Jr. Worlds - Final Predictions
1) Caroline Zhang USA
2) Ashley Wagner USA
3) Mirai Nagasu USA
4) Nana Takeda JPN
I really dislike predicting sweeps. In fact, this marks the first time I've ever officially or unofficially predicted American women to sweep the medals at any international event. Normally it seems incredibly short-sighted to single out your own country's competitors as unbeatable, but US women ruled the junior grand prix this season. Caroline Zhang, Ashley Wagner, and Juliana Cannarozzo all won two grand prix competitions each and then finished 1, 2 and 3 respectively at the final. The United States qualified five women to the final in all with Megan Oster finishing a solid 4th place behind her teammates. Yet Cannarozzo or Oster won't be joining Zhang and Wagner in Germany this week. Two months ago, fellow American Mirai Nagasu, who did not compete on the junior grand prix this season, left Spokane as the surprise US Jr. Champion, trumping silver medalist Zhang and bronze medalist Wagner, to earn a trip to Junior Worlds. I'm betting that Zhang will bounce back from her Nationals disappointment to earn her fourth gold medal of the season. Wagner's steady nerves should secure her the silver medal, and if Nagasu isn't too overwhlemed by expectations, she may win a medal at her first major international event.
2) Ashley Wagner USA
3) Mirai Nagasu USA
4) Nana Takeda JPN
I really dislike predicting sweeps. In fact, this marks the first time I've ever officially or unofficially predicted American women to sweep the medals at any international event. Normally it seems incredibly short-sighted to single out your own country's competitors as unbeatable, but US women ruled the junior grand prix this season. Caroline Zhang, Ashley Wagner, and Juliana Cannarozzo all won two grand prix competitions each and then finished 1, 2 and 3 respectively at the final. The United States qualified five women to the final in all with Megan Oster finishing a solid 4th place behind her teammates. Yet Cannarozzo or Oster won't be joining Zhang and Wagner in Germany this week. Two months ago, fellow American Mirai Nagasu, who did not compete on the junior grand prix this season, left Spokane as the surprise US Jr. Champion, trumping silver medalist Zhang and bronze medalist Wagner, to earn a trip to Junior Worlds. I'm betting that Zhang will bounce back from her Nationals disappointment to earn her fourth gold medal of the season. Wagner's steady nerves should secure her the silver medal, and if Nagasu isn't too overwhlemed by expectations, she may win a medal at her first major international event.
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