Nationals articles

Davis and White determined to defend

By Lee Ann Gschwind

Meryl Davis and Charlie White, the reigning U.S. ice dance champions, face an unusual opponent as they defend their title in Spokane: another team that has won a U.S. title. Actually, Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto have won five of them.

In recent years, American ice dance has been a discipline of dynasties. Belbin and Agosto won five straight titles from 2004 through 2008. They succeeded Naomi Lang and Peter Tchernyshev, who won five straight from 1999 to 2003. Elizabeth Punsalan and Jerod Swallow won three in a row (of their five total) before that. Not since 1996, when Punsalan and Swallow defeated defending champions Renee Roca and Gorsha Sur, have two national champion teams skated head to head for a U.S. title.

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Other articles:

Free Dance

• CTV "Americans suddenly a force in ice dance"
  
• Chicago Tribune Davis-White complete ice dance sweep
• AP "Davis -White win dance title, beat Belbin-Agosto"
• IceNetwork "Davis, White successful in title defense"
• Detroit Free Press "Meryl Davis, Charlie White win US ice dance"
• NYTimes "Pair's Win Shows Depth of U.S. Dancing Lineup"
• Washington Post "Meryl Davis, Charlie White win ice dance title at U.S. Figure skating Championships
• Spokesman Review "Davis and White seize ice dance title"
  
• ESPN "Hail to the Victors for U.S. ice dancing Olympic lineup"

Original Dance

• Associated Press "Bollywood scores another hit with Davis-White's OD"
• Miami Herald "Davis, White maintain lead at U.S. Figure Skating Championships"
• IceNetwork "Bollywood scores blockbuster in Spokane"
• Detroit Free Press "Davis and White pad lead heading into final"
• Goldenskate "Davis and White on track to win second U.S. title"
• USAToday "Davis, White extend ice dancing lead over Belbin, Agosto"
• ESPN "What happens when ice dancing goes folk"
  
• The Spokesman Review "Getting a skate up"
• Goldenskate "Davis and White win second title in convincing fashion"

Compulsory Dance

• Chicago Tribune "Davis-White take early lead..."
• Washington Post "Davis-White edge Belbin-Agosto"
• NbcOlympics.com "Changing of the guard?"
• IceNetwork "Davis-White nab early lead..."
• GoldenSkate "Davis and White waltz to the lead"
• ABC.com "Davis-White Take Early Lead in Ice Dance"
• The Spokesman Review "Davis-White look Golden"
• LA Times Blog "Meryl Davis and Charlie White make a statement..."
• Miami Herald "Rivals and friends in front at figure skating championships"
• Detroit Free Press "White, Davis dazzle"
• Boston Globe "Winner will not be in a waltz"
• USAToday "Ice dancing's friendly rivalry could be intense in fight for first"