Photo credit Danielle Earl/U.S. Figure Skating
By Troy Schwindt
Amber Glenn showed the heart and grit of a champion on Friday night of the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships, rallying from nearly six points down after the short program to repeat as the U.S. women’s champion.
With the win, she remains undefeated on the season and becomes the first U.S. woman to win back-to-back golds since Alysa Liu in 2019 and 2020.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates entertained the crowd at INTRUST Bank Arena with their ’50s, ’60s and ‘70s throwback medley. The five-time and reigning U.S. champions won the rhythm dance by more than nine points.
Glenn Rallies to Repeat as Women’s Champion
Amber Glenn left the ice after the short program on Thursday night disappointed that she didn’t have the “attack” or “adrenaline” necessary for such a big moment. She promised then and there that she would go “full out” for the free skate.
The defending champion kept that promise.
“Coming into these nationals, I wasn’t feeling my absolute best and today being able to not fully lock in but for the most part get into the zone I needed to and I’m very proud of my mental fortitude and the progress I’ve made,” Glenn said. “I hope to continue the consistency the rest of the season.”
Glenn performed a captivating free skate, choreographed by Katherine Hill to Audiomachine's “I Will Find You/The Return.” The spell was momentarily broken by a fall on a triple loop, but her speed and focus remained intact.
The Texas native demonstrated her talent and veteran grit by earning a personal best 145.88 points and a personal record overall score of 216.79.
Glenn started on fire by landing a triple Axel followed by a triple flip-triple toe loop combination that combined for almost 22 points. She landed a total of seven triple jumps, four in combination; and was credited with two Level 4 spins and a Level 4 step sequence.
Glenn has cleanly landed a triple Axel at every competition she’s competed at this season.
Third after the short program, she overcame a deficit of 5.45 points to overtake Liu and win her second straight title.
Liu, competing at her first U.S. Championships since coming out of retirement, followed up her sterling short program with another gem, sparkling in her free skate to the classic “McArthur Park” by Donna Summer, reeling off her jumps with ease and holding the crowd in the palm of her hand.
The 2022 Olympian and fan favorite executed six triple jumps, three in combination. She earned Level 4s for two of her spins and step sequence, posting a free skate score of 138.97 and an overall total score of 215.33. This marks her fourth senior medal at the U.S. Championships.
“It feels really crazy to me,” Liu said of being on the podium after her two-year retirement from skating. “I really didn’t have any expectations for myself placement wise, just program wise. I felt really good throughout this entire experience.”
Sarah Everhardt, the defending U.S. pewter medalist, enjoyed a breakout competition with a powerful program to Stravinsky’s “Firebird.”
Never tentative, Everhardt attacked her free skate from start to finish, stumbling on a triple loop but hitting all other elements. She earned two Level 4 spins and a Level 4 step sequence.
The Virginia native achieved personal best scores of 136.64 for her free skate and 207.36 for her total score.
“It’s really cool,” Everhardt said of sharing the podium with three past champions. “Watching Alysa and Amber and Bradie growing up, it’s amazing to be on the podium with them and to see that I’ve made it to this level and I’m competitive with them."
Another two-time U.S. titlist and Olympian, Bradie Tennell, took home the pewter medal, her sixth senior medal at the U.S. Championships.
Tennell skated a mature, sophisticated free to the classic “Nessun Dorma,” culminating in a superb Ina Bauer falling into a split jump. While she fought to land a few of her jumps, the only major error was a fall on a triple Lutz.
“This performance I am really happy with the first half of the program,” Tennell said. “The second half I’m a little disappointed in; it’s not how I’ve been training. I would have liked for it to go a little bit better, but I’ve faced a lot of ups and downs this year and even this week, so I’m proud of myself for fighting all the way to the end.”
Tennell posted a free skate score of 128.71 and an overall total score of 199.94.
Chock and Bates Dazzle En Route to Rhythm Dance Lead
Madison Chock and Evan Bates took a huge step toward a record-tying sixth U.S. ice dance title with a brilliant rhythm dance.
The two-time and reigning World champions presented a kaleidoscope of music and dance styles from 50’s rock n’ roll, to the early ‘60s twist and up through the disco era, but the polished, highlight-packed program never felt rushed or frantic.
The Montreal-based team nearly broke its own U.S. rhythm dance score by earning 92.16 points, just a hundredth of a point off of their 92.17-point record set in 2024. They lead the field by more than nine points heading into Saturday’s free dance.
Chock and Bates’ step sequences received huge scores, as did their choreographic rhythm sequence that earned them a whopping grade of execution of 6.43 points.
Their accomplishment was made even more impressive as Chock wasn’t feeling well.
“It felt great,” Bates said of their performance. “We really found our groove, and our ease and our flow and we were kind of forced into that mindset of trying to make it easy on ourselves by enjoying the crowd, taking energy from the crowd, using the ice to our advantage and just relying on our experience in all the years we’ve been together to power through.”
Should Chock and Bates emerge with the title, they will tie Olympic champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White. Chock and Bates won their first title in 2015.
Defending U.S. silver medalists Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko put themselves in solid medal position. They took the gritty route in their rhythm dance with a high-energy tribute to the ‘50s, culminating in a fast, fine rotational lift.
Together for 10 years, Carreira and Ponomarenko showcased their union and presentation skills that generated 82.86 points. Their midline step sequence produced a program-high 12.23 points.
“We feel pretty good about our skate today,” Carreira said. “I really don’t think it was our best. We felt nervous and kind of cautious throughout it, but we’re still happy with the outcome. I think it was still a good performance, just not our best.”
“It wasn’t our most relaxed run, but we trusted our training and we trusted each other and we still made it through,” Ponomarenko added. “There’s a lot of points we left on the table, and we’re looking to get those points back in the free [dance] and have a little bit of a better skate overall with confidence and in going in our elements as well.”
Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik and Caroline Green and Michael Parsons tied with scores of 82.13, but Zingas and Kolesnik took third due to the tiebreaker of having a higher technical score. Both teams established new personal best records with their respective performances.
Zingas and Kolesnik transported the Wichita crowd back to the days of Studio 54 with their fast-paced Bee Gee’s program, packed with well-synchronized disco moves.
The 2023 U.S. pewter medalists arrived in Wichita fighting illness. Zingas had pneumonia two weeks ago, and earlier in the week Kolesnik fell ill.
Still, the team that trains in Novi, Michigan, delivered an entertaining program.
“I think coming to the event we had some time to build up again and work hard and we used that time well and that showed today,” Zingas said. “I feel more confident and happier on the ice. I think we tried to show that and it paid off.”
Green and Parsons offered a goofy, fun program, set to a medley of “Soul Bossa Nova” and a remix of “These Boots Are Made for Walking” that capitalized on their speed and synchronicity.
The Michigan-based teams received high marks for their step sequences.
“The moment we stepped off the ice today we were already preparing for the free dance,” Parsons said. “We are focused and ready. We feel better than we ever in our competitive careers together. This is first competition since my surgery where I’m feeling the best I have.”
Parsons had surgery on his hips and spent the spring rehabbing at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Competition continues tomorrow with the men’s short program, free dance and pairs free skate.
To follow the competition, including live results, how to watch information and more, visit the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships Competition Central.
