1959 U.S. Figure Skating Championships Explained

1959 U.S. Figure Skating Championships
Comptype:National Championship
Startdate:January 29
Enddate:February 2
Skatingseason:1958–59
Location:Rochester, New York
Venue:Rochester Community War Memorial
Previouscomp:1958 U.S. Championships
Nextcomp:1960 U.S. Championships

The 1959 U.S. Figure Skating Championships was held from January 29 through February 2 in Rochester, New York under the joint sponsorship of the Genesee Figure Skating Club and the Rochester Junior Chamber of Commerce. The main competition rink was the Rochester Community War Memorial, while the compulsory figures competition and practices were held at the Ritter-Clark Rink. Medals were awarded in three colors: gold (first), silver (second), and bronze (third) in four disciplines – men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing – across three levels: senior, junior, and novice.

The event determined the U.S. team for the 1959 World Championships.

Senior results

In all four divisions, the previous year's champions successfully defended their titles.

Men

David Jenkins won both the figures and the free skating portions, although he was closely pressed by Tim Brown in the first three figures. Jenkins's free skating was also of a very high standard.

RankName
1David Jenkins
2Tim Brown
3Robert Brewer
4Bradley Lord
5Barlow Nelson
6James Short
7Lorin Caccamise

Ladies

Carol Heiss gave one of the best free skating performances of her career. Carol's sister Nancy Heiss took the silver medal, with Barbara Ann Roles placing third in her first season as a senior-level competitor.

RankName
1Carol Heiss
2Nancy Heiss
3Barbara Ann Roles
4Lynn Finnegan

Pairs

Nancy Ludington / Ron Ludington repeated as champions in an event where all six teams entered gave fine performances. Ron Ludington also competed in the dance division, where he won the bronze medal with Judy Ann Lamar.

RankName
1Nancy Ludington / Ron Ludington
2Gayle Freed / Karl Freed
3Maribel Owen / Dudley Richards
4Ila Ray Hadley / Ray Hadley, Jr.
5Sheila Wells / Tom Moore
6Mary Lou Raymond / Jack Nankervis

Ice dancing (Gold dance)

The title once again went to Andree Jacoby / Donald Jacoby, who had married since winning their first national championship the year before.

RankName
1Andree Jacoby / Donald Jacoby
2Margie Ackles / Charles Phillips
3Judy Ann Lamar / Ronald Ludington
4Susan Sebo / Tim Brown

Junior results

Men

RankName
1Gregory Kelley
2Don Mike Anthony
3Frank Carroll
4Douglas Ramsay
5Bruce Heiss
6James Murray
7Harvey Balch
8Robert James
WDTommy DeBaca

Ladies

RankName
1Laurence Owen
2Stephanie Westerfeld
3Rhode Lee Michelson
4Dorothyann Nelson
5Vicky Fisher
6Diana Lapp
7Karen Howland
8Rickie Anne Rendich
9Carol Galloway
10Mary Cooper

Pairs

RankName
1Judianne Fotheringill / Jerry Fotheringill
2Gail Kizer / Lonnie Kane
3Laurie Hickox / William Hickox
4Vivian Joseph / Ronald Joseph
5Janet Harley / James Browning
6Linda Charbonneau / Peter Betts
7Jeanne Gladding / Richard Kavanaugh

Ice dancing (Silver dance)

RankName
1Marilyn Meeker / Larry Pierce
2Diane Sherbloom / Roger Campbell
3Patricia Dineen / Robert Dineen
4Gloria Grossman / Peter Moesel
5Jean Robinson / Richard Wayland
6Thomasine Pierce / Roy Speeg
7Paula Maniago / D. Wilson Hess
8Elizabeth Herman / Charles Rizzo
9*Beverly McGee / Arthur Dammkoehler
10*Rosemary McEvoy / Ralph Owen

* Eliminated before Final Round

Novice results

Men

RankName
1Monty Hoyt
2Scott Ethan Allen
3Ronnie Frank
4David Edwards
5Buddy Zack
6Rick Anderson
7Donald Bartelson
8Gary Visconti
9Tim Hamilton

Ladies

RankName
1Mary Batdorf
2Ronna Mae Goldblatt
3Wanda Guntert
4Lynda Waldrop
5Michele Monnier
6Chickie Berlin
7Carol Noir
8Ellen Kullman
9Christine Haigler

Sources