Scott Davis placed second in Friday afternoon's free skating program, but skated well enough to hold on to an overall first place ranking and win the title of United States junior men champion.
Although he trains in Tacoma, Wash., Davis is from Montana and was a clear crowd favorite. In fact, he had his own little cheering section, a group of skating friends who drove nine hours just to support him.Davis' free skating program included a number of jumps and different combinations, as well as some nice footwork. "I felt good about the performance," he noted afterward. Davis just turned 18 and plans on moving up to seniors competition next year.
Receiving a second place medal in the overall junior men competition and placing a solid first in the free skating program was Michael Chack. His free skating program was full of energy and possibly the best performance he's done this year. Except for a triple jump, almost every move was solid and clean.
Placing third overall was John Baldwin Jr. who was not impressed with his free skating program. "It was probably the worst I could do," he observed. Baldwin was in first place after compulsory figures and then placed third in the original program as well as the free skating program.
"I just wasn't concentrating," he explained. "I hit the first two jumps, including the triple lutz. And after I hit them, I couldn't stop thinking about them."
Baldwin, who has quite a sense of humor, plans on either "joining a hockey team or going senior. Since I've been figure skating for years, it will probably be seniors," he conceded.
In other Friday afternoon competition, the junior ladies completed the second of three programs. After the original program performances, Alice Sue Claeys, who placed first in compulsory figures, held on to her first place standing. Geremi Weiss, who placed second in figures, also maintained her second place ranking. However, Nicole Bobek, eighth after the figures, skated extremely well and moved up to third place.
The junior pairs also skated their original short program. Tristen Vega and Richard Alexander are in first place. (Alexander also competes in the junior men division and placed fifth in the free skating program Friday.) Aimee Offner and Brian Helgenberg are in second place and Susan Purdy and Scott Chiamulera are in third.
Both the junior women and junior pairs will be completing competition today. The junior women will be performing their free skating program at 4:45 p.m. and the pairs will be skating in the morning.