Drew Meekins (born April 10, 1985) is an American retired pairs skater, coach, and choreographer. With former partner Julia Vlassov, he is the 2006 World Junior Champion.
Personal life and family
Andrew Meekins, known as "Drew", was born in Juneau, Alaska on April 10, 1985. He is one of five children (four sons and one daughter) born to Edward Russell "Russ" Meekins, Jr. (1949–2020) and his wife Nancy Harvey. All four of his grandparents moved to Anchorage, Alaska from the Northeastern United States during the tail end of World War II and were active in business and civic affairs in Anchorage throughout the middle and late 20th century. His father, his aunt Susan Sullivan, and his grandfather Russ Meekins Sr. all served in the Alaska State Legislature as Democrats representing Anchorage. His father, the only one of the three to serve more than one term, was the House's majority leader in his last term (1981–1983). In that term, he played a key role in two events which rank amongst the most significant in the history of the Alaska Legislature: the mid-session overthrow of the Democratic House leadership and its replacement with a multi-party coalition, and the bribery conviction and subsequent expulsion of a member of the Alaska Senate. As a result of the fallout from these events, he soon found himself on the outs with Alaska's political establishment. The family left Alaska ca. 1990 and moved to Massachusetts, the home state of Nancy Harvey's parents, settling on Cape Cod. One of his brothers, Cam Meekins, is a rapper.
Meekins is openly gay.
Skating career
Meekins and Vlassov won the 2006 World Junior Championships. In their first season of senior international competition, they won the silver at the Nebelhorn Trophy, placed sixth at the 2006 Cup of China, and placed fifth at the 2006 NHK Trophy. Vlassov and Meekins finished in seventh place in their senior debut at the 2007 U.S. Championships. They were fifth in the free program.
Vlassov and Meekins were assigned to two Grand Prix events for the 2007–2008 season; however, they were forced to withdraw from the 2007 Skate Canada International before the event began due to an injury to Meekins's shoulder which occurred during an attempted lift in practice. Vlassov and Meekins announced the end of their partnership on November 8, 2007.
U.S. Figure Skating announced on July 14, 2008, that Meekins had teamed up with Jessica Rose Paetsch. Paetsch and Meekins placed tenth at the 2009 U.S. Championships.
After qualifying for the 2010 U.S. Championships, Paetsch & Meekins announced the end of their partnership in December 2009.
Coaching career
Meekins is now a figure skating coach and choreographer at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and coaches a wide range of skaters and offers virtual lessons and other resources on his website.
As a coach, his students have included:
Nica Digerness / Mark Sadusky Olivia Flores / Luke Wang Hannah Herrera / Ivan Khobta Pauline Irman / Benjamin Jalovick Ellie Kam / Danny O’Shea Milada Kovar / Jared McPike Elyce Lin-Gracey Naomi Williams / Lachlan Lewer Campbell Young / Lachlan Lewer Miyu Yunoki / Tristan Taylor Vincent Zhou
As a choreographer, his clients have included:
Karen Chen Olivia Flores / Luke Wang Sofia Frank Hannah Herrera / Ivan Khobta Logan Higase-Chen Ji Seo-yeon Ellie Kam / Danny O’Shea Phattaratida Kaneshige Jari Kessler Kim Ye-lim Elyce Lin-Gracey Mirai Nagasu Naoki Rossi Clare Seo Audrey Shin Audrey Shin / Balázs Nagy Naomi Williams / Lachlan Lewer Campbell Young / Lachlan Lewer You Young Vincent Zhou
Programs (with Vlassov) Season Short program Free skating 2007–2008 Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona Titanic Symphony by Richard Clayderman 2006–2007 Leelo's Tune Sarabande by Maksim Mrvica Warsaw Concerto performed by Richard Clayderman 2005–2006 Picante by Vanessa Mae Paychek (soundtrack) by John Powell 2004–2005 2003–2004 Beethoven's 5th Mission Impossible Pink Panther
Competitive highlights With Paetsch Event 2008–2009 2009–2010 U.S. Championships 10th
With Vlassov Event 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 World Junior Championships 9th 1st U.S. Championships 2nd J. 3rd J. 7th Cup of China 6th NHK Trophy 5th Nebelhorn Trophy 2nd Junior Grand Prix Final 4th 2nd Junior Grand Prix, Croatia 3rd Junior Grand Prix, Andorra 2nd Junior Grand Prix, Ukraine 3rd Junior Grand Prix, Belgrade 1st
References
External links
Vlassov & Meekins official site