For the first time in recent memory, multiple North Carolina-connected skaters have qualified to compete at the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The state lays claim to five skaters - two at the junior level and three at the novice level - who will participate  at the Greensboro Coliseum in January. All qualified for the 2011 U.S. Championships at the 2011 Eastern Sectional Championships that took place Nov. 9-13 in Aston, Pa.

Leading the Tar Heel State charge is Raleigh's Ana Draovitch (Skating Club of Northern Virginia), who captured the novice ladies gold medal. Haley Dunne, a long-time Raleigh resident who trained at the Greensboro Ice House, won the junior ladies silver medal and will compete at the U.S. Championships for the second year in a row. Miles Addison and Kay Bergdolt , skating for the Figure Skating Club of North Carolina in Raleigh, captured the bronze medal in novice pairs. Alexander Aiken, who trains in Charlotte with coach Paul Wylie, honorary chairman of the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, won the junior men's silver medal.  Aiken is affiliated with the Atlanta Figure Skating Club.

Seven New Local Sponsors Join
U.S. Championships Team

View All of Our Sponsors Here

An influx of new local sponsors is expanding the support for the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The new local sponsors include Bronze Sponsors Branch Banking & Trust Company (BB&T), Risport Skates and the Cemala Foundation ; Official Local Suppliers Rice Toyota and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts; and Local Patrons The Greensboro Partnership and Konica Minolta.

"It is exciting to have this important group of companies and a noted local foundation join our sponsor team," said Hill Carrow, chairman of North Carolina 2011, the local organizing committee for the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

"These sponsors have pushed us much closer to our sponsorship goal, and, more importantly, will expand our marketing reach for the Championships at a critical time."

BB&T is the largest public company in the Piedmont Triad region and will provide ATMs on-site for U.S. Championships athletes and spectators. Risport Skates, an international skate company, will sponsor the athletes lounge at the headquarters hotel and the athletes party. The Cemala Foundation, a long-standing supporter of nonprofit and charitable causes in Greensboro, is backing the U.S. Championships' economic development efforts. Rice Toyota is providing a combination of Toyota SUVs and sedans for key delegation members and local organizing committee operations. Krispy Kreme doughnuts will be provided as part of the U.S. Championships catering. The Greensboro Partnership's three major divisions - Action Greensboro, Greensboro Economic Development Alliance and the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce - will use the U.S. Championships for business recruitment, while Konica Minolta will provide high-speed copiers and related business hub machines needed to meet the extensive information needs of the Championships.

Finalists Determined in 2011
U.S. Championships
"Official Poster" Competition

The Green Hill Center for NC Art in downtown Greensboro has been conducting a statewide contest among North Carolina artists to design the official poster of the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The North Carolina Artists Poster Design Competition call for entries was issued to hundreds of artists across the state in September. A three-judge panel consisting of Michael Lowder, executive director of Artsplosure in Raleigh; Adam Cave, a Raleigh art gallery owner; and Edith Carpenter, curator at the Green Hill Center; have pared the entries to 21 semifinalists.

The poster design contest winner will be announced and introduced at an artists reception at the Green Hill Center on Saturday, Jan. 22, which will serve as the  first of several events and activities to be held throughout the nine days of the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. During the reception, all 21 semifinalists' works will be on display.

View Slideshow of the Semifinalist Entries

Visit North Carolina 2011's Website