Two-time United States pairs champion Rockne Brubaker has teamed up with junior-level singles skater Mary Beth Marley after his former partner, Keauna McLaughlin, announced that she would be taking the year off from skating.
Marley, the 2009 U.S. novice silver medalist, is completely new to pairs skating but has already passed her junior pairs tests. She will take her senior pairs tests within the next few days, as she and Brubaker plan on competing this season. They must register for the sectional championships by September 1 in order to be eligible to compete for a spot at Nationals in January.
Though this pairing may seem unusual at first, it is actually very promising. Marley is a dynamo, with reliable triple jumps, good spins and flexibility, and solid skating skills. She should complement Brubaker well, and appears to be fearless -- something that will aid in the transition to pairs skating. Further, her petite size will also be helpful, as the 5'10" Brubaker is not the tallest male pairs skater in the world.
Marley has recently relocated to southern California to skate with Brubaker, and while no formal announcement has been made, John Nicks seems like an obvious choice for their coach. He worked with McLaughlin and Brubaker last season, and the fact that Rockne has remained in SoCal instead of moving back to Colorado is telling.
Look out for the duo of Marley & Brubaker this season; I have a feeling they could make quite the splash...
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