The 1972 United States Figure Skating Championships were held from January 13–16 at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California

Long Beach, California

Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...

. The results of the competition were used to select the teams for both the 1972 Winter Olympics

1972 Winter Olympics

The 1972 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from February 3 to February 13, 1972 in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan...

 and the 1972 World Figure Skating Championships

1972 World Figure Skating Championships

The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion....

.

The competition opened with the ladies' compulsory figures

Compulsory figures

Compulsory figures or school figures were formerly an aspect of the sport of figure skating, from which the sport derives its name. Carving specific patterns or figures into the ice was the original focus of the sport. The patterns of compulsory figures all derive from the basic figure eight...

, in which Julie Lynn Holmes

Julie Lynn Holmes

Julie Lynn Holmes is a former American figure skater. She won one silver medal and one bronze medal at the World Figure Skating Championships and competed in the 1972 Winter Olympics.She was coached initially by Nancy Rush and then by Carlo Fassi...

 took the lead over Janet Lynn

Janet Lynn

Janet Lynn Nowicki is an American figure skater and Olympic bronze medalist.-Amateur career:Lynn began to skate almost as soon as she could walk and took part in her first exhibition performance at the age of four in a group number at Chicago Stadium...

. But Lynn easily won the free skating

Free skating

The free skating competition of figure skating, sometimes called the "free skate" or "long program", is usually the second of two phases in major figure skating competitions in single skating and pair skating. It is the longer of the two programs, the other one being the Short Program...

 with a faultless performance while Holmes skated cautiously. Second place in the free skating went to Dorothy Hamill

Dorothy Hamill

Dorothy Stuart Hamill is an American figure skater. She is the 1976 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles and 1976 World Champion.-Early life:...

, who probably performed the most difficult program but nonetheless could not overcome her deficit in the figures to reach the podium. Suna Murray

Suna Murray

Suna Murray is an American figure skater. She won the bronze medal at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships twice and competed at the 1972 Winter Olympics....

 captured the bronze medal.

The previous years' champions in the pairs and dance events, JoJo Starbuck

JoJo Starbuck

JoJo Starbuck is an American figure skater. With partner Kenneth Shelley, she is a three-time United States pair skating champion and two-time Olympian ....

/Kenneth Shelley

Kenneth Shelley

Kenneth Shelley is an American figure skater who competed in both singles and pairs. As a single skater, he won the 1972 United States Figure Skating Championships and placed 4th at the 1972 Winter Olympics. His highest placement at the World Figure Skating Championships was a single skater was...

 and Judy Schwomeyer

Judy Schwomeyer

Judy Schwomeyer is an American ice dancer and actress. As a figure skater, she competed with partner James Sladky. They were five time U.S. national champions. They are the 1970 World silver medalists and the 1969 & 1971-1972 World bronze medalists.With coach Ron Ludington, Schwomeyer & Sladky...

/Jim Sladky, respectively, easily defended their titles without serious challenge. The pairs competition this year was notable for the new and innovative lifts performed by the second-place team Melissa

Melissa Militano

Melissa Mary Militano is an American figure skater who competed as a single skater and pair skater. As a pair skater, she won the U.S. Figure Skating Championships three times, in 1973 with her brother Mark Militano and in 1974 and 1975 with Johnny Johns...

 and Mark Militano

Mark Militano

Mark William Militano is an American pair skater. With sister Melissa Militano, he is the 1973 U.S. national champion. They represented the United States at the 1972 Winter Olympics where they placed 7th....

 as well as by Starbuck and Shelley. The Militanos also included a throw double axel and side-by-side double axels in their program, elements that only a few top pairs in the world were attempting in this era, but they could not match the speed and unison of the champions.

The men's competition saw something of an upset as defending champion John Misha Petkevich

John Misha Petkevich

John Misha Petkevich is an American former figure skater. He won the 1971 United States Figure Skating Championships in men's singles and the North American Figure Skating Championship in the same year. He placed 6th at the 1968 Winter Olympics and 5th at the 1972 Winter Olympics...

 had a poor free skate, missing both his triple salchow and triple loop jumps. Kenneth Shelley

Kenneth Shelley

Kenneth Shelley is an American figure skater who competed in both singles and pairs. As a single skater, he won the 1972 United States Figure Skating Championships and placed 4th at the 1972 Winter Olympics. His highest placement at the World Figure Skating Championships was a single skater was...

, on the other hand, had one of the best performances of his career, allowing him to take the title with the first-place votes of 4 of the 7 judges. He became the first skater to win national titles in both senior men and pairs since 1941, and the first in postwar history to qualify for the Winter Olympics in two disciplines.

The 1972 Championships also marked the introduction of a significant innovation: the use of a computer

Computer

A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...

 to calculate the competition results for the first time at the 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...

. The initial version of the scoring software, called "Hal", was written by volunteer Al Beard in FORTRAN

Fortran

Fortran is a general-purpose, procedural, imperative programming language that is especially suited to numeric computation and scientific computing...

, and ran via a remote terminal link on a time-sharing

Time-sharing

Time-sharing is the sharing of a computing resource among many users by means of multiprogramming and multi-tasking. Its introduction in the 1960s, and emergence as the prominent model of computing in the 1970s, represents a major technological shift in the history of computing.By allowing a large...

 system donated by Honeywell

Honeywell

Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....

 in Minneapolis, where Beard was employed. Although the computer results were used for public announcements of the results, the rules of the time actually required hand computation of the official results, so this was done after the fact.

Men

Rank	Name
1	Kenneth Shelley Kenneth Shelley Kenneth Shelley is an American figure skater who competed in both singles and pairs. As a single skater, he won the 1972 United States Figure Skating Championships and placed 4th at the 1972 Winter Olympics. His highest placement at the World Figure Skating Championships was a single skater was...
2	John Misha Petkevich John Misha Petkevich John Misha Petkevich is an American former figure skater. He won the 1971 United States Figure Skating Championships in men's singles and the North American Figure Skating Championship in the same year. He placed 6th at the 1968 Winter Olympics and 5th at the 1972 Winter Olympics...
3	Gordon McKellen Gordon McKellen Gordon "Gordie" McKellen Jr. is a former American figure skater. He found his career path early thanks to his father, Gordon "Tuffy" McKellen of the famous 1940's ice skating duo, the . He is the 1973-1975 United States national champion. He placed tenth at the 1972 Olympics...
4	John Baldwin, Sr.
5	Robert Bradshaw
6	James Demogines
7	Richard Ewell
8	David Santee David Santee David Santee was an American figure skater. He is the 1981 World silver medalist and an eight-time U.S. National medalist. He also competed at the Winter Olympics twice. His younger brother Jimmy Santee was also an elite-level skater....
9	Stephen Savino
10	Dean Hiltzik
11	Perry Hutchings
12	Mahlon Bradley

Ladies

Rank	Name
1	Janet Lynn Janet Lynn Janet Lynn Nowicki is an American figure skater and Olympic bronze medalist.-Amateur career:Lynn began to skate almost as soon as she could walk and took part in her first exhibition performance at the age of four in a group number at Chicago Stadium...
2	Julie Lynn Holmes Julie Lynn Holmes Julie Lynn Holmes is a former American figure skater. She won one silver medal and one bronze medal at the World Figure Skating Championships and competed in the 1972 Winter Olympics.She was coached initially by Nancy Rush and then by Carlo Fassi...
3	Suna Murray Suna Murray Suna Murray is an American figure skater. She won the bronze medal at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships twice and competed at the 1972 Winter Olympics....
4	Dorothy Hamill Dorothy Hamill Dorothy Stuart Hamill is an American figure skater. She is the 1976 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles and 1976 World Champion.-Early life:...
5	Jennie Walsh
6	Juli McKinstry
7	Patricia Shelley
8	Melissa Militano Melissa Militano Melissa Mary Militano is an American figure skater who competed as a single skater and pair skater. As a pair skater, she won the U.S. Figure Skating Championships three times, in 1973 with her brother Mark Militano and in 1974 and 1975 with Johnny Johns...
9	Diane Goldstein
10	Kath Malmberg Kath Malmberg Kath Malmberg is a former American figure skater. She was the 1974-1975 U.S. bronze medalist.-Results:-References:*...
11	Julia Johnson
12	Mary Marley
13	Denise Cahill

Pairs

Rank	Name
1	JoJo Starbuck JoJo Starbuck JoJo Starbuck is an American figure skater. With partner Kenneth Shelley, she is a three-time United States pair skating champion and two-time Olympian ....  / Kenneth Shelley Kenneth Shelley Kenneth Shelley is an American figure skater who competed in both singles and pairs. As a single skater, he won the 1972 United States Figure Skating Championships and placed 4th at the 1972 Winter Olympics. His highest placement at the World Figure Skating Championships was a single skater was...
2	Melissa Militano Melissa Militano Melissa Mary Militano is an American figure skater who competed as a single skater and pair skater. As a pair skater, she won the U.S. Figure Skating Championships three times, in 1973 with her brother Mark Militano and in 1974 and 1975 with Johnny Johns...  / Mark Militano Mark Militano Mark William Militano is an American pair skater. With sister Melissa Militano, he is the 1973 U.S. national champion. They represented the United States at the 1972 Winter Olympics where they placed 7th....
3	Barbara Brown / Doug Berndt Doug Berndt Douglas Brian "Doug" Berndt was an American figure skater. He competed in pairs with partner Barbara Brown. The duo twice won the bronze medal at the U.S...
4	Cozette Cady / Jack Courtney
5	Gale Fuhrman / Joel Fuhrman
6	Cathy Mishkin / Donald Bonacci
7	Cynthia Van Valkenberg / Jim Hulick
8	Laura Johnson / Johnny Johns Johnny Johns Johnny Johns is an American retired competitive figure skater who currently works as a coach. As a pair skater, he competed with Melissa Militano and won the 1974 and 1975 United States Figure Skating Championships. They placed 8th at the 1974 World Figure Skating Championships and 6th in 1975....
9	Kathy Normile / Gregory Taylor
10	Julianne Johnson / Kent Johnson

Ice Dancing (Gold Dance)

Rank	Name
1	Judy Schwomeyer Judy Schwomeyer Judy Schwomeyer is an American ice dancer and actress. As a figure skater, she competed with partner James Sladky. They were five time U.S. national champions. They are the 1970 World silver medalists and the 1969 & 1971-1972 World bronze medalists.With coach Ron Ludington, Schwomeyer & Sladky...  / James Sladky James Sladky James Sladky is an American ice dancer. He competed with partner Judy Schwomeyer. They were five time U.S. national champions. They are the 1970 World silver medalists and the 1969 & 1971-1972 World bronze medalists....
2	Anne Millier Anne Millier Anne Millier is an American ice dancer. She competed with her brother Harvey Millier.-Results:-References:* USFSA media guide, 1998/99 edition...  / Harvey Millier Harvey Millier Harvey "Skip" Millier is a former American ice dancer. He competed with his sister, Anne Millier.-Results:-References:...
3	Mary Karen Campbell / Johnny Johns Johnny Johns Johnny Johns is an American retired competitive figure skater who currently works as a coach. As a pair skater, he competed with Melissa Militano and won the 1974 and 1975 United States Figure Skating Championships. They placed 8th at the 1974 World Figure Skating Championships and 6th in 1975....
4	Debbie Ganson / Brad Hislop
5	Jane Pankey / Richard Horne
6	Kathleen West / Rollie Arthur
7	Colleen O'Connor Colleen O'Connor Colleen M. O'Connor is an American ice dancer. With partner James Millns, she is the 1974-1976 U.S. national champion, the 1975 World silver medalist, the 1976 World bronze medalist, and the 1976 Olympic bronze medalist....  / Jim Millns
8	Cathleen Casey / Francis Cassella
9	Susan Ogletree / Gerard Lane
10	Christine Linney / Bruce Bowland
11	Linda Stroh / Barry Stroh
12	Ginger Snyder / Robert Castle
WD	Barbara Wayland / Michael Wayland

Men

Rank	Name
1	Terry Kubicka Terry Kubicka Terry Kubicka is an American retired figure skater. He is the 1976 U.S. national champion. He competed at the 1976 Winter Olympics, where he became the first and only skater to perform a legal backflip; it was banned after the competition. He was the first American to land the triple lutz, at the...
2	Scott Cramer Scott Cramer -Results:-References:...
3	John Carlow
4	William Schneider
5	Terry Tunks
6	Chris Kales
7	Robert Graham
8	Scott Henderson
9	Neil Rubin
10	Nathan Alden
11	Tom Hilfman

Ladies

Rank	Name
1	Wendy Burge Wendy Burge Wendy Burge was an American figure skater. She won the silver medal at the 1975 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and placed 6th at the 1976 Winter Olympics. She currently resides and retired in Orange County, California after professionally coaching for over 20 years. -Results:-References:...
2	Laurie Brandel
3	Barbara Salomon
4	Donna Arquilla
5	Candyce Wenborg
6	Jannat Thompson
7	Elizabeth Freeman
8	Ruth Cohen
9	Betsy Hobson
10	Diane Dennison

Pairs

Rank	Name
1	Michelle McCladdie / Richard Ewell
2	Suki Hoagland / Mike Sahlin
3	Georgia Truffini / Bill McPike
4	Jodie Martin / Robert Berry
5	Kristin Gilbert / David DeCaprio
6	Becky Hale / Jeff Hale
7	Deborah Robbins / Jack Colern
8	Patty Morton / Bill Fauver
9	Sheryl Franks Sheryl Franks Sheryl Franks was an American pair skater who competed with Michael Botticelli. The couple won the bronze medal at the United States Figure Skating Championships four consecutive times, beginning in 1977, and finished seventh at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.-Results:-References:**...  / Michael Botticelli Michael Botticelli Michael C. Botticelli was an American figure skater who competed in pairs with Sheryl Franks. The couple won the bronze medal at the United States Figure Skating Championships four consecutive times, beginning in 1977, and finished seventh at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.-Results:-References:*...

Ice Dancing (Silver Dance)

Rank	Name
1	Michelle Ford Michelle Ford (figure skater) Michelle Ford is an American figure skater. Born in Detroit, Michelle grew up in Scottsdale, Az and began ice skating at 7 years of age. As a youngster she skated freestyle and pairs with her brother who was later killed in a car accident at the age of 12....  / Glenn Parriott
2	Shareen Finley / Curt Finley
3	Andrea Peterson / Guy Sexton
4	Beatrice Sexton / James Thorn
5*	Joy Cushner / Stephen Kanter
6*	Laurie Martin / Fred Martin
7*	Sara Hill / Roger Fortin
8*	Stacey Smith Stacey Smith Stacey Lee Smith is an American ice dancer. With partner John Summers, she is the 1978-1980 U.S. national champion. They represented the United States at the 1980 Winter Olympics where they placed 9th. She received her bachelor's degree and M.D. at Northwestern University, completed her residency...  / Frank Recco
9*	Mitzi Robinson / Richard Kolodziej
10*	Marcia Fugina / Charles Larson

* Eliminated before Final Round

Men

Rank	Name
1	David Kirby
2	Perry Jewell
3	Charles Carapazza
4	Ronnie Green
5	Ken Newfield
6	Tom Zink
7	Kingsford Swan
8	Tom Reagan
9	Scott Sherman
10	Sven Krevald

Ladies

Rank	Name
1	Kim McIsaac
2	Roberta Loughland
3	Robin Wagner
4	Barbie Smith
5	Gail Hamula
6	Amanda Kohlhas
7	Leslie Glenn
8	Peggy Amelon
9	Tracey Cahill