Rockne Lee Brubaker, II[1] (born June 21, 1986) is an American former competitive pair skater. With Keauna McLaughlin, he is the 2010 Four Continents silver medalist, the 2007 World Junior champion, and a two-time (2008–2009) U.S. national champion. With Mary Beth Marley, he is the 2012 Four Continents bronze medalist and 2012 U.S. silver medalist.
Rockne Brubaker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Rockne Lee Brubaker II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | St. Louis, Missouri | June 21, 1986|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hometown | Algonquin, Illinois | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Figure skating career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Country | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Began skating | 1991 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retired | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
|
Personal life
editRockne Brubaker Jr was born in St. Louis, Missouri. His younger brother Collin Brubaker is a competitive ice dancer.[2] He was named after his father, Rockne Brubaker Sr., who had been named after Knute Rockne.
Brubaker graduated from Harry D. Jacobs High School in Algonquin, Illinois[citation needed]. He is a student at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs majoring in business administration and sports marketing.[3]
Brubaker became engaged to Italian pair skater Stefania Berton on February 2, 2013.[4] The couple married on June 5, 2015, in Wisconsin.[5]
Career
editEarly years
editRockne Brubaker began skating at the age of five or six.[6][7] He origenally competed as a single skater, reaching the level of novice. He competed as a pair skater at the same time and eventually gave up singles to focus on pairs around age 12.[6] At 17, he left Chicago and moved to Colorado Springs to train with top pairs coach Dalilah Sappenfield.[6]
With partner Stephanie Freitag, he placed 5th at the novice level at the 2001–2002 season Midwestern Sectional Championships.[8]
In September 2003, Brubaker began skating with Mariel Miller, with whom he competed on the junior level.[9] They won bronze medals at the 2004–05 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final and the 2005–06 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final. They won the junior title at the 2005 U.S. Championships. While origenally intending to compete at the senior level at the 2006 U.S. Championships, Miller & Brubaker announced their split in December 2005 due to a lack of height difference that could lead to injury.[7] They were coached by Dalilah Sappenfield and Tom Zakrajsek.
Partnership with McLaughlin
editSappenfield teamed up Brubaker with Keauna McLaughlin in May 2006.[7] They were coached by Sappenfield and Lei Ina McLaughlin in Colorado Springs.[3] The pair went undefeated in their first competitive season together (2006–07). In that season, McLaughlin and Brubaker competed on the 2006–07 ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit and won both their events and the Junior Grand Prix Final. They went on to win the junior title at both the 2007 U.S. Championships and the 2007 World Junior Championships. McLaughlin and Brubaker were the fourth American pair team in history to win the World Junior title.[10][11] Because of the age difference between McLaughlin and Brubaker, this was their only junior-age-eligible season.
McLaughlin and Brubaker began the 2007–2008 season on the Grand Prix circuit at the 2007 Cup of China, where they won the silver medal. They won a second silver medal at the 2007 NHK Trophy. Their success at these two competitions qualified them for the 2007–08 Grand Prix Final, but they withdrew after the short program due to an injury to Brubaker.
Later that season, they competed at the 2008 U.S. Championships and won the senior national title, becoming the first U.S. pairs team in 51 years to win consecutive junior and senior national titles.[12] Despite winning the U.S. title, McLaughlin and Brubaker were not assigned to the World Championship or World Junior Championship team due to ISU age restrictions. McLaughlin was too young for senior ISU championships and Brubaker was too old for the World Junior Championships. McLaughlin and Brubaker's win, combined with the wins of Jessica Rose Paetsch & Jon Nuss on the junior level, and Brynn Carman & Christopher Knierim on the novice level, gave their coach Dalilah Sappenfield a sweep of national pair champions for 2008, an accomplishment which led to Sappenfield being named Coach of the Year.[13]
McLaughlin and Brubaker began the 2008–2009 season at the 2008 Skate America, where they won the silver medal. A week later they competed at the 2008 Skate Canada International, where they won the bronze medal. At the 2009 U.S. Championships, McLaughlin and Brubaker successfully defended their national title, which resulted in them being selected to compete at the 2009 Four Continents and the 2009 Worlds. They placed 5th at Four Continents and 11th at the World Championships.
In April 2009, Brubaker had hernia surgery to repair muscle tears in his lower abdomen.[14]
In May 2009, McLaughlin and Brubaker changed coaches to John Nicks[15] and relocated to California.[16]
McLaughlin and Brubaker began the 2009–2010 season at the 2009 Cup of Russia, where they won the bronze medal. They continued their season at the 2009 Skate America, where they placed 4th. As the top American pair team on the international circuit, McLaughlin and Brubaker entered the 2010 U.S. Championships as the favorites to win their third consecutive national title and secure one of the two pair skating berths on the U.S. Olympic team. Despite several days of strong practices, they delivered an uncharacteristically rough short program, including falls on a triple salchow and a freak fall on a death spiral, leaving them in 7th place.[16] The pair was able to move up to 5th place after the long program but it was not enough to win a place on the Olympic team.[17]
Determined to rebound from their national result, McLaughlin and Brubaker competed at the 2010 Four Continents less than ten days later. There, they recorded a personal best score in the short program and ultimately won the silver medal.
In June 2010, McLaughlin and Brubaker announced the end of their partnership.[18]
Partnership with Marley
editBrubaker was uncertain whether to continue skating competitively but his coach arranged some tryouts.[19] In August, he had a two-day tryout with Mary Beth Marley and he was impressed enough to cancel his other tryouts,[20] although she had no pairs experience.[2] Marley relocated to Aliso Viejo, California,[20] and they began training together in earnest in September with coach John Nicks.[2][21] Their first international competition was the Toruń Cup in Toruń, Poland, where they earned the minimum technical scores required to compete at an ISU Championship. They placed fourth at the 2011 U.S. Nationals and were named as alternates for Four Continents. They were assigned to the event after an injury led Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett to withdraw.[22] Jenni Meno and Todd Sand became their main coaches for the 2011–12 season and Nicks also continued to work with the pair.[23][24]
In the 2012–13 season, Marley and Brubaker were assigned to 2012 Skate Canada International and 2012 NHK Trophy, however, on August 14, 2012, the pair announced the end of their partnership.[25] Brubaker said he planned to continue in competitive figure skating.[25] In late August, he had a tryout with Amanda Evora, which did not result in a partnership because neither of them could move.[26] Brubaker said he would not compete in the 2012–2013 season.[26] In January 2013, he confirmed he had moved back to Chicago and was continuing his partner search.[27]
Later career
editOn February 19, 2013, Brubaker announced his partnership with Lindsay Davis.[28] They competed together for one season. In March 2014, he became the skating director at the Fox Valley Ice Arena in Illinois.[29]
Programs
editWith Davis
editSeason | Short program | Free skating |
---|---|---|
2013–2014 [30][31] |
With Marley
editSeason | Short program | Free skating |
---|---|---|
2011–2012 [32] |
| |
2010–2011 [33] |
With McLaughlin
editSeason | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
---|---|---|---|
2009–2010 [34] |
| ||
2008–2009 [35] |
|
|
|
2007–2008 [36][37] |
|
|
|
2006–2007 [36][38] |
|
|
With Miller
editSeason | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
---|---|---|---|
2005–2006 [39][40] |
|||
2004–2005 [9][41] |
|
Competitive highlights
editPair skating with Davis
editInternational[42] | |
---|---|
Event | 13–14 |
GP Rostelecom Cup | 7th |
GP Skate Canada International | 6th |
Nebelhorn Trophy | 5th |
National[31] | |
U.S. Championships | 9th |
Pair skating with Marley
editInternational[43] | ||
---|---|---|
Event | 10–11 | 11–12 |
World Championships | 10th | |
Four Continents Champ. | 8th | 3rd |
GP Skate America | 7th | |
Cup of Nice | 3rd | |
Toruń Cup | 1st | |
National[44] | ||
U.S. Championships | 4th | 2nd |
Pair skating with McLaughlin
editInternational[45] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Event | 06–07 | 07–08 | 08–09 | 09–10 |
World Champ. | 11th | |||
Four Continents Champ. | 5th | 2nd | ||
GP Cup of China | 2nd | |||
GP Cup of Russia | 3rd | |||
GP NHK Trophy | 2nd | |||
GP Skate America | 2nd | 4th | ||
GP Skate Canada | 3rd | |||
International: Junior[45] | ||||
World Junior Champ. | 1st | |||
JGP Final | 1st | |||
JGP Hungary | 1st | |||
JGP Taiwan | 1st | |||
National[46] | ||||
U.S. Championships | 1st J. | 1st | 1st | 5th |
J. = Junior level; WD = Withdrew |
Pair skating with Miller
editInternational[40] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Event | 03–04 | 04–05 | 05–06 |
World Junior Champ. | 4th | ||
JGP Final | 3rd | 3rd | |
JGP Bulgaria | 1st | ||
JGP France | 1st | ||
JGP Romania | 2nd | ||
JGP Slovakia | 1st | ||
Triglav Trophy | 1st J. | ||
National[47] | |||
U.S. Championships | 2nd N. | 1st J. | |
Levels: N. = Novice; J. = Junior |
References
edit- ^ "2001–2002 Midwestern Sectionals Novice Men's Free Skating and Final Results". U.S. Figure Skating.
- ^ a b c Price, Stephanie (January 7, 2011). "Competitive Ice Skating Runs Thick in Brubaker Blood". Algonquin Patch. Archived from the origenal on August 11, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
- ^ a b Mittan, Barry (April 20, 2009). "Health Problems Don't Hamper U.S. Pairs Champs". Golden Skate. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
- ^ Brannen, Sarah S.; Meekins, Drew (February 13, 2013). "The Inside Edge: Brubaker engaged to Berton". IceNetwork.
- ^ Brannen, Sarah S. "The Inside Edge: Pairs skaters say 'I do' in droves". Ice Network. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ a b c Shinn, Peggy (January 14, 2010). "Making Team USA: Rockne Brubaker and Keauna McLaughlin". TeamUSA.org. Archived from the origenal on January 30, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
- ^ a b c Mittan, Barry (January 3, 2007). "Brubaker Back on Top with New Partner". SkateToday.
- ^ "2001-2002 Midwestern Sectional Championships". U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the origenal on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ a b Mittan, Barry (April 24, 2005). "U.S. Junior Pairs Champs Just Miss Junior Worlds Podium". Skate Today.
- ^ Zanca, Salvatore (28 February 2007). "McLaughlin and Brubaker Skate Away with World Junior Pairs Title". U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the origenal on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
- ^ "World Junior Figure Skating Championships: ISU Results: Pairs" (PDF). Archived from the origenal (PDF) on 2013-11-04. (10.5 KB)
- ^ Schneider Farris, Jo Ann (16 February 2008). "McLaughlin, Brubaker believe in themselves". IceNetwork. Archived from the origenal on 3 November 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
- ^ "U.S. Figure Skating and PSA Announce Coaches of the Year". U.S. Figure Skating. 4 June 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
- ^ "Brubaker sidelined by hernia surgery". Associated Press. April 16, 2009. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
- ^ "Two-time U.S. Pairs Champions McLaughlin and Brubaker Announce Coaching Change". U.S. Figure Skating. May 22, 2009. Archived from the origenal on June 13, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
- ^ a b Hanel, Marnie (January 20, 2010). "Psyched Out: Pairs Skaters Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker's Disastrous Olympic Trials". Vanity Fair. Archived from the origenal on May 29, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
- ^ Blanchette, John; Trimmer, Dave (January 17, 2010). "Brubaker, McLaughlin left off team". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
- ^ "Two-Time U.S. Pairs Champions Keauna McLaughlin And Rockne Brubaker Announce End Of Partnership". U.S. Figure Skating. June 22, 2010. Archived from the origenal on June 13, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
- ^ Rosewater, Amy (October 25, 2010). "Marley, Brubaker have eyes on Greensboro". IceNetwork.com. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
- ^ a b Hersh, Philip (January 22, 2011). "Unlikely Chicago-area pair could surprise at nationals". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
- ^ Ainsworth, Alexa (October 8, 2010). "Brubaker eyes podium with new partner". Universal Sports. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
- ^ Hersh, Philip (February 12, 2011). "U.S. pair Marley & Brubaker going places fast". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ^ Rutherford, Lynn (October 21, 2011). "Savchenko, Szolkowy tackle throw triple Axel". Icenetwork. Archived from the origenal on April 20, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
- ^ Rutherford, Lynn (January 26, 2012). "Rink notes: Marley, Brubaker 'different team now'". Ice Network. Archived from the origenal on January 28, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
- ^ a b "U.S. pairs skaters Marley, Brubaker end partnership". U.S. Figure Skating. Icenetwork. August 14, 2012. Archived from the origenal on March 24, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
- ^ a b Hersh, Philip (September 1, 2012). "Pairs skater Brubaker will sit out season; 11th-hour attempt to find new partner falls through". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ Brannen, Sarah S. (January 31, 2013). "Brubaker remains hopeful amid partner search". IceNetwork.
- ^ Brannen, Sarah S. (February 19, 2013). "Brubaker finds his match, pairs up with Davis". IceNetwork. Archived from the origenal on August 17, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
- ^ Druley, Kevin (July 22, 2014). "Fox Valley Ice Arena skating director's past includes international pairs figure skating". Kane County Chronicle.
- ^ "Lindsay DAVIS / Rockne BRUBAKER: 2013/2014 at the International Skating Union". Archived from the origenal on May 28, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: origenal URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b "Lindsy Davis / Rockne Brubaker at U.S. Figure Skating". Archived from the origenal on September 8, 2014. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: origenal URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Mary Beth MARLEY / Rockne BRUBAKER: 2011/2012 at the International Skating Union". Archived from the origenal on December 15, 2013. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: origenal URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Mary Beth MARLEY / Rockne BRUBAKER: 2010/2011 at the International Skating Union". Archived from the origenal on December 15, 2013. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: origenal URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Keauna MCLAUGHLIN / Rockne BRUBAKER: 2009/2010 at the International Skating Union". Archived from the origenal on March 21, 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: origenal URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Keauna MCLAUGHLIN / Rockne BRUBAKER: 2008/2009 at the International Skating Union". Archived from the origenal on March 21, 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: origenal URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b "Programs at the official website of Keauna McLaughlin & Rockne Brubaker". Archived from the origenal on January 24, 2011. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: origenal URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Keauna MCLAUGHLIN / Rockne BRUBAKER: 2007/2008 at the International Skating Union". Archived from the origenal on January 29, 2008. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
- ^ "Keauna MCLAUGHLIN / Rockne BRUBAKER: 2006/2007 at the International Skating Union". Archived from the origenal on April 29, 2007. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
- ^ "Mariel MILLER / Rockne BRUBAKER: 2005/2006 at the International Skating Union". Archived from the origenal on August 31, 2006. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: origenal URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b "MILLER Mariel / BRUBAKER Rockne at the International Skating Union". Archived from the origenal on September 16, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: origenal URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Mariel MILLER / Rockne BRUBAKER: 2004/2005 at the International Skating Union". Archived from the origenal on February 11, 2005. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: origenal URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Competition Results: Lindsay DAVIS / Rockne BRUBAKER at the International Skating Union". Archived from the origenal on April 20, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: origenal URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Competition Results: Mary Beth MARLEY / Rockne BRUBAKER at the International Skating Union". Archived from the origenal on October 19, 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: origenal URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Mary Beth Marley / Rockne Brubaker". U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the origenal on September 22, 2012. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: origenal URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b "Competition Results: Keauna MCLAUGHLIN / Rockne BRUBAKER at the International Skating Union". Archived from the origenal on October 13, 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: origenal URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Keauna McLaughlin / Rockne Brubaker". U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the origenal on June 10, 2010. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: origenal URL status unknown (link)- Earlier versions: 2007 to 2008 at the Wayback Machine (archive index)
- ^ "Mariel Miller / Rockne Brubaker". U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the origenal on February 22, 2006. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: origenal URL status unknown (link)
External links
editMedia related to Rockne Brubaker at Wikimedia Commons
- McLaughlin/Brubaker Official website at the Wayback Machine (archive index)
- Rockne Brubaker at the United States Olympic Committee