Ice Skating Instructors
Michelle Tepkasetkul
Figure Skating Director, Head Coach of Starfire Synchronized Skating
Growing up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan it’s no wonder that Michelle has been a part of figure skating and coaching her entire life. As a figure skater her accomplishments include; USFSA Gold Medals in Dance & Moves in the Field, SkateCanada Gold Medal in Dance and she has passed all ten International Dances.
As a coach for over 20 years, Michelle has enjoyed success as our Starfire Synchronized Skating Teams, as well as teams she previously coached in Michigan have earned multiple medals at the Midwestern Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships. She has also coached several skaters (synchronized and individuals) who have gone on to skate for Miami University, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, Western Michigan University and Team USA. Some of these collegiate level skaters have competed and earned medals at Sectionals, Nationals and International competitions. She has been named to the Professional Skaters Association Honor Roll of Coaches several times. Michelle holds the following PSA ratings: Master Sports Science & Medicine, Certified Synchronized Team & Certified Ice Dance.
Michelle also values the importance of a higher education. She holds two bachelor’s degrees. One from Michigan State University in Advertising and another from Michigan Technological University in Biological Sciences, with a minor in General Science & a concentration in Secondary Education. Michelle has two daughters, Gabbie & Evelyn, who are both skaters!
As Rocket Ice Skating Rink’s Figure Skating Director and Head Coach of Starfire Synchronized Skating Teams, Michelle is dedicated to making sure your child maximizes their skating potential. Please feel free to contact her with any questions you may have at 630-679-1700 or email her at michelle@rocketice.com.
Trish Brown- Figure Skating Instructor
Trish is a coach of Regional, Sectional, Junior National, US National, Junior Grand Prix and Junior World Championship competitors. She has experience coaching Pre Preliminary through Senior Moves in the Field & Free Skate. Trish also has experience teaching specialty classes in jumping, spinning, edges, footwork and off ice training. She has choreographed competitive, testing and show programs and has eleven years experience as an ice skating instructor. Trish is a member of the Professional Skaters Association.
Carina Goeden-Figure Skating Instructor
Carina is a former US National competitor at the Novice and Junior level. She represented Taiwan at the Junior and Senior level and competed internationally at ISU Junior Grand Prix, Four Continents, Junior and Senior Worlds. Carina has earned her USFS Gold Medals in Moves in the Field and Free Skate. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Carina has eight years of experience as an ice skating instructor.
Carrie Fredin-Figure Skating Instructor
Carrie has earned her USFS Gold Medals in Moves in the Field and Free Skate. She is a seven time Upper Great Lakes Regional Championship competitor. She is also a member of the Professional Skaters Association. Carrie is attending North Central College with a major in Psychology. She is also a member of the Professional Skaters Association and has 4 years experience as an ice skating instructor.
Katie Soraghan- Figure Skating Instructor
Katie Soraghan has over 23 years of skating experience. She was the US Figure Skating Collegiate Junior Ladies Bronze Medalist in 2011 as well as a seven time Upper Great Lakes regional competitor. Additionally, she is a Triple Gold Medalist in Freeskate, Moves in the Field, and Solo Free Dance. She has 13 years coaching experience and has taken skaters to the Regional level and through the Senior Level in Moves in the Field and Freestyle. Katie has also coached at Theatre Nationals. Katie trained under Olympic coach Denise Myers, who has coached multiple skaters at national level, as well as with jump technician Alex Ouriashev during her competitive years. Katie is a member of the Professional Skaters Association. Academically, Katie holds a Bachelor's of Arts in Business Management and a technical certification in Surgical Assisting.
Helen (Schorse) Fearnley - Figure Skating Instructor
Helen has 20 years of skating experience. She is a triple gold medalist in Freestyle, Moves in the Field & Ice Dance. She was an international and national competitor for Team Great Britain in Ice Dance and an eight time US Regional competitor in singles skating. Helen trained under World & Olympic level coaches: Alex Ouriashev, David Santee, Rockne Brubaker, and Stefania Berton. Helen is also a certified Pilates instructor.
Jake Fearnley - Figure Skating Instructor
Jake has 20 years of skating experience. Jake has coached US National level skaters. He is a two time British National Champion in Ice Dance. He was an ISU Junior Grand Prix competitor and an international and national competitor for Team Great Britain in Ice Dance. Jake trained under World & Olympic level coaches: Phillip Askew, Vivienne Dean, and Karen Barber.
Kalysa Pampuch - Starfire Synchronized Skating Coach & Figure Skating Instructor
Kalysa grew up skating at Rocket Ice Arena starting at the age of 5 in the Learn to Skate Program. She has 17 years of skating experience, 15 years of competitive skating, and spent 8 years as a member of Team USA for synchronized skating. Kalysa has earned national and international medals throughout her competitive career. She has earned her USFS Gold Medal in Moves in the Field, Freestyle, Dance, and Solo Free Dance. Kalysa graduated from Miami University with a degree in Psychology and Spanish. While at Miami University, Kalysa competed as a member of their Senior Varsity Synchronized Skating Team for 4 years. Kalysa has coached Learn to Skate since the age of 15 at Rocket Ice Arena. Kalysa is currently pursuing her Specialist Degree in School Psychology from Illinois State University and plans to graduate in the Spring of 2025 after completing her internship.
Melissa Lam Love - Starfire Synchronized Skating Coach & Skating Instructor
Melissa has earned her USFS Gold Medal in Moves in the Field, Gold Medal in Ice Dance, passed 2 International Dances and Intermediate Freestyle. Her skating experience includes several years on synchronized skating teams (including Starfire!) from Juvenile to Junior, as well as competing internationally. Melissa has over 8 years of experience as a group and private ice skating instructor for beginners, freestyle, and dance. Her education includes a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mercer University and a Master’s in Economics from the University of Oxford. Fun fact: Melissa enjoyed a brief stint in ice hockey as well, playing defenseman on the University of Oxford Women’s Varsity Ice Hockey Team during graduate school, contributing to a record-setting win over Cambridge in the Varsity match that year! Melissa is a member of the Professional Skaters Association.
Ciara Athy - Starfire Synchronized Skating Coach & Skating Instructor
Ciara has 20 years of skating experience, 12 years of synchronized skating experience, and is a 6 time competitor at the US Synchronized Skating National Championships. She earned a Gold Medal at the US Synchronized Skating Championships and is a two time Gold Medalist at the Midwestern Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships. She skated for Adrian College on the Intercollegiate Figure Skating Team and the Senior Synchronized Skating Team for four years, and was a member of Team USA for three years. During her time at Adrian, she won Intercollegiate Nationals at the Juvenile level and earned a silver medal at the Trophy d’Ecosse in Dumfries, Scotland with the Senior Team as Team USA. She had the honor of representing Team USA at four international competitions. Ciara is a member of the Professional Skaters Association.
After graduating college, Ciara moved home and began working with the first team she joined as a young skater, Starfire! She coaches at Rocket and continues to improve her personal skating skills as well. Ciara has passed her Juvenile Free Skate, has achieved her USFS Gold Medal in Moves in the Field and Free Dance, and is working towards her USFS Gold medal in Dance. Outside of skating, she is currently pursuing a Masters in Counseling Art Therapy program at Adler University and will graduate in October of 2020.
Ashley Cosmano Lilley - Starfire Synchronized Skating Coach & Skating Instructor
Ashley grew up skating all around the Chicago area. She has 24 years of competitive skating experience and has medaled at the National and International level. Ashley has earned her US Figure Skating Gold Medal in Moves in the Field, Silver Medal in Dance and has passed her Juvenile Free Skate. Ashley graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in Organizational Communications. While at WMU, she skated as a member of both the Collegiate and Senior Synchronized Skating teams, travelled internationally with their Senior team as part of Team USA and held a position on the WMU Skating Club Board. Ashley is no stranger to Rocket Ice as she has been coaching Learn to Skate for the past few years while perusing her career goals and recently getting married. She returned to coach Starfire for her 6th season! Ashley is a member of the Professional Skaters Association.
Yahaira Torres - Starfire Synchronized Skating Coach & Skating Instructor
The 2019-20 season marked Yahaira’s 3rd year as a Starfire coach. In her first season coaching with us, she led the Preliminary team to a pewter medal at the 2017 Midwestern Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships. As a synchronized skater Yahaira has been a US National Champion & a two time Midwestern Sectional Champion. She has 6 years coaching experience, 13 years skating experience and 11 years synchronized skating experience. Besides Starfire, she currently coaches private lessons, LTS, and power & edge classes. Yahaira got her start as a synchro skater on Starfire, and her daughter Ava currently skates on our Snowplow Sam team! Yahaira is also pursuing a degree in nursing. She is a member of the Professional Skaters Association & was named to the PSA Honor Roll of Coaches in 2017.
Kalysa Pampuch-Figure Skating Instructor
Kalysa has earned her USFS Gold Medal in Moves in the Field, passed her Novice Free Skate and has passed 2 Gold dances. She is currently working on earning her Gold Medal in free skating and ice dance. She is a 4 time Upper Great Lakes Regional Championship competitor. Kalysa currently ice skates on a synchronized ice skating team as a member of Team USA and previously earned a Gold Medal at the US Synchronized Skating National Championships at the Intermediate level. She has 10 years skating experience and 3 years experience as an ice skating instructor.
Brittney Alvarez - Figure Skating Instructor
Brittney has an extensive background in singles competitive figure skating. She competed in ISI Freestyle for over 12 years, including 5 World Team Championships, where she helped her team place in the top 5 skating clubs each time. She started choreographing her own programs at age 15 and continues to choreograph programs for her singles students and group numbers for Rocket’s Ice Shows. For the past few seasons, Brittney has been a power & edge instructor, an off ice trainer, and an assistant coach for the Starfire Synchronized Skating Teams. She is a member of the Professional Skaters Association and has been an instructor for Learn To Skate and individual singles skaters (freestyle and Moves in the Field) for 6 years. Brittney is married and has one child. She has completed her Certified Medical Assistant degree and is currently in nursing school.
Paige DeNormandie-Figure Skating Instructor
Paige has been skating for over 12 years, including experience in freestyle, ice dance, and synchronized skating. Paige has a gold medal in moves in the field and is currently on her gold dances and intermediate freestyle. She has been coaching group classes for three years and has two years experience teaching private lessons. Paige has experience choreographing competition and show routines. She is currently on a junior level synchronized skating team which is a part of Team USA for the 2022-2023 season. She has been on a Team USA level team for two years and has been a synchronized skater for 11 years. With her team, she has received two international bronze medals in Neuchatel, Switzerland and Nottingham, England.
