Von Felten Earns Bronze Medal at Junior Grand Prix Poland

Sophie Joline von Felten rallied to secure the bronze, her second medal in the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series this season, in Gdansk, Poland, Oct. 1-4.

Caleb Farrington, pairs team Naomi Williams and Lachlan Lewer, and ice dancers Grace Fischer and Grant Fischer each placed fifth in their respective competitions to pace the U.S. Junior National Team at the sixth of seven JGP Series events.

Fifth after the short program, von Felton delivered a personal-best free skate score of 132.43 at Hala Olivia Arena. Skating to music from Frida, von Felten's jumps launched her into second place in the segment as she landed an opening triple Axel-double toe loop combination followed by a quad Salchow and a triple Axel.

Her free skate proved to be historic as she became the first U.S. woman to land a quad Salchow at an international competition and the second U.S. woman (Alysa Liu) to land a quad and two triple Axels in the same program at an international competition.

In the short program the day prior, von Felten struggled on her opening triple Axel-triple toe combination, but the difficulty as well as her program component score kept her within striking distance of the podium at 58.24.

The reigning U.S. junior champion's posted an overall total of 190.67. It was her second JGP bronze medal in the series and third overall. Von Felten likely will miss qualifying for the Junior Grand Prix Final following this week's final JGP event.

Kaya Tiernan fared well in her first JGP event with personal-best scores in the short program (57.05), free skate (108.19) and total score (165.24) to finish seventh.

Tiernan cleanly executed each of her elements in her short program to "When She Loved Me" by Sarah McLachlan while her free skate to music from the movie Gladiator included a triple Lutz-double Axel-double Axel sequence that generated a program-best 13.17 points.

Farrington posted an overall score of 204.80. His free skate to music from the Fantastic Beasts Series by James Howard Newton included three Level 4 spins. He fell on his opening quad toe attempt, but the rest of his elements all received positive grades of execution. He generated 135.83 points in the free skate to clinch a top-five result.

Louis Mallane made his JGP debut, finishing 17th with an overall score of 157.61.

Williams and Lewer produced the third-best short program score of 54.88. Skating to "Otoño Porteño" by Ensamble Nuevo Tango, the duo executed a Level 4 reverse lasso lift and received Level 3s for their spin, step sequence, twist and back outside death spiral.

The 2024 World Junior bronze medalists placed sixth in free skate en route to a total score of 146.20.

JGP newcomers Milada Kovar and Jared McPike placed 13th overall with a score of 121.66. They secured personal bests for their short program with a score of 45.98 as well as for their total score.

In their first international event at the junior level, Siblings Grace Fischer and Luke Fischer finished fifth in the short program and third in the free dance. Their 13 elements from both programs all received positive GOEs.

The duo's free dance to "Best Friends" by Sofi Tukker, "When I Get There" by Big Wild and "Good Times Roll" by Big Gigantic and GRiZ generated 85.76 points and included a dance spin, synchronized twizzles and two lifts that each received Level 4 credit.

The 2025 U.S. novice silver medalists posted a total score of 142.02 in their JGP debut.

Also making their JGP debut and competing internationally for the first time, Sophia Feige and Wiles Middlekauff placed eighth with a total score of 128.01.

For full results from Junior Grand Prix Poland, visit the 2025 Junior Grand Prix Series Competition Central.