Varsity Blues capture second straight OUA Figure Skating Championship

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. - The University of Toronto Varsity Blues figure skating team successfully defended their provincial title as the 2017 OUA championships wrapped up on Wednesday afternoon at the Gale Centre Arena in Niagara Falls, Ont.
 
It marks the first time in program history that U of T has claimed back-to-back figure skating banners and Toronto's fifth provincial title dating back to 1975.

The Varsity Blues accumulated 83 points over the course of the two-day event, with the host Brock Badgers finishing in second place with 65 points and the Western Mustangs earning bronze with 62 points.  

In total, Toronto won five gold medals at the event, including an exciting first place finish in the synchro event to conclude the championship.

Second-year standout Chyna Hui (Toronto, Ont.) stole the show for the Blues, winning gold in both the Women's Sr. Silver Solo Dance and Women's Jr. Silver Similar Dance with teammate Cladia Choi (Toronto, Ont.). 

Also striking gold for the Blues was Kaitlyn Liu (Toronto, Ont.) in the Women's Starskate 10 and the Women's 4 Pairs group of Christina Liao (Dundas, Ont.), Carol Yeung (Toronto, Ont.), Lila Asher (Louisville, Kentucky) and rookie Keiko Marshall (Burlington, Ont.).

For the Badgers, Katie Desveaux (North York, Ont.) was the talk of the OUA championship after she won four gold medals, placing first in the Women's Open Short Dance and Women's Int. Similar Pairs with partner Laura Holbrough (Ilderton, Ont.), as well as on her own in the Women's Open Solo Dance.

Brock coach Katie Dortono was named OUA Figure Skating Coach of the Year, while the Badgers as whole received the OUA Spirit Award. 

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
Toronto - 83 pts
Brock - 66
Western 62
Guelph 58
McMaster 44
Queen's 34
Ryerson 27
Carleton 9
Waterloo 9

FINAL RESULTS/PLACINGS 

Women's Starskate 10
1. Toronto - Kaitlyn Liu OUA All-Star
2. Guelph - Erin Campbell
3. Carleton - Amanda Cousineau

Women's 4 Pairs
1.  Toronto - Christina Liao, Carol Yeung, Lila Asher, Keiko Marshall OUA All-Stars
2.  Queen's  - Tiffany Lung, Natasha Calizon, Melissa Kustra, Leah Monette
3.  Guelph - Kelsey Sobkowuich, Leeann Duncan, Mackenzie Wilson, Juiie Cenedese 

Women's Gold Starskate
1. McMaster - Louise Hains OUA All-Star
2. Toronto - Christian Liao
3. Ryerson - Taylor Smith 

Women's Nov. Short Program
1. Brock - Sydney Vanderveen OUA All-Star
2. Western - Glozelin Mutlu
3. Toronto - Katia Orlova-Kramble

Men's Open Free Skate
1. Western - Denis Margalik OUA All-Star
2. Ryerson - Chris Berneck
3. Waterloo - Liam Mawhood 

Women's Jr. Silver Similar Dance
1. Toronto - Chyna Hui, Cladia Choi
2. Western - Emily Bird, Nicole Lawson
3. Guelph - Claire Hughes, Katie Graham

Women's Sr. Silver Similar Dance
1. Brock - Kristen Dortono, Lauren Collins OUA All-Stars
2. Toronto, Melissa Eratostene, Katie Graham
3. Western - Jaz Smyl Joly, Sarah Hill 

Women's Open Short Dance
1. Brock - Laura Holbrough, Katie Desveaux OUA All-Stars
2. Guelph - Juiie Cenedese, Jade Morrow
3. Queen's - Moria Chang, Stephanie Collier 

Women's Sr. Similar Pair
1. Guelph - Kelsey Sobkowuich, Leeann Duncan OUA All-Stars
2. McMaster - Jessica Wiskar, Louise Hains
3. Western - Glozelin Mutlu, Jessica Chow 

Women's Int. Similar Pairs
1. Brock - Laura Holbrough, Katie Desveaux
2. Queen's Elena Koning, Chantal Deane
3. Western - Michelle Kitsis, Cherry Qian 

Women's Sr. Silver Solo Dance
1. Toronto - Chyna Hui
2. Western - Nicole Lawson
3. Guelph - Claire Hughes 

Women's Open Solo Dance
1. Brock - Katie Desveaux OUA All-Star
2. Toronto - Melissa Eratostene
3. Westetn - Jazz Smyl Joly 

Gold Creative Skating Skills
1. Guelph - Jade Marrow, Claire Hughes, Laura Lourenco, Andrew McDonald OUA All-Stars
2. McMaster - Jessica Wiskar, Gwendolyn Eadie, Louise Hains,  Emma Curtis
3. Western - Sarah Hill - Sbigail Hensen, Samantha Heard, Denis Margalik

Synchro
1. Toronto
2 Ryerson
3. McMaster