Wagner wins 1st title; night full of flaws

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Ashley Wagner picked the perfect time for the performance of her career.

Wagner won her first title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Saturday, salvaging what was an otherwise dismal night of splats and spills with a majestic rendition of “Black Swan.” She finished with a score of 187.02 points and then watched as two-time champion Alissa Czisny and Agnes Zawadzki melted down.

When the final results were posted, tears filled Wagner’s eyes and she rested a hand on the shoulder of coach John Nicks. It was further affirmation that Wagner made the right choice last summer, when she left her family on the East Coast and moved to California to train with Nicks, best known as Sasha Cohen’s coach. The change rejuvenated the two-time bronze medalist, who came into these nationals feeling it was her time to be a champion.

“I was really nervous going out there because I felt like it was getting to the point where I wanted it so bad,” Wagner said. “Then I remembered that I’ve made all these changes for a reason. I’ve learned so much in my time in California, and I needed to use that new training. Mr. Nicks has done a great (job) of helping me refocus.”

Czisny finished second and Zawadzki wound up third.

Third after the short program, Wagner needed a spectacular performance and some help from others. She did her part, a refreshing departure after a night of lackluster, one-dimensional performances.

Wagner actually used her music and her portrayal of the “Black Swan” character was so vivid, it’s a wonder feathers didn’t pop out of her back. Her technical elements were woven right in with her artistic elements, rather than standing alone as individual tricks, and she could have been a swan floating on the lake for how majestically she moved across the ice.

She wasn’t perfect, popping a triple salchow and touching down with her free foot on her triple flip.

But it hardly mattered. None of the other top women skated cleanly, though some were more disastrous than others.

It was clear from the start there was not going to be Czisny’s night, as she put her hand down on her opening triple lutz. And it only got worse from there, as she fell on her second triple lutz and was crooked in the air on a few other jumps. She was saved by her spins, which were gorgeous as always, high component marks for her elegant presentation.

Well, that and a total meltdown by Zawadzki, the winner of the short program.

Zawadzki actually got off to a strong start, opening with a double axel-triple toe loop combination that was bigger and smoother than any other jump done any other woman did Saturday night. But Zawadzki is just 17, two years removed from winning the junior title, and she seemed to become overwhelmed by the moment.

She crashed on a triple lutz and a triple salchow, and popped a triple toe that was supposed to be the opening jump of a combination. She also brushed up against the boards on a triple lutz-double toe combination.

“I’ve never been in this position so it’s a different feeling for me,” Zawadzki said. “I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished. I’m a little down on the long but happy with the overall result.”

Earlier Saturday, Meryl Davis and Charlie White claimed their fourth straight title with a performance that showed why they set the gold standard in ice dance these days. The world champions’ elegant and seamless routine to “Die Fledermaus” earned a total score of 191.54 points, nearly 13 better than siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani – who, as the reigning world bronze medalists, are not exactly neophytes.

Davis and White need one more title to match the U.S. record held by Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto and four other teams.