukh from Russia came in third place, and Elena Grushina and Ruslan Goncharov from the Ukraine came in seventh place, out of 31 couples competing.

"Ilia Averbukh and Irina Lobacheva of Russia will be looking for a spot on the podium, and Ruslan Goncharov and Elena Grushina will be representing the Ukraine as well at the World Championships," Ludington said.

In the U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships, held in December in Denver, Christine Zukowski was a gold medalist in the juvenile girls category, and Anna Peng won a silver medal in the intermediate ladies category.

–Sue Moncure

Photo by KATHY FLICKINGER