ALLEN, Texas — Short program leader Isabeau Levito had the chance to become the youngest U.S. figure skater to win Skate America since Michelle Kwan. Bradie Tennell, second in the short, could have been the oldest women’s singles skater to ever win Skate America.

Wakaba Higuchi won her first Grand Prix event after more than eight years of trying Saturday night, putting together an error-free program at Skate America to edge Japanese teammate Rinka Watanabe and American star Isabeau Levito.

Former world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan opened the figure skating grand prix season with a pairs victory at Skate America on Saturday.

Instead, Japan's Wakaba Higuchi, who was arguably the most accomplished active skater without a Grand Prix title, earned the biggest victory of her career. She h

Japan's Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara win the pairs competition with a total score of 214.23 points, at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating's Skate America in Allen, Texas.