Parker Pennington
Encyclopedia
Parker Blair Pennington is an American
figure skater. He was the 2001 U.S. junior national champion, the 1998 novice national champion, the 1996 intermediate national champion, and the 1995 juvenile national champion. He is the only man to have achieved the distinction of winning Nationals on all those levels.
in 2003. His younger brother Colin Pennington also competed as an elite skater and is a former national novice champion.
.
In 1995, Pennington won the national title on the Juvenile level. The next year, he won it on the Intermediate level. After failing to make it out of Sectionals in 1997 on the Novice level, he won the 1998 Novice national title. This earned him a trip to the Triglav Trophy
, his first international event, which he won.
Moving up to Junior, he was given a Junior Grand Prix event in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he placed 4th. He was then given a second, in China
, where he placed 9th. He placed 3rd at the World Junior selections competition, a since-discontinued competition that served to pick the US team to the World Junior Championships, earning himself a trip to the 1999 World Junior Figure Skating Championships
, which were for the last time being held before Nationals. In later years, Nationals served as the picking grounds for the Junior Worlds team. Pennington placed 16th at Junior Worlds. At the 1999 Nationals, Pennington won the bronze medal on the Junior level.
In 1999, Pennington was given two Junior Grand Prix events and placed 5th at both. He then won his Sectionals and placed 2nd at Nationals, again on the Junior level. This earned him another trip to the Triglav Trophy, where he won his second international gold medal.
In 2000, Pennington won both his Junior Grand Prix events and placed 6th at the Junior Grand Prix Final. At Nationals, he won the gold medal on the Junior level, making him the first and so far only man to win Nationals on all of the following levels: Juvenile, Intermediate, Novice, and Junior.
Pennington was originally scheduled to compete internationally on the Junior Grand Prix in the 2001-2002 season. However, following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the USFSA withdrew all their skaters from the Junior Grand Prix and so Pennington was not able to compete internationally in the fall season. He placed 13th in his senior-level Nationals debut. He earned a trip to the Gardena Spring Trophy
, which he won.
In the 2002-2003 season, Pennington won the silver medal at both his events and then won the bronze medal at the Junior Grand Prix Final. He placed 6th at Nationals, earning himself another trip to the World Junior Championships. However, Pennington was forced to withdraw with injury before the event began.
In the 2003-2004 season, Pennington won one Junior Grand Prix event and placed 6th at the other, and did not quality for the Junior Grand Prix Final. He withdrew from the 2004 Nationals with injury.
For the 2004-2005 season, even though he had not competed at Nationals, he was given his first senior international event, the Finlandia Trophy
, where he placed 8th. His 16th place finish at Nationals did not earn him an international assignment for the 2005-2006 Olympic season.
His placement of 9th at the 2006 Nationals earned him a trip to the 2006 Nebelhorn Trophy
, where he won the silver medal behind Tomáš Verner
. Due to ISU rules, this medal did not earn Pennington a personal best score and did not put him on the list of seasonal best scores. That year at Nationals, Pennington placed 7th.
In 2007, Pennington was sent to the 2007 Finlandia Trophy
, where he won the silver medal, placing three points behind Verner and 16 points ahead of bronze medalist Kevin van der Perren
. He won the silver medal at the Eastern Sectional Championships to qualify for the 2008 United States Figure Skating Championships
, where he placed 11th.
In 2008, Pennington moved back to Cleveland to attend Baldwin-Wallace College
part-time while still competing. In 2011, he organized a series of shows called Skate Dance Dream.
For the majority of his career, Pennington has competed out of the Midwestern Section. Following his move to Weisiger, Pennington changed his home club affiliation from the Broadmoor Skating Club
to the Washington Skating Club and so competed out of the Eastern Section. Pennington had previously competed out of the Eastern Section in 2003, the only season he represented the Skating Club of New York
in national competition.
He changed coaches back to Heiss Jenkins in 2008 when he moved back to Cleveland.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
figure skater. He was the 2001 U.S. junior national champion, the 1998 novice national champion, the 1996 intermediate national champion, and the 1995 juvenile national champion. He is the only man to have achieved the distinction of winning Nationals on all those levels.
Personal life
Pennington graduated from Lakewood High SchoolLakewood High School
Lakewood High School may refer to:*Lakewood High School — Lakewood, California*Lakewood High School — Lakewood, Colorado*Lakewood High School — St...
in 2003. His younger brother Colin Pennington also competed as an elite skater and is a former national novice champion.
Career
Parker Pennington began skating at age three. He has always been a single skaterSingle skating
Single skating is a discipline of figure skating, wherein a single person skates alone. Men's singles and ladies' singles are both Olympic disciplines and are both governed by the International Skating Union. The other Olympic figure skating events are pair skating and ice dancing...
.
In 1995, Pennington won the national title on the Juvenile level. The next year, he won it on the Intermediate level. After failing to make it out of Sectionals in 1997 on the Novice level, he won the 1998 Novice national title. This earned him a trip to the Triglav Trophy
Triglav Trophy
The Triglav Trophy is an annual international figure skating competition held in the spring in Jesenice, Slovenia. The competition takes its name from the nearby mountain Triglav, the highest peak in Slovenia....
, his first international event, which he won.
Moving up to Junior, he was given a Junior Grand Prix event in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he placed 4th. He was then given a second, in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, where he placed 9th. He placed 3rd at the World Junior selections competition, a since-discontinued competition that served to pick the US team to the World Junior Championships, earning himself a trip to the 1999 World Junior Figure Skating Championships
World Junior Figure Skating Championships
The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion...
, which were for the last time being held before Nationals. In later years, Nationals served as the picking grounds for the Junior Worlds team. Pennington placed 16th at Junior Worlds. At the 1999 Nationals, Pennington won the bronze medal on the Junior level.
In 1999, Pennington was given two Junior Grand Prix events and placed 5th at both. He then won his Sectionals and placed 2nd at Nationals, again on the Junior level. This earned him another trip to the Triglav Trophy, where he won his second international gold medal.
In 2000, Pennington won both his Junior Grand Prix events and placed 6th at the Junior Grand Prix Final. At Nationals, he won the gold medal on the Junior level, making him the first and so far only man to win Nationals on all of the following levels: Juvenile, Intermediate, Novice, and Junior.
Pennington was originally scheduled to compete internationally on the Junior Grand Prix in the 2001-2002 season. However, following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the USFSA withdrew all their skaters from the Junior Grand Prix and so Pennington was not able to compete internationally in the fall season. He placed 13th in his senior-level Nationals debut. He earned a trip to the Gardena Spring Trophy
Gardena Spring Trophy
The Gardena Spring Trophy is an annual international figure skating competition. It is held every spring in Val Gardena in Italy. Since its inception in 1990, it has been a junior-level competition. In 2006, it added a novice level competition...
, which he won.
In the 2002-2003 season, Pennington won the silver medal at both his events and then won the bronze medal at the Junior Grand Prix Final. He placed 6th at Nationals, earning himself another trip to the World Junior Championships. However, Pennington was forced to withdraw with injury before the event began.
In the 2003-2004 season, Pennington won one Junior Grand Prix event and placed 6th at the other, and did not quality for the Junior Grand Prix Final. He withdrew from the 2004 Nationals with injury.
For the 2004-2005 season, even though he had not competed at Nationals, he was given his first senior international event, the Finlandia Trophy
Finlandia Trophy
The Finlandia Trophy is an annual senior-level international figure skating competition, held in Finland. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating and ice dancing, although not every discipline has been included in every year...
, where he placed 8th. His 16th place finish at Nationals did not earn him an international assignment for the 2005-2006 Olympic season.
His placement of 9th at the 2006 Nationals earned him a trip to the 2006 Nebelhorn Trophy
2006 Nebelhorn Trophy
The 2006 Nebelhorn Trophy was the Nebelhorn Trophy of the 2006–2007 figure skating season. The Nebelhorn Trophy is an international senior-level figure skating competition organized by the Deutsche Eislauf-Union and held annually in Oberstdorf, Germany...
, where he won the silver medal behind Tomáš Verner
Tomas Verner
Tomáš Verner is a Czech figure skater. He is the 2008 European Champion, a two time European medalist , and a seven-time Czech national champion. He has won six senior Grand Prix medals, including the 2010 Cup of Russia title.- Early career:Verner started skating at the age of five...
. Due to ISU rules, this medal did not earn Pennington a personal best score and did not put him on the list of seasonal best scores. That year at Nationals, Pennington placed 7th.
In 2007, Pennington was sent to the 2007 Finlandia Trophy
2007 Finlandia Trophy
The Finlandia Trophy is an annual senior-level international figure skating competition, held in Finland. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, and pair skating....
, where he won the silver medal, placing three points behind Verner and 16 points ahead of bronze medalist Kevin van der Perren
Kevin van der Perren
Kevin van der Perren is a Belgian figure skater. He is the 2007 & 2009 European bronze medalist, a three-time Grand Prix medalist, and a seven-time Belgian national champion...
. He won the silver medal at the Eastern Sectional Championships to qualify for the 2008 United States Figure Skating Championships
2008 United States Figure Skating Championships
The 2008 United States Figure Skating Championships was the figure skating national championship to determine the national champions of the United States for the 2007/2008 season. It was organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. In addition to determining the national champions,...
, where he placed 11th.
In 2008, Pennington moved back to Cleveland to attend Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin–Wallace College is a liberal arts college in Berea, Ohio, founded in 1845. It is home to the Riemenschneider-Bach Institute and the Baldwin–Wallace Conservatory of Music, an internationally renowned music school. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Students receive a...
part-time while still competing. In 2011, he organized a series of shows called Skate Dance Dream.
Coaching changes
Pennington was coached by Carol Heiss Jenkins from 1992 through 2003, by Diana Ronayne from 2003 through 2005, and Janet Champion in 2006. In the summer of 2007, he moved to Fairfax, Virginia, to train under Audrey Weisiger.For the majority of his career, Pennington has competed out of the Midwestern Section. Following his move to Weisiger, Pennington changed his home club affiliation from the Broadmoor Skating Club
Broadmoor Skating Club
The Broadmoor Skating Club is a figure skating club based in Colorado Springs, Colorado that has long been a major training center for the sport of figure skating. Founded in 1939, it was originally known as the Pikes Peak Skating Club, and was based in the Broadmoor World Arena on the grounds of...
to the Washington Skating Club and so competed out of the Eastern Section. Pennington had previously competed out of the Eastern Section in 2003, the only season he represented the Skating Club of New York
Skating Club of New York
The Skating Club of New York is a figure skating club in New York City. It was founded in 1863 and is the second oldest skating club in the United States. It was one of the founding members of the United States Figure Skating Association....
in national competition.
He changed coaches back to Heiss Jenkins in 2008 when he moved back to Cleveland.
Programs
| Season | Short Program | Free Skating |
|---|---|---|
| 2009-2010 | Flamenco a Go-Go by Steve Stevens Steve Stevens Steve Stevens is an American guitarist and songwriter.He is best known for playing for other artists and less known for his critically acclaimed solo efforts , collaborations Steve Stevens (born as Steven Schneider on May 5, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American guitarist and songwriter.He... |
|
| 2008-2009 | Flamenco a Go-Go by Steve Stevens Steve Stevens Steve Stevens is an American guitarist and songwriter.He is best known for playing for other artists and less known for his critically acclaimed solo efforts , collaborations Steve Stevens (born as Steven Schneider on May 5, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American guitarist and songwriter.He... |
Violin Concerto by Tchaikovsky |
| 2007-2008 | Flamenco a Go-Go by Steve Stevens Steve Stevens Steve Stevens is an American guitarist and songwriter.He is best known for playing for other artists and less known for his critically acclaimed solo efforts , collaborations Steve Stevens (born as Steven Schneider on May 5, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American guitarist and songwriter.He... |
Xotika/Cirque Du Soleil (Journey of Man) |
| 2006-2007 | Prelude by Jesse Cook Jesse Cook Jesse Cook is a Toronto-based guitarist, born in Paris to Canadian parents. Like other guitarists of his style of music, he incorporates funky jazz, latin & world music into his playing. Cook is also well known for the energy of his live shows. He has contributed to the Afro Celt Sound System album... |
Techno Mix - Plunkett and McClean, Chess, and Edwin Barton's “Art on Ice” |
| 2005-2006 | The Firm | Incantations |
| 2004-2005 | Carmen by George Bizet |
Violin Concerto by Mendelssohn Mendelssohn Mendelson is a Polish/German Jewish family name, meaning "son of Mendel", Mendel being a Yiddish diminutive of the Hebrew given name Menahem, meaning "consoling" or "one who consoles".Mendelssohn is the surname of a number of people:... |
| 2003-2004 | Songs from "A Secret Garden" | Violin Concerto by Mendelssohn Mendelssohn Mendelson is a Polish/German Jewish family name, meaning "son of Mendel", Mendel being a Yiddish diminutive of the Hebrew given name Menahem, meaning "consoling" or "one who consoles".Mendelssohn is the surname of a number of people:... |
| 2002-2003 | Carmen by George Bizet |
Piano Concerto No. 1 by P. I. Tchaikovski |
Competitive highlights
| Event | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Junior Championships World Junior Figure Skating Championships The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion... |
16th | WD | ||||||||||||
| U.S. Championships United States Figure Skating Championships The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters... |
1st N. | 3rd J. | 2nd J. | 1st J. | 13th | 6th | WD | 16th | 9th | 7th | 11th | 8th | 16th | 17th |
| Finlandia Trophy Finlandia Trophy The Finlandia Trophy is an annual senior-level international figure skating competition, held in Finland. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating and ice dancing, although not every discipline has been included in every year... |
8th | 2nd | ||||||||||||
| Nebelhorn Trophy Nebelhorn Trophy The Nebelhorn Trophy is an international senior-level figure skating competition organized by the Deutsche Eislauf-Union and held annually in Oberstdorf, Germany. The competition is named after the Nebelhorn, a nearby mountain.... |
2nd | |||||||||||||
| Gardena Spring Trophy Gardena Spring Trophy The Gardena Spring Trophy is an annual international figure skating competition. It is held every spring in Val Gardena in Italy. Since its inception in 1990, it has been a junior-level competition. In 2006, it added a novice level competition... |
1st | |||||||||||||
| Junior Grand Prix Final ISU Junior Grand Prix The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating is a series of international invitational junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. Junior figure skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing... |
6th | 3rd | ||||||||||||
| Junior Grand Prix, Italy 2002-2003 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 2002–2003 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the sixth season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level skaters.... |
2nd | |||||||||||||
| Junior Grand Prix, Poland 2003-2004 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 2003–2004 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the seventh season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level skaters... |
1st | |||||||||||||
| Junior Grand Prix, Slovakia 2003-2004 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 2003–2004 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the seventh season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level skaters... |
6th | |||||||||||||
| Junior Grand Prix, USA 2002-2003 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 2002–2003 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the sixth season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level skaters.... |
2nd | |||||||||||||
| Junior Grand Prix, Ukraine 2000-2001 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 2000–2001 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the fourth season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level skaters... |
1st | |||||||||||||
| Junior Grand Prix, Czech Republic 2000-2001 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 2000–2001 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the fourth season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level skaters... |
1st | |||||||||||||
| Junior Grand Prix, Japan 1999-2000 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 1999–2000 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the third season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level skaters.... |
5th | |||||||||||||
| Junior Grand Prix, Netherlands 1999-2000 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 1999–2000 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the third season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level skaters.... |
5th | |||||||||||||
| Junior Grand Prix, China 1998-1999 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 1998–1999 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the second season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level skaters... |
9th | |||||||||||||
| Junior Grand Prix, Bulgaria 1998-1999 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 1998–1999 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the second season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level skaters... |
4th | |||||||||||||
| Triglav Trophy Triglav Trophy The Triglav Trophy is an annual international figure skating competition held in the spring in Jesenice, Slovenia. The competition takes its name from the nearby mountain Triglav, the highest peak in Slovenia.... |
1st N. | 1st J. | ||||||||||||
| Midwestern Sectionals | 2nd N. | 1st J. | 3rd J. | 4th | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 3rd | |||||
| Eastern Sectionals Eastern Sectional Figure Skating Championships The Eastern Sectional Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating which has been held since 1938.... |
1st | 2nd | ||||||||||||
| Southwestern Regionals | 2nd | |||||||||||||
| North Atlantic Regionals | 1st | |||||||||||||
| Eastern Great Lakes Regionals | 1st N. | 1st J. | 1st | 1st |
- N = Novice level; J = Junior level; WD = Withdrew