{"id":41194,"date":"2025-11-14T00:53:44","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T05:53:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/?p=41194"},"modified":"2025-12-29T15:53:42","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T20:53:42","slug":"recap-2026-u-s-ice-dance-final-senior","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/recap-2026-u-s-ice-dance-final-senior\/","title":{"rendered":"Recap: 2026 U.S. Ice Dance Final (Senior)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Anne Calder<\/em><\/p>\n

The 2026 Pacific Coast Sectional Singles & U.S. Ice Dance Final was held at the America First Center November 02-05, 2025 in Henderson, Nevada. Twelve Juvenile, eleven Intermediate, twelve Novice, thirteen Junior and nine Senior teams competed.<\/p>\n

Fifteen Senior teams will compete January 7-11 at the 2026 U.S. National Championships in St. Louis, MO. Ten teams have received byes. The remaining five will be chosen from the nine teams who competed at the Final.<\/p>\n

The 2025-2026 Senior Rhythm Dance includes the music dance styles and feeling of the 1990\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Any music is possible as long as it was released, either originally or as a cover version in the 1990\u2019s and fulfills the Rhythm\/Theme as well as the required characteristics. Remixes and\/or remastered music, including cover versions is permitted. Music created via AI in the style of the 1990\u2019s is permitted.<\/p>\n

PLACEMENT & MEDALS<\/strong><\/p>\n

The awarding of a pewter medal for fourth place began at U.S. figure skating championships in 1988. It is not given at international events.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0 <\/span>Senior Rhythm Dance highest scoring teams: Elliana Peal & Ethan Peal (72.57), Amy Cui & Jonathan Rogers (72.14), Vanessa Pham & Anton Spiridonov (67.99), Raffaella Koncius & Alexey Shchepetov (67.92)<\/p>\n

The Senior Ice Dance Final podium: (gold) Amy Cui & Jonathan Rogers (180.77), (silver) Elliana Peal & Ethan Peal (174.55), Vanessa Pham & Anton Spiridonov (174.01), Raffaella Koncius & Alexey Shchepetov (172.78)<\/p>\n

2025-2026 MUSIC<\/strong><\/p>\n

Amy Cui & Jonathan Rogers<\/p>\n

RD: \u201cHere We Go Let\u2019s Rock & Roll\u201d by C&C Music Factory and \u201dThis is How We Do It\u201d by Montell Jordan<\/p>\n

FD: \u201cThe White Crow\u201d by Ilan Eshken; \u201cMercy\u201d by Max Richter and Mari Samuelson; \u201cUnconditioned\u201d by Ezio Bosso<\/p>\n

Klara Kowar & Thomas Schwappach<\/p>\n

RD: \u201cStrike It Up\u201d by Black Box and \u201dNo Diggity\u201d by Blackstreet and \u201dJock Jams (Megamix)\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

FD: \u201cLove is Strange\u201d by Mickey & Sylvia; \u201cYou Don\u2019t Own Me\u201d by Lesley Gore; \u201cHungry Eyes\u201d by Eric Carmen from the\u00a0Dirty Dancing\u00a0<\/i>soundtrack<\/p>\n

Vanessa Pham & Anton Spiridonov<\/p>\n

RD: \u201cCome As You Are\u201d by Nirvana; \u201cCome As You Are (Remix) by Killavic Beats; \u201dSmells Like Teen Spirit\u201d by Nirvana; \u201cSmells Like Teen Spirit\u201d by Cooper, Nito-Onna & CPX<\/p>\n

FD: \u201cSam\u2019s Murder\u201d and \u201cWith You\u201d by cast of\u00a0Ghost \u2013 the Musical<\/i>; \u201cOut of a Dream\u201d by Laroz; \u201cLife Turns on a Dream\u201d and \u201cUnchained Melody\u201d (Dance) The Love Inside \u2013 cast of\u00a0Ghost \u2013 the Musical<\/i><\/p>\n

Caroline Mullin & Brendan Mullin<\/p>\n

RD: \u201c2 Legit 2 Quit\u201d and \u201dU Can\u2019t Touch This\u201d by MC Hammer\u00a0<\/p>\n

FD:\u00a0Danse Macabre<\/i>\u00a0by Camille Saint-Saens<\/p>\n

Raffaella Koncius & Alexey Shchepetov:<\/p>\n

RD: \u201cMaria\u201d and \u201cCup of Life\u201d by Ricky Martin<\/p>\n

FD: \u201cUmbrellas of Cherbourg\u201d by Michel Legrand<\/p>\n

Isabella Flores & Linus Colmor Jepsen<\/p>\n

RD: \u201cIntergalactic\u201d by Beastie Boys and \u201cFirestarter\u201d by The Prodigy<\/p>\n

FD: \u201cMovies\u201d by Weyes Blood<\/p>\n

Elliana Peal & Ethan Peal<\/p>\n

RD: \u201cHere Comes Hammer\u201d and \u201d2 Legit 2 Quit\u201d by MC Hammer<\/p>\n

FD: \u201cSteppin\u2019 Out\u201d and \u201cMr. Blue Sky\u201d by Electric Light Orchestra<\/p>\n

COMPETITOR COMMENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Caroline Mullen & Brendan Mullen<\/p>\n

BM: Our skate today was better than the Rhythm Dance. Yesterday there was a lot of adrenaline, and we were\u00a0very excited. The adrenaline takes over with more energy. Today we were doing our job – just one thing at a time – just one element at a time. I think it went a whole lot better.<\/p>\n

Vanessa Pham & Anton Spiridonov<\/p>\n

VP: I feel we\u2019ve put in a lot of work, and it\u2019s paying off and showing.<\/p>\n

AS: It felt like two steps in the right direction. Obviously we\u2019re aiming higher, but we\u2019re really pleased with this step forward.<\/p>\n

Isabella Flores & Linus Colmor Jepsen<\/p>\n

IF: I don\u2019t think either program reflected what we\u2019ve been practicing.<\/p>\n

LJ: We could have done better. We know that. We\u2019ve had some really solid practices recently. We made lots of changes to our programs. I\u2019m not especially happy with the performance. Overall we\u2019ve made improvements.<\/p>\n

IF: We haven\u2019t competed since August at Lake Placid, so we\u2019re getting back in competition mode.<\/p>\n

Michela Melillo & Karl Schapfel<\/p>\n

MM: We did what we could. It\u2019s been a chaotic year. So much has been happening.<\/p>\n

KS: We tried to bring out the energy in the Choreo Step Sequence because it comes right at the judges.<\/p>\n

Coach Svetlana: We had a long summer break, so we tried to do as much as we can.<\/p>\n

Raffaella Koncius & Alexey Shchepetov<\/p>\n

RK: We\u2019ve spent lots of time working on Rhythm Dance sections.<\/p>\n

AS: We made some changes. I thought it was better, and the score improved.<\/p>\n

The Free Dance music is \u201cUmbrellas of Cherbourg\u201d by Michel Legrand.<\/p>\n

AS: The Free Dance is in our wheelhouse. We\u2019re very comfortable.<\/p>\n

Klara Kowar & Thomas Schwappach<\/p>\n

TS: The last few months we had to cut back on everything. We figured out a way to make it work to skate today.<\/p>\n

KK: Thomas had surgery where they cleaned up his knee and removed [healthy] cartilage. It\u2019s running in the lab now. The next surgery, they will put the new cartilage back in his knee.<\/p>\n

TS: It will help tremendously down the line for sure, but it involves a very long recovery, so his may be it for me. I will continue to teach and coach in the sport I love so much.<\/p>\n

Marin Hessel & Daniel Klaber<\/p>\n

Daniel has been coaching \/ partnering with Marin for two years in Cleveland.<\/p>\n

DK: I\u2019m trying to get her ready to be successful in ice dance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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