Skaters
CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
*2012 U.S. pewter medalists
SKATING NOTES Began skating together in May 2009.
Donlan started skating when she 6 because her older sister skated ... Participated in the Basic Skills Program from 1997-99 ... Competed in singles from 2005-09, winning the 2007 U.S. intermediate title ... Received the Skating Club of Boston's 2011 "Most Improved Skater" Award ... Previously coached by Mark Mitchell and Peter Johansson.
Speroff learned to skate when he was 8 years old ... Participated in the Basic Skills Program in 1996 ... Previously competed with 2010 U.S. ladies champion Rachael Flatt, with whom he won the 2003 U.S. juvenile silver medal and the 2004 U.S. intermediate title ... Also skated with Amanda Luchau (2006-07) and Brittany Chase (2007-09), winning the U.S. novice silver medal with Chase in 2008 ... Formerly coached by Dalilah Sappenfield.
PERSONAL NOTES
Donlan has an older sister, Meredith (22) ... Parents are Joe and Kim ... Has two cats named Barbara and Felix ... Majoring in pre-med/biology and hopes to graduate in 2016 ... The 2011 St. Michael's College Book Award Recipient ... A National Honor Society member ... Donated sports equipment to an African orphanage ... Volunteered at the 2011 Cohasset Triathlon and the Hingham & Hull Rotary Club’s food drive & phonebook mailing ... Served as the student co-chair of Ice Chips (2010-12) ... Tutored peers at Hingam H.S. ... Supports Amnesty International, The Hole in the Wall Gang and The Jimmy Fund.
Speroff's oder sister, Allison, was on a synchronized skating team that won the U.S. juvenile bronze medal ... Mother, Judy, works for AAA and father, Brian, works for Progressive ... Studying sports management at Ashford University, where he has made the Dean's List ... Supports the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and the Salvation Army
CONNECT WITH US
Official site
IN OUR WORDS
I started skating because ... (Donlan) my big sister, Meredith, started skating. I've always looked up to my older sibling, especially when I was a child. In fact, at a time when my sister had short hair, I took a pair of scissors and snipped a large clump of my hair. Then I ran over to my sister saying, "Look Merri! Now I have short hair, just like you!" Needless to say, my mother wasn't quite as fond of my new 'do as I was.
If I wasn't a skater ... (Speroff) I would be a cyclist.
I manage my pre-skate jitters by ... (Donlan) STRETCHING! I try to physically shake out the jitters and tightness in my body. My limbs must extend a good inch from my body by the end of a competition from all the stretching I do!
I look up to ... (Speroff) my parents, sister and brother-in-law. And my coaches.
I started figure skating because ... (Speroff) my sister was skating and I was too small to play hockey.
My favorite thing about performing is ... (Donlan) having all eyes on us and the ice to ourselves. Ever since I was little, I loved being the center of attention. I would always try to ham it up for anyone who cared to watch. I love the rush and excitement of performing in front of a crowd .... and that feeling of accomplishment and pride after competing well is priceless (and addicting!).
My figure skating hero is ... (Speroff) Ryan Bradley.
Something most people don't know about me is ... (Donlan) I've been a vegetarian for four years. I was a huge fan of meat before I gave it up, you know, a a medium-rare sort of gal. In fact, when I was about 12, I won the taco eating contest held at my rink with a record 13 tacos down! Though I've stuck with my animal-free diet, I don't mind the occasional whiffs of bacon or double cheeseburgers that waft my way.
My hobbies are ... (Speroff) cycling, running, camping and hiking
I always ... (Donlan) like to chomp down on a good ol' Pink Lady apple before I compete! I guess it's just a habit that I've developed - the juicy crunch of one of my favorite foods always gives me a smidgeon of comfort when I'm nervous.
... (Speroff) pick my family out of the audience if I can find them and put my left skate on first.
OUR FAVORITES
Donlan
Warm up music: Passion Pit
Skating manuever: Layback spin
Things to do on a day off: Grab coffee with friends, take a hot yoga class, hang out by the pool or at the beach and read outside
Olympic sport: Rhythmic gymnastics
Beverage: Addicted to coffee and Diet Pepsi
Snack: Yoplait's Raspberry Cheesecake yogurt
Books: Mind Gym by Mack Casstevens, The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doidge, MD
Costume of my career: I love my "Sleeping Beauty" dress for this year's free skate. When I was a little girl, I loved wearing my ballet tutu EVERYWHERE I went! Out to dinner, to daycare, you name it, I wore my tutu; my mom couldn't take it off me! My dress designer, Yumi, attached some tulle to the trim of my skirt to give it a tutu-like flounce. She also added a gorgeous gold applicay and a dangling jewel right in the center. My partner, coaches and I collectively agreed to name that bouncing jewel Aurora, after the princess in Disney's Sleeping Beauty. Whenever I slip on this special dress, I get a nostalgic feeling from when the little me used to dance in front of the mirror on her tippy-toes for hours on end!
Speroff
Off-ice conditioning: Running, cycling, yoga, meditation
Warm up music: Classic rock
Jump: Triple toe
Things to do on a day off: Go for a hike
Olympic sport: Gymnastics
Beverage: Coffee
Snack: Peanut butter
Meal: Salmon burger and veggie salad
Teams: New England Patriots, Boston Celtics
Book: Watership Down by Richard Adams
WE PREFER
Donlan
Gloves or No Gloves
E-Reader or Book
Footwork or Lift
Theater or Rental
Homecooking or Restaurant
Treadmill or Trail
Short Program or Free Skate
Pre-competition nap: No
Speroff
Gloves or No Gloves
E-Reader or Book
Footwork or Lift
Theater or Rental
Homecooking or Restaurant
Treadmill or Trail
Short Program or Free Skate
Pre-competition nap: Yes
PAST SEASON NOTES
-
2013 Season NotesSP Music: "Nocturne" by Ennio Morricone
FS Music: Music from Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky
Costumes designed by Bobby Pearce, Paul Ginandes and Yumi Barnett-Nakamura -
2012 Season NotesSP Music: "O Mio Babbino Caro" from the opera Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini
FS Music: Music from Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky
Donlan's costumes designed by Yumi Barnett-Nakamura; Speroff's costumes designed by Paul Ginandes -
2011 Season NotesSP Music: "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven
FS Music: "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin performed by the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra -
2010 Season NotesSP Music: "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven
FS Music: "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin performed by the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra
- 2013 - U.S. Championships - 6th
2012 - Ice Challenge - 2nd
2012 - Skate America - 6th
2012 - Nebelhorn Trophy - 4th
2012 - U.S. Championships - 4th
2012 - Eastern Sectional - 1st
2011 - U.S. Championships - 8th
2011 - Eastern Sectional - 4th
2010 - Nebelhorn Trophy - 4th
2010 - U.S. Championships, Junior - 8th
2010 - Midwestern Sectional, Junior - 2nd
IJS Personal Bests
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
SP - 40.54 (2012 Skate America)
FS - 90.72 (2012 Skate America)
Final Score - 131.26 (2012 Skate America)
U.S. QUALIFYING COMPETITION
SP - 57.77 (2012 U.S. Championships)
FS - 113.84 (2012 U.S. Championships)
Final Score - 171.61 (2012 U.S. Championships)
