For Sofia Jarmoc and Luke Witkowski, their second season on the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating circuit brings familiarity and a desire to see how far they can go.

The young team, who train in Norwood, Massachusetts, opened their 2026–27 season with a fourth-place finish at the first series competition in Xi'an City, China. While the placement left them wanting more, the result instilled confidence heading into this weekend's JGP in Turkey. 

"I would say that we're pretty proud of the first JGP," Jarmoc, who turned 17 just after returning from China, said. "We also feel like there's still room to grow."

For Witkowski, 20, the placement was a reminder of how close the team is to the teams ahead of them, noting that it was a "good experience to get us in the right headspace for the season."

"We're in striking distance of the second Chinese team," he said. "We'll see them in Turkey, so I think we're well-positioned."

Entering this season as the 2026 U.S. junior silver medalists, the pair's confidence is a notable change from their position last year as debutants on the JGP circuit.

After partnering in August 2023, Jarmoc and Witkowski placed eighth in their first-ever JGP competition in Turkey before capturing bronze at JGP Thailand. Returning to Ankara for their second JGP this season, Jarmoc said, brings their development full circle.
 
"It's funny that we're going back to Ankara," Jarmoc said. "Last year, it was a completely different environment than what we were used to. You could feel the increased pressure and scale of the competition.

"We competed against a lot of good teams and learned to use it as fuel. It's motivating to look at them now and not only have them as competitors but friends."

That same combination of competition and friendship is foundational to Jarmoc and Witkowski's partnership. Entering their fourth year together, both skaters (and their coach) point to their relationship off the ice as an essential piece to their success on it.

"You're working in a high-pressure environment, so we've learned each other's mannerisms and habits," Jarmoc said. "Knowing all of that about each other and having time outside the rink as friends has been an advantage to our skating."

One of their coaches, Carrie Wall, feels privileged to work with a team that is so close.

"They care for each other and take care of each other," she said. "I think that is something special to this team. If they weren't partners, they'd still be friends outside the rink."

The pair have a solid friendship beyond the rink, even if their interests don't always overlap. Jarmoc, a student at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, enjoys surfing, wakeboarding and baking, while Witkowski, a junior at Harvard College, is an avid golfer and basketball fan. On the side, he does promotions for "Naturally Happening," a Boston-based indie rock band.

The skaters' personalities complement each other, too. Witkowski described Jarmoc as an "excellent communicator and highly sympathetic," while Jarmoc said Witkowski brings energy and fun, which can be especially valuable in competition. Jarmoc said his energetic, joyful demeanor helps her calm down at competitions. Wall also sees their contrasting personalities as part of what makes the partnership work.

"I've never worked with an athlete like Luke who brings the joy to every single thing that we do," she said. "And Sofia and I have a more similar, introverted personality. So it's just a joy to work with a pair team that cares for each other."

Their programs this season offer another glimpse into the pair's growth and personalities. Their short program, a remix of "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie, gives them a chance to show a more theatrical side of their skating. Jarmoc and Witkowski decided to keep their free skate music from last year, "Another Love" by Tom Odell.

"Our short is a grander piece than we've had," Jarmoc said. "We've had to skate up to it a little bit more, and I think that's helped our skating."

"In the free skate, we try to portray a certain longing or pain as the piece builds," Witkowski said. "The story is one of star-crossed love, but not in the traditional sense. This love cannot happen, not because of some outside force, but from some interior force."

"Having kept the free skate music from last year, we have a better understanding of what the piece actually means, and we're able to take it with a more mature approach," Jarmoc added. "It's kind of an introspective piece."

As the pair heads to Turkey, they hope those emotions shine through in their programs alongside their connection. To them, that connection is what separates them from competitors.

"Most pair teams are going to have their elements, and there's only so much diversity you can bring to those," Jarmoc said. "I think what makes a team stand out is how they connect on the ice."

For more information on the Junior Grand Prix Series, including full results, news and more, visit the Junior Grand Prix Competition Central on the U.S. Figure Skating website.