Above: The junior men's podium (l-r): Aleksandr Fegan, Lorenzo Elano, Patrick Blackwell and Kirk Haugeto. Photo credit: Danielle Earl/U.S. Figure Skating
By Troy Schwindt
Champions were crowned after three of the junior events and two novice competitions on Wednesday at the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Lorenzo Elano earned the junior men’s title, while Regan Moss and Jakub Galbavy secured gold in junior pairs.
Making their U.S. Championships debut, Hana Maria Aboian and Daniil Veselukhin captured the junior ice dance gold. Skylar Lautowa-Peguero will take the junior women’s short program lead into Thursday’s competition.
In the novice ranks, Alena Kerr and Mitchell Castelletti set personal best scores to win the title, while novice ice dancers Marian Carhart and Denis Bledsoe claimed gold.
Elano Claims Junior Men’s Top Prize
Lorenzo Elano overcame an early fall and then settled in to claim his first junior men’s title with a score of 202.65.
The skater from Chicago, second after the short program, displayed his full technical arsenal that included landing six triple jumps, four in combination. Skating to “Mad Rush” and “The Hours” by Philip Glass, he achieved Level 4s for his three spins and high marks for his choreo sequence.
“It wasn’t my best performance,” Elano said. “I’ve done way better in practice. Honestly, coming off the ice I wasn’t sure about how my score was going to be. So I’m happy with the outcome. ... I’m most pleased that I kept going, because I had a pretty rough start; I just kept doing what I do best. I’m glad I didn’t leave many points on the table.”
Elano partly credits his music with helping him overcome the early miscue. Glass, the influential minimalist composer and pianist, was also a favorite of 2022 Olympic champion Nathan Chen, who performed his free skate to a Glass medley during the 2020-21 season.
“My coaches [Jeremy Allen and Denise Myers] brought it up to me, and Tommy Steenberg choreographed it,” he said. “I felt like I connected with it well. It helped me get through some of the rough spots in the program.”
Elano, who placed sixth at the 2024 U.S. Championships, finished second in the free skate with a score of 131.05 and had the top program components score of the event at 69.46. He qualified for the Wichita championships by winning the Midwestern Sectional Singles Final.
Aleksandr Fegan secured the silver medal despite having some trepidation before taking the ice. The 2024 U.S. junior bronze medalist, performing to music from the ballet “The Firebird” by Igor Stravinsky, won the free skate with a score of 131.35 and finished with a personal best overall score of 201.64, breaking the 200-point mark for the first time.
“Five minutes before I went out on the ice, I felt a pain in my leg and I wasn’t sure if I could compete,” Fegan said. “I guess the adrenaline carried me through the program and I was happy I was able to deliver. ... I wasn’t really expecting much since what had happened. I was just trying to finish the program. I was happy I was able to get 200 [points]. Getting 200 has been my goal for two seasons and I finally achieved it.”
Fegan landed seven triple jumps, three in combination, including a triple loop-double Axel-double loop sequence worth 11.52 points. He finished the routine with a Level 4 spin.
Fegan is only the latest in a long list of U.S. medalists who have chosen to perform to music from the Russian ballet.
“I thought it fit me well, so I decided to test my abilities on it,” he said.
The fast-paced selection served to highlight Fegan’s spinning ability, among the best of the event.
“I’m always (working on) spinning,” he said. “For me, I like spins, and I like to focus on getting Level 4s and having them well executed.”
Patrick Blackwell, who led by more than six points after Tuesday’s short program, fell four times in the free skate. Still, the Boston-based skater landed two triple Axels and maintained his vigor throughout his performance to Gabriel Saban’s “Smoke and Mirrors,” choreographed by Adam Blake. It gave him the bronze medal in his U.S. Championships debut with 195.77 points.
“I chose [this music] because I like to categorize myself as a very enthusiastic, open, super-aggressive person, energy-wise,” he said. “I wanted something very energetic to show that, rather than polish. While I'm working on adding polish, energy is my strong suit right now.
“… Looking back at it, I had struggles on just about every element. … My main takeaway was the experience of doing my first nationals. While it wasn’t like my Junior Grand [Prix events], I still find it a valuable lesson. I’m happy to leave with a bronze medal and the learning experience for the next time.”
Blackwell had been battling a broken thumb and ligament issues in his left foot leading up to the competition.
Kirk Haugeto earned the pewter medal – his first U.S. Championships medal – with an overall score of 184.29.
Moss and Galbavy Rise Up to Claim Junior Pairs
Skating last, Reagan Moss and Jakub Galbavy delivered a winning free skate en route to the junior pairs title.
Sixth in the junior ranks last season, Moss and Galbavy entered the Wichita championships with a modest goal of finishing on the podium. The Minnesota team, however, vastly exceeded their expectations with a program to “This is Me” by Kesha that checked the boxes both technically and on the program components side.
“I feel like we’ve done all the work day after day, and even though it wasn’t a complete best of it out there, it was a hard-working one and I guess that’s what it feels like to be champions,” Moss said.
“It was a thrill; it’s insane,” Galbavy added.
Moss and Galbavy destroyed their previous-best scores, posting a free skate mark of 98.79 and an overall total of 154.68, which bests their previous best by more than 25 points. Program highlights included two Level 4 lifts and a Level 4 spin.
“We were most pleased with staying on our feet and with our choreograph sequence, in which we try to present to the audience,” Moss said.
Defending champions Olivia Flores and Luke Wang struggled with their program to music from The Lion King soundtrack by Hans Zimmer.
The Colorado Springs-based team finished as the silver medalists – their third U.S. Championships medal – with a free skate score of 96.42 and an overall total of 152.50.
“It was part of our plan to come out here with a little bit of an uncomfortable feeling in terms our [jump] layout; we had never competed this in our careers thus far,” Wang said. “Coming out here we knew we would be faced with mental challenges, so honestly going back home we know where we need to tweak things in terms of what we need to build on so it’s all good. We hopefully have junior Worlds ahead.”
Saya Carpenter and Jon Maravilla secured the bronze medal. The Detroit-based team performed to “Sit Down Beside Me” by Patrick Watson. They achieved a U.S. personal best free skate score of 85.78 and a U.S. personal best overall score of 137.78.
“It wasn’t perfect,” Maravilla said. “We are always striving to do more, but overall, we are happy with what we did. We were able to stand on feet with our side-by-side jumps and both lifts went up and stayed up, so a lot of small wins in this performance.”
Sofia Jarmoc and Luke Witkowski earned the pewter medal with a free skate score of 86.50 and an overall total score of 136.70.
Aboian and Veselukhin Capture Junior Ice Dance Gold
Hana Maria Aboian and Daniil Veselukhin, partners for a little more than a year, emerged as junior ice dance champions. Performing to Mozart selections, Aboian and Veselukhin moved as elegantly as ballet dancers, with fluidity, speed and lovely carriage.
The team from Connecticut posted a free dance score of 97.40 and an overall total score of 162.40.
“It was one of my favorite skates and, overall, I cried tears of joy at the end,” Aboian said. “I’m proud of how we skated.”
“This is a very special moment for us as a couple,” Veselukhin said.
Aboian and Veselukhin achieved all positive grades of execution, from 1.45 to 2.33. Their rotational lift received a whopping 13.23 points.
Siblings Elliana Peal and Ethan Peal secured the silver medal – their fourth U.S. Championships medal and best-ever result at the event in junior – with a U.S. personal best overall score of 153.00.
The Peals skated a dramatic, yet sensitive, free dance to Hans Zimmer’s Pearl Harbor soundtrack, highlighted by several strong twizzle sequences as well as interesting positions in their spin. Their rotational lift garnered a program-high 11.46 points. They finished second in the free dance with 88.77 points.
The team from Nashville arrived having won U.S. junior bronze medals in 2022 and 2024.
“The skate was honestly everything we wanted,” Ethan Peal said. “We put everything we could into the performance. Part of the sport is getting judged on your performance, but we touched a lot of people’s hearts with this performance, and we are really proud of that.”
Elliana Peal added that there was a woman in the audience whose husband had been involved in Pearl Harbor and it was nice to talk to her.
“The skate felt great, just the technical side not there,” Elliana said. “It’s frustrating because it’s our last year as juniors, and especially since our dad took home the junior title.”
Another sibling duo, Caroline Mullen and Brendan Mullen earned the bronze medal with a free dance score of 92.10 – a new U.S. personal best – and an overall total score of 148.51.
“I think overall we wanted to execute well and enjoy the performance and share our passion for the program that we’ve put in so much work toward,” Caroline Mullen said. “Every single day for months. It wasn’t our best, we made a few mistakes and it’s something we’ll learn from and make us better in the future.”
Michelle Deych and Ryan Hu secured the pewter medal, their first junior medal at the U.S. Championships after standing on the podium at the novice level last season. They set a new personal best for their overall score of 135.45.
Lautowa-Peguero Leads Junior Women After Short Program
In her debut at the U.S. Championships, Skylar Lautowa-Peguero quieted her nerves and emerged as the leader after the short program in the junior women’s event.
The New Jersey native posted a personal best score of 63.94 with her program to “Learning to Fly” by Christina Aguilera.
“I was practicing before this competition and trying to motivate myself to stay calm because before competitions I usually get the jitters and get nervous,” Lautowa-Peguero said. “This time, I tried my best to stay calm. I just tell myself it’s not end of world if I do bad and that this is my first nationals and there are many more to come.”
Lautowa-Peguero performed a clean program in which each element received a positive GOE. She opened with a triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination that earned 12.03 points. She achieved Level 4s on two of three spins and her triple flip and double Axel were rock-solid.
She earned her trip to Wichita with a third-place finish at the 2025 Eastern Sectional Singles Final.
Emilia Nemirovsky took a business-like approach and finished second in the segment with a score of 62.89.
“I came to do my job, and I did it just how I wanted,” she said. “… My favorite part of the program is the double Axel and the spin after. … [In terms of the free skate], It’s the same thing. I am coming in to do a job with a neutral mindset and emotion and just laying it out and doing it.”
Nemirovsky, the 2024 U.S. junior pewter medalist, skated a clean program to “The New Season” and “Nina’s Dream” by Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Clint Mansell and Matt Dunkley. Two of her three spins received Level 4s, while she earned the top program components score of the segment with 26.83 points.
Jiaying Ellyse Johnson, sixth as a junior at the 2024 U.S. Championships, earned a personal best score of 61.68. The Illinois native racked up 12.28 points with her triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination. Two spins and her step sequence garnered Levels 4s.
“I had a lot of fun,” Johnson said. “One of my goals was to live it up and be in the moment and enjoy this beautiful arena, and I did that. ... My favorite part of the program is my step sequence. I find a spot in front of judges and give a little wink there.”
Johnson performed her program to “Harem (Cancao Do Mar)” by Sarah Brightman. She qualified for the Wichita championships by placing third at the 2025 Midwestern Sectional Singles Final.
Annika Chao sits fourth with a score of 58.71.
Kerr and Castelletti Reign Supreme in Novice Pairs
Alena Kerr and Mitchell Castelletti set new personal best scores in the free skate, 83.57, and overall, 125.43, en route to the novice pairs title.
The Minnesota-based team achieved Level 4 on their three lifts and positive GOEs on nine of 10 elements in their performance to “Speechless” by Naomi Scott.
Kerr and Castelletti sat second after the short program.
Florida siblings Juliet Meek and Devin Meek earned the silver medal with a free skate score of 78.01 and a personal best overall total of 120.90.
The Meeks performed to music from the Strictly Ballroom soundtrack. Program highlights included a Level 4 spin and a Level 4 lift.
Giuliana Gariti and Matthew Curtis secured the bronze medal, posting a free skate score of 65.60 and an overall score of 99.99. The team from Chicago performed to music from Pearl Harbor soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. They achieved two Level 4 lifts.
Tallulah Tanner and Nickolai Apter claimed the pewter medal with 93.11 points.
Carhart and Bledsoe Celebrate Novice Ice Dance Crown
Marian Carhart and Denis Bledsoe won the free dance and overall novice ice dance title.
The team that trains in Estero, Florida, skated a clean program to “Czardas” by Vittorio Monti, performed by the Royal London Philharmonic Orchestra. Each element received positive GOEs. They achieved a free skate score of 64.98 and an overall score of 110.32.
Carhart and Bledsoe finished first in their two NQS events and won the novice division of the U.S. Ice Dance Final in November.
Pattern dance leaders Grace Fischer and Luke Fischer secured the silver medal, posting a free dance score of 62.32 and an overall total score of 108.66.
The Connecticut-based team had all positive GOEs in their program to disco theme.
Sophia Feige and Wiles Middlekauff captured the bronze medal, posting a free dance score of 61.77 and an overall total of 105.46. The Michigan-based team’s diagonal step sequence earned them their highest technical element score with 8.20 points.
Clara Fugate and Warren Fugate claimed the pewter medal with 94.70 points.
Competition continues Thursday with junior women's free skate in the morning. The championship pairs and women’s short programs will follow later in the day and evening.
To follow the competition, including live results, how to watch information and more, visit the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships Competition Central.
