Boston-Based Figure Skating Pair Wins US Championship
OMAHA, Neb. (CBS/AP) — A pair of figure skaters who train in Boston have won the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir overcame a huge mistake to win their first pairs title at the competition on Saturday.
Shnapir appeared to lose his edge as they went into their side-by-side spins and had to stand there until Castelli finished her spin. The big deduction dropped them to third in the free skate. But their big cushion after the short program was enough to keep them first overall with 180.61 points.
Castelli was born in Providence, Rhode Island and lives in Cranston, Rhode Island.
Shnapir lives in Sudbury, is a graduate of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, and currently attends Emerson College.
They train together in Boston, where next year's U.S. Figure Skating Championships are scheduled to be held.
Alexa Scimeca and Christopher Knierim were second (172.75), but it might not be enough to get them to the world championships. Caydee Denney and John Coughlin have petitioned for a spot on the team, and U.S. Figure Skating is almost certain to send the two if he recovers from hip surgery.
Worlds are the qualifiers for the Sochi Olympics, and the Americans can't risk sending two inexperienced pairs.
(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
