Skaters
Dance
Gabrielle Friedenberg
Born:
February 28, 1992
Birthplace:
Columbia, Md.
Height:
4' 11"
Level:
Junior
Hometown:
Columbia, Md.
College:
Howard Community College
Club:
Washington FSC
Benjamin Nykiel
Born:
September 12, 1990
Birthplace:
Baltimore, Md.
Height:
5' 6"
Level:
Junior
Hometown:
Glen Burnie, Md.
College:
Anne Arundel Community College
Club:
Baltimore FSC
Coach:
Robbie Kaine, Genrikh Sretenski, Greg Maddalone
Choreographer:
Genrikh Sretenski
Friendenberg are Nykiel are the 2009 U.S. pewter medalists.
Friedenberg started skating when she was 4 after seeing "Disney on ice" and wanting to be just like Dorothy ... Has a younger sister, Emily, who was a nationally ranked martial artist ... Previously skated with Brett Dunie-Neustadt for six seasons and was coached by Denis Petrov for four seasons ... Studying journalism at Howard Community College in Columbia, Md. ... Inducted into Phi Theta Kappa (honors society) in 2009 and made the Dean's List in 2008 and 2009 ... Lists her family, coaches and skating partner as the biggest influences in her life ... Hobbies include writing, painting, dancing and traveling ... People would be surprised to learn she loves tattoos and she collects hotel room keys ... Biggest life-defining moment was when her brother passed away at the age of 10 ... Wants to write for a music or tattoo magazine after she's done skating ... Suffered a serious back injury that ended her pairs career and kept her off the ice for two years ... Nykiel asked her if she wanted to try ice dancing, and nine months later the team competed at the U.S. Championships ... Would want to meet Marilyn Manson because, despite his public image, he is well educated and a respected philosopher ... Also would like to meet Chris Garver (of "Miami Ink" fame) because "he is one of the best known tattoo artists of this generation, and I truly admire his work" ... Listens to all kinds of rock music, but '90s grunge and alternative are her favorites ... Would be a dancer if she weren't a figure skater.
GABRIELLE'S FAVORITES
Favorite sports figure: Alexander Ovechkin
Favorite sports teams: Washington Capitals
Favorite city: New York City
Favorite seasons: Winter
Favorite author: Edgar Allen Poe
Favorite book: Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana
Favorite magazine: Inked
Favorite gadget: Blackberry
Favorite vacation she's taken: Ottawa in 2007
Favorite TV shows: NCIS, White Collar
Favorite TV character: Neal Caffrey "from White Collar"
Favorite reality show: Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Favorite movies: Almost Famous, The Red Violin, Fight Club, Mystery Alaska
Favorite concerts she's attended: Marilyn Manson and Mindless Self Indulgence (tie)
Favorite website: MySpace
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite drink: Coffee
Favorite place to which she's traveled for skating: Vancouver
Favorite quote: "Cuts and bruises are the price you pay for having skin." - 51 peg
Nykiel started skating at age 7 ... Older sister, Anna, also skates ... Previously skated with Alexandra Veremeychik, Kassandra Hazard and Liza Branella and coached by Robin Neumann, Alexei Kiliakov, Elena Novak and Christine Bender ... Attends Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Md. ... Coaches skating part time ... Biggest influences in his life are his coaches ... If he weren't a figure skater, he'd want to be a computer programmer ... Wants to develop his computer skills and learn Kung-fu after he's done competing ... Hobbies include painting, writing poems, playing the piano, listening to music, dancing and computers ... Has a passion for art ... The one living celebrity he'd like to meet is Bill Gates ... Listens to an eclectic mix of music, including Depeche Mode, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Lady Gaga, The Beatles and Metallica.
BENJAMIN'S FAVORITES
Favorite sports figure: Jackie Chan
Favorite sports team: Team USA
Favorite city: Annapolis, Md.
Favorite time of year: Fall
Favorite author: Martin Gore
Favorite gadget: Laptop
Favorite TV shows: The Office, Seinfeld
Favorite TV character: Dr. Spock
Favorite movies: The Matrix, 8 Mile, The Pursuit of Happyness, The Lord of the Rings, Schindler's List, War Games, Star Trek, Star Wars, Remember Me, Gran Torino
Favorite websites: Google, Facebook, Wikipedia, Dictionary.com
Favorite concert he's attended: Depeche Mode
Favorite vacation spot: Deep Creek Lake, Md.
Favorite foods: Italian, Chinese, Maryland crabs, steak
Favorite drinks: Coca-Cola, cream soda, root beer, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper
Favorite quote: "The good of the few, or the one, outweigh the good of the many."
Friedenberg started skating when she was 4 after seeing "Disney on ice" and wanting to be just like Dorothy ... Has a younger sister, Emily, who was a nationally ranked martial artist ... Previously skated with Brett Dunie-Neustadt for six seasons and was coached by Denis Petrov for four seasons ... Studying journalism at Howard Community College in Columbia, Md. ... Inducted into Phi Theta Kappa (honors society) in 2009 and made the Dean's List in 2008 and 2009 ... Lists her family, coaches and skating partner as the biggest influences in her life ... Hobbies include writing, painting, dancing and traveling ... People would be surprised to learn she loves tattoos and she collects hotel room keys ... Biggest life-defining moment was when her brother passed away at the age of 10 ... Wants to write for a music or tattoo magazine after she's done skating ... Suffered a serious back injury that ended her pairs career and kept her off the ice for two years ... Nykiel asked her if she wanted to try ice dancing, and nine months later the team competed at the U.S. Championships ... Would want to meet Marilyn Manson because, despite his public image, he is well educated and a respected philosopher ... Also would like to meet Chris Garver (of "Miami Ink" fame) because "he is one of the best known tattoo artists of this generation, and I truly admire his work" ... Listens to all kinds of rock music, but '90s grunge and alternative are her favorites ... Would be a dancer if she weren't a figure skater.
GABRIELLE'S FAVORITES
Favorite sports figure: Alexander Ovechkin
Favorite sports teams: Washington Capitals
Favorite city: New York City
Favorite seasons: Winter
Favorite author: Edgar Allen Poe
Favorite book: Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana
Favorite magazine: Inked
Favorite gadget: Blackberry
Favorite vacation she's taken: Ottawa in 2007
Favorite TV shows: NCIS, White Collar
Favorite TV character: Neal Caffrey "from White Collar"
Favorite reality show: Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Favorite movies: Almost Famous, The Red Violin, Fight Club, Mystery Alaska
Favorite concerts she's attended: Marilyn Manson and Mindless Self Indulgence (tie)
Favorite website: MySpace
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite drink: Coffee
Favorite place to which she's traveled for skating: Vancouver
Favorite quote: "Cuts and bruises are the price you pay for having skin." - 51 peg
Nykiel started skating at age 7 ... Older sister, Anna, also skates ... Previously skated with Alexandra Veremeychik, Kassandra Hazard and Liza Branella and coached by Robin Neumann, Alexei Kiliakov, Elena Novak and Christine Bender ... Attends Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Md. ... Coaches skating part time ... Biggest influences in his life are his coaches ... If he weren't a figure skater, he'd want to be a computer programmer ... Wants to develop his computer skills and learn Kung-fu after he's done competing ... Hobbies include painting, writing poems, playing the piano, listening to music, dancing and computers ... Has a passion for art ... The one living celebrity he'd like to meet is Bill Gates ... Listens to an eclectic mix of music, including Depeche Mode, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Lady Gaga, The Beatles and Metallica.
BENJAMIN'S FAVORITES
Favorite sports figure: Jackie Chan
Favorite sports team: Team USA
Favorite city: Annapolis, Md.
Favorite time of year: Fall
Favorite author: Martin Gore
Favorite gadget: Laptop
Favorite TV shows: The Office, Seinfeld
Favorite TV character: Dr. Spock
Favorite movies: The Matrix, 8 Mile, The Pursuit of Happyness, The Lord of the Rings, Schindler's List, War Games, Star Trek, Star Wars, Remember Me, Gran Torino
Favorite websites: Google, Facebook, Wikipedia, Dictionary.com
Favorite concert he's attended: Depeche Mode
Favorite vacation spot: Deep Creek Lake, Md.
Favorite foods: Italian, Chinese, Maryland crabs, steak
Favorite drinks: Coca-Cola, cream soda, root beer, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper
Favorite quote: "The good of the few, or the one, outweigh the good of the many."
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2011 Season NotesSD Music: "Assassin's Tango" by John Powell
FD Music: "Moonlight Sonata" by E.S. Posthumus
Costumes designed by Julia Sretenski -
2010 Season NotesOD Music: "The Lonely Goatherd" from The Sound of Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein
FD Music: Music from Schindler's List by John Williams
Costumes designed by Julia Sretenski -
2009 Season NotesFD Music: "Lucia di Lammermoor" by Vitas
Earned the novice pewter medal at the U.S. Championships
- 2010 - AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Junior - 9th
2010 - Eastern Sectional, Junior - 3rd
2009 - AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Novice - 4th
2009 - Eastern Sectional, Novice - 2nd