Coaches | NAASSC

2026 headlining coach

Katey Nyquist is one of the most accomplished and respected athletes and coaches in synchronized skating. Her experience spans the highest levels of the sport, from national and international competition to collegiate coaching. She is known not only for her competitive success but also for her ability to connect with athletes, build strong team cultures, and develop high-performing teams. Katey currently serves as Head Coach of the Miami University Varsity Synchronized Skating Program, widely regarded as the premier varsity synchronized skating program in the United States. Since taking over the program in 2024, she has continued Miami's tradition of excellence, leading the Collegiate Team to back-to-back U.S. National Championships in 2025 and 2026. Under her leadership, Miami's Senior Team has also represented Team USA internationally as a member of the U.S. National Team during both the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons, earning assignments on some of the sport's biggest stages. As an athlete, Katey enjoyed a remarkable competitive career. A five-time U.S. National Champion and World Team Member, she represented the United States at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships from 2016–2020 as a member of the Haydenettes. Her accomplishments include earning a bronze medal at the 2016 World Championships, one of the highest international achievements in American synchronized skating. Katey's transition from elite athlete to coach has given her a unique perspective on athlete development and performance. Having trained and competed in some of the world's most demanding synchronized skating environments, she understands firsthand what it takes to pursue excellence while navigating the challenges of high-performance sport. In addition to her coaching and competitive achievements, Katey holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Design and Corporate Communication from Bentley University. Her background in both athletics and leadership allows her to effectively communicate, motivate, and support athletes as they work toward ambitious goals. Known for her thoughtful leadership, strong communication skills, and athlete-centered approach, Katey brings energy, expertise, and a championship mindset to every environment she enters. Her passion for developing confident, capable athletes and building cultures of excellence has made her one of the most respected leaders in synchronized skating today.

2026 featured coaches

Alexa & Chris Knierim are former American pair skaters and one of the most recognizable couples in U.S. figure skating. They began skating together in 2012, soon became a couple, and married in 2016. As partners, they won three U.S. National Championships (2015, 2018, 2020) and represented the United States at the 2018 Winter Olympics, where they helped Team USA secure a bronze medal in the team event. The pair was known for their technical prowess — including performing a quad twist at the Olympics — and their strong on-ice connection. Chris retired from competitive skating in 2020, concluding a successful career that also included multiple international medals, including at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. Beyond their competitive achievements, Alexa and Chris have continued to contribute to the sport and its community, drawing on their years of elite experience to mentor, coach, and inspire up-and-coming skaters. Their story highlights not only athletic excellence but also resilience, partnership, and passion for the sport. They remain beloved figures in U.S. figure skating, celebrated for both their accomplishments on the ice and their ongoing impact off it.

Michael Lee is the Artistic Director of Opus Mime, a broad-ranging company based in Michigan. Michael has been developing Physical Acting for Skaters since 2007, working first with ice dancers Ben Agosto & Tanith Belbin, then Meryl Davis & Charlie White, Scott Moir & Tessa Virtue, Evan Bates, Nathan Chen, synchro teams Miami University, Adrian College and 2025 World Champion Teams Elite Junior, along with other top teams from around the world. In 2017 he was a special guest at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. One of the last and most advanced students of the late French mime Marcel Marceau, who critiqued many of Michael’s pieces, saying, “You have a distinct drama and strength...the caliber of my own company.” His performance and training repertoire includes acting in film and TV, modeling, gymnastics, movement therapy, contact improv, clowning, circus arts, yoga, make-up and oral interpretation. He is a graduate of the Spacial Dynamics Institute in New York, and the International School for Theatre Anthropology in Denmark. More info at: www.michaelleemime.com

April Sirokie is a classically trained ballet dancer and competitive dancer competing in jazz, contemporary, and lyrical. She graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts and Exercise Science from Ball State University. April has been able to dance and choreograph for many performing arts festivals and received multiple scholarships in Chicago and New York to continue her dance training. She performed professionally for 3 years and decided to focus on teaching dance and personal training. She is grateful for a healthy career so she can continue to create, choreograph, and coach. April is also a personal trainer in the Chicagoland area specializing in strength and conditioning for athletes ranging from ice skaters, hockey players, to competitive dance teams. April enjoys working with athletes of all ages and levels and continues to expand her education by attending fitness seminars, workshops, and master classes. As a specialty coach for Teams Elite, April focuses on enhancing athletes' dance skills and off-ice movement to complement their on-ice performances.

Rodolfo Blanquicett is a highly accomplished Latin and Rhythm coach in both the Pro/Am and professional ballroom divisions. A Best of the Best title winner and recipient of multiple Rising Star titles, Rodolfo brings elite-level competitive experience and dynamic performance expertise to his coaching. He specializes in partnering, styling, and ballroom movement, with a strong emphasis on body connection, presentation, and musical interpretation. Known for his high energy and engaging teaching style, Rodolfo breaks down complex movement into clear, accessible steps and demonstrates with precision and charisma. At NAASSC, he will lead ballroom-focused off-ice sessions designed to elevate performance quality and confidence that translate directly onto the ice.

Donna Mitchell brings decades of coaching, choreography, and athlete development experience across synchronized skating, singles, dance, and skating skills. Widely respected throughout the synchronized skating community, Donna has worked with athletes and teams at every level of the sport, from grassroots development through national, international, and World Championship competition. A former Coach and Choreographer of the Team Mexico World Synchronized Skating Team, Donna has coached and mentored numerous World and Junior World synchronized skating competitors, medalists, and team captains. Her extensive coaching background also includes working with singles athletes who have competed at the ISU World, Junior World, and international levels. Throughout her career, Donna has coached skaters through Gold Skating Skills (Moves in the Field), Gold and International Dances, Senior Free Skate, and Solo Free Dance tests. She has also coached and choreographed more than 50 national-level synchronized skating teams across the Juvenile, Novice, Junior, Senior, Collegiate, Adult, and Masters levels, including multiple Adult and Masters National Champions. In addition to her coaching accomplishments, Donna has served as a consultant to synchronized skating teams of all levels, including Team USA and Junior World programs. Many of today's national and international synchronized skating coaches have worked with Donna as athletes, team members, or private students, reflecting her lasting impact on the sport. Known for her creativity, forward-thinking approach, and exceptional ability to identify and develop talent, Donna has helped shape the careers of countless athletes, teams, and coaches. Her passion for innovation and athlete development has left a lasting impact on synchronized skating, and she continues to inspire skaters to reach new levels of performance while helping move the sport forward.

2026 NAASSC staff

Ashley Carlson is an American synchronized skating coach, consultant, and choreographer with 30 years in the sport and over a decade of experience coaching elite athletes at the Senior, Junior, and Collegiate levels. A former Team USA coach, she led Adrian College’s varsity synchronized skating program to multiple national and international podium finishes. She also coached Team USA at international competitions in Austria, Croatia, England, France, Italy, Scotland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Since transitioning from full-time coaching, Ashley has worked with teams across various divisions, from Adult and Masters teams to those competing at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships. She also specializes in recruitment, digital marketing, and both strategic program and holistic athlete development. As an athlete, Ashley competed in synchronized skating for nearly two decades, earning four U.S. Championships medals, including a gold in the Adult division with the Crystallettes in 2009. She also was a member of the Club Synchronized Skating Team and Intercollegiate Figure Skating Team at Miami University. Off the ice, Ashley holds a Master’s degree in Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership from the University of Missouri and a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication from Miami University. She currently resides in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband, Ryan, and their son, Cooper.

Victoria is a Canadian synchronized choreographer and consultant to teams worldwide. She currently coaches at Trinity Skating Academy and Skate Oakville. A former Team Canada member for nearly a decade, she competed in numerous world championships and ISU events, including winning the 2015 World Synchronized Skating Championships with NEXXICE Senior. She also earned two world medals and three Canadian titles. Since 2015, Victoria has worked with national teams like Team France (Chrysalides), Team Turkey (Vizyon), and Team Great Britain (Zariba). She also coached Team USA’s Adrian College senior team to their first podium finish at the US Championships and led Canada’s first Senior Elite 12 team to national team status and a podium finish at their first ISU event, along with a national title in 2024. Off the ice, Victoria holds a BA from the University of Guelph and a TEFL certification from the University of Toronto. She became a Skate Canada certified national coach and earned her Chartered Professional Coach designation in 2024.

Kameryn Furman (Kam) has been involved in synchronized skating for the past 29 consecutive seasons. As an athlete, Kam is a Skating Skills Gold Medalist, Ice Dance Gold Medalist, Solo Ice Dance Gold Medalist, and Ice Dance International Medalist. As an athlete, she has earned Gold, Silver, Bronze and Pewter medals at Midwestern Sectionals and is a 2X Bronze and 1x Pewter National Medalist. She skated through the Junior level with Saint Louis Synergy before moving to Kansas City in 2016 after earning her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. As a coach, she has worked with various levels from Aspire 1 through Team USA Junior (National Silver Medalists) and all four available Adult levels (Masters National Bronze & Pewter Medalists). In addition to coaching, Kam is the Director of Synchronized Skating for KC MOMENTUM, works full time as an engineer at Burns & McDonnell, and coaches private lessons that primarily focus on skating skills and ice dance. Kam was also the recipient of the Hallmark Cards Leadership Award for the 2024 Women’s Sports Awards.

2026 local featured coaches