Well, it has been an amazing five seasons together!  After much thought and consideration, we have decided to focus on attending college right now and we will not be competing during the 2008-2009 season.   

John is attending Ursinus College (which he began after Nationals this year) and Pilar attends St. Joseph’s University, where she is completing her third semester.  It has taken significant time and effort to train to be competitive and attend school full-time. We have done both, simultaneously, every year of our partnership.  We are at a point where we believe we need to make a full-time commitment to be successful and have decided that our education will be our primary focus at this time.  Skating is, and will always be, a very important part of our lives.  We have made this decision mutually and amicably with enormous trust, respect and friendship for each other.  

We are tremendously grateful for the experiences we have shared and the people who have made it possible. We have been privileged to qualify for Team USA for three years. We have grown as individuals, athletes and partners as we have participated in sectional, national and international competitions.  We have met and become friends with other skating athletes across the country and around the world. 

We would like to take this opportunity to say a special Thank You to our parents, our coaches, our choreographers, and the enormous team of staff, volunteers and judges that makes up US Figure Skating.  And we need to give a special “shout out” to Daphne and the amazing staff at ice-dance.com.  We have received incredibly generous support from everyone over the course of our partnership and competitive career.

Best Regards,  
Pilar & John