Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski - 2007 U.S. Pair Skating Champions:
Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski won the 2007 U.S. Pair Skating title. Their win was a surprise win since in 2006, they placed eighth at the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships.
A Surprise Win in 2007:
Castile and Okolski were in third place after the initial round of the competition, the short program. Brooke Castile also was dealing with an ankle injury. They skated an almost perfect program and pulled to first. Their win was a surprise since 2006 National Pair Champions
Rena Inoue and John Baldwin were expected to win.
Dates and Places of Birth:
Brooke Castile was born on May 31, 1986 in Detroit, Michigan. Ben Okolski was born on November 12, 1984 in Tucson, Arizona.
Training :
The couple trains in Canton, Michigan.
Competition Highlights :
Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski have skated together since 2002.
- 2007 U.S. National Pair Champions
- 2007 Midwestern Silver Medalists
- 2006 Nebelhorn Trophy Pair Skating Champions
- 2005 Midwestern Bronze Medalists
- 2004 U.S. Championships, Junior Pairs Silver Medalists
- 2004 Midwestern Junior Pair Champions
- 2003 Midwestern Junior Pair Silver Medalists
- 2003 Eastern Great Lakes Regional, Junior Pair Silver Medalists
Highlights From the 2007 Win:
The team performed a throw split triple twist at the beginning of their program. Some people said that it was the highest triple twist lift ever seen. They also did throw
triple loops,
double axels, triple
toe loops, and side by side spins. The did intricate
footwork.
Financial Struggles:
To keep finances down, both Brooke and Ben live with their parents. Ben teaches learn to skate classes to help pay for figure skating. Brooke designs their competition costumes to help keep costs to a minimum.
Coach, Choreographer, Skating Club:
Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski's coach is former U.S. Pair and Dance Champion Johnny Johns. Their choreographer is Marina Zoueva. They represent the Arctic Figure Skating Club.
About Brooke Castile :
Brooke began skating when she was seven years old. Her first set of group lessons were a birthday present. She loves designing clothes and would like to eventually go into fashion design.
A Bit About Ben Okolski:
When Ben was eight years old, he and his sister began figure skating. Later on, the siblings skated pairs together. He plays several instruments. Some sports Ben enjoys are golf, volleyball, and basketball.
