Gryphons look to repeat on home ice at 2015 OUA Figure Skating Championship

The Guelph Gryphons are hoping to repeat as conference champions on home ice when they host the 2015 OUA Figure Skating Championships from Feb. 17-18 at the Gryphon Centre.

Last year, the Gryphons ended the Western Mustangs streak of three consecutive OUA championships and won their first title since 2010 – the second of back-to-back championships for Guelph that year.

It is not going to be easy for Guelph to repeat as the team has lost several key pieces from last year's championship squad. Remaining from the 2014 team for Guelph are Leeann Duncan and Kelsey Sobkowich. Both were named OUA All-Stars at the conclusion of last year's event for their gold medal-winning performances in Senior Similar Pairs and as members of the Guelph Pairs Four team. The duo most recently finished in second place in the pairs competition at the University of Toronto Winter Invitational. Another Gryphon to keep an eye on is Kelsey Shropshire, who finished third at the Winter Invitational in the Senior Silver Solo Dance.

After narrowly missing a first-place finish at the Winter Invitational, the Western Mustangs are poised to be serious contenders for their fourth OUA championship banner in five seasons. Western has two returning OUA All-Stars from last season's silver medal-winning team in Carly Smith and Lauren Malott. They won gold last year in the Senior Silver Similar Dance Pairs, and finished second in the event at this year's Winter Invitational. Also back for the Mustangs are Christine Liao and Amy McMillan. At last year's OUA Championships, Liao won bronze in the Gold Free Skate, while McMillan also won bronze in the Senior Silver Solo Free Skate. Both skaters turned in impressive podium finishes at the Winter Invitational.

The Ryerson Rams have never won an OUA figure skating championship, but this could be the year as Ryerson boasts arguably its stronger roster ever. The defending OUA bronze medalists are led by their three returning all-stars Lisa Makeeva, Karen Urquhart, and Julia Withers, all of whom won gold medals at last year's championship. Makeeva won the Gold Free Skate, while Withers and Urquhart won the Gold Creative Dance. Fifth-year veteran Christina Pulla is also back for the Rams after capturing silver in the Short Program; she won gold at the 2015 Winter Invitational.

Despite finishing fifth at last year's OUA championships, the Toronto Varsity Blues put together a strong 2015 season and look ready to compete for a spot on the podium. Toronto came from behind on the final day of the Winter Invitational with a gold medal in the Women's Four Pair, giving them one point more than the Western Mustangs for first-place. Tiffany Lung, Carol Yeung, Katrina de Liberato and Lila Asher were on the pair's four team and look to make a large impact at the championship. Other first-place finishes at the Winter Invitational included Elspeth Mathau in the Senior Silver Solo Dance, and Ashley Hui and Kaitlyn Liu in the Intermediate Similar Pair Women.

The McMaster Marauders didn't win a medal at last year's OUA Championships, en route to a sixth-place finish, but had a strong performance at the Winter Invitational. Riley Allison won gold in the Senior Silver Women's Solo at the event, the Marauders Intermediate Synchro won a silver medal, and the Dance Four team went home with silver.

Rounding out the field at the 2015 OUA Championships are the Waterloo Warriors, Brock Badgers, and Carleton Ravens.

Lillian Rieck is the Warriors lone returning OUA medalist after winning the Open Individual Dance in 2014. Waterloo finished seventh overall at last year's tournament and will be relying heavily on Rieck once again. The Warriors finished fourth at the Winter Invitational in both the Intermediate Synchro and Dance Four.

The Badgers and Ravens each had a skater win gold last year, but will be in tough this time around as both teams' gold medalists have graduated.

Brock's duo of Katie Desveaux and Laura Holbrough won gold at the Winter Invitational in Gold Creative Dance.

Carolyn Hall's sixth-place finish in the Senior Silver Solo event was the best of any Raven at the Winter Invitational.

The event gets going on Tuesday, Feb. 17 with the Opening Cermony at 11 a.m. and concludes the following day with medal presentations at 5:15 p.m. Students and children under 12 and get in free, day passes for adults and seniors are $5.00/day.

A full schedule of events is listed below.

TIME               EVENT

11:45 AM        Opening Ceremony

12:00 PM        Int. Similar Pairs

1:05 PM          Sr. Similar Pairs

2:30 PM          Dance Fours

3:30 PM          Jr. Silver Similar Dance

4:55 PM          Sr. Silver StarSkate

5:55 PM          Pairs Fours

7:30 PM          Sr. Silver Similar Dance

Wednesday, Feb. 18

TIME               EVENT

8:30 AM          Gold StarSkate

9:35 AM          Men's Open Free Skate

10:40 AM        FLOOD

10:55 AM        Novice Short Program

11:55 AM        Gold Creative Dance

1:15 PM          Sr. Silver Solo Dance

2:25 PM          Open Solo Dance

3:50 PM          Synchro Teams 1-4

4:35 PM          Synchro Teams 5-9

5:15 PM          Medal Presentations