Our Coaches
Melissa Trujillo – Pre-Juvenile Co-Coach, Preliminary Co-Coach
Melissa is from Northbrook, IL and started skating when she was around 5 years old. As soon as she stepped on the ice, she knew that she wanted to become a part of the competitive atmosphere. She joined the Glenview Blades when she was 6 years old and was on the teams for 5 seasons. Going into 7th grade, she decided to join the Chicago Jazz and started competing with Team USA as well. As she graduated high school and went to school at Miami University, she wanted to continue skating and made the Senior Varsity Synchronized Skating team as a freshman.
In her skating career, she has been able to accomplish many things and compete under the American Flag with a National Title, competing with the Junior World team and received numerous international medals.
Carah Ingram – Technical Coach
Carah graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelors of Science in Education (2009) and a Masters of Education (2013).
Carah has a long history with the University of Illinois Synchronized Skating Program. She began in 2005 as a Freshman on the Collegiate team; as a Senior she helped lead the team to Silver at Nationals. While in college, Carah was a member of the Executive Board serving as team Treasurer for two seasons and as the fitness coordinator during her senior year.
In 2010, Carah rejoined IllinoiSkating to debut with the team in the Senior division. The team placed second at the Midwestern Skating Championships. In 2011, Carah helped establish the IllinoiSkating Alumni team and skated with the team for all three seasons. She also coached the Collegiate team from 2011 to 2014 alongside Audrey Kamm (Miami) and Shawna Ludy (Haydenettes). While in Champaign, Carah also coached the Ice Cubes Synchronized Skating Team from 2013–2015.
Nicole Maguire – Preliminary Co-Coach, Blades Coordinator
Nicole graduated from the University of Delaware in 2021 with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology. Nicole was a competitive team member and Public Relations Chair for the University’s Figure Skating Team from 2017-2021, earning 3 National Silver Medals as a Solo Ice Dance competitor.
Prior to college, Nicole skated on Starlights Synchronized Skating Teams throughout her skating career. She was the captain for the 2015-2017 seasons. She has over 7 years of experience as a PSA certified Figure Skating Coach working at Skokie Park District, Northbrook Park District, and the University of Delaware. She was the Skating Camp Director at the Skokie Skatium for the past three summers. She coaches skaters from beginners through Senior MIF and enjoys seeing skaters progress both on and off the ice!
Currently, Nicole is the Social Media Coordinator and a board member for the Skokie Valley Skating Club. When not on the ice, Nicole works as as a product design professional in Glenview.
Emily Styzinski – Pre-Juvenile Co-Coach, Preliminary Assitant Coach, Blades Coordinator
Emily began skating when she was 2 years old and joined the Chicago Jazz Synchronized Skating Organization when she was 5. She skated with them until she graduated from high school, earning two National Gold Medals, and competing on behalf of Team USA for 4 years.
After graduating high school, Emily continued her education at Miami University, where she skated 4 seasons on the Senior Varsity Synchronized Skating Team as a member of Team USA. She completed her competitive career at the 2022 World Championships earning a 6th place finish.
Emily graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Sports Leadership in Management and Marketing and currently works as a Marketing and Events Coordinator.
Maddie Lewis– Aspire 1 Co-Coach
Maddie is from Evanston, IL and began skating at 4 years old. She competed in singles until discovering synchronized skating when she was in middle school and fell in love with it. She skated with Teams Elite for two seasons, skating on their Intermediate and Novice teams. During her time with Teams Elite, she earned one Midwestern Sectional Title and Two National Pewter Medals.
She graduated from Evanston Township High School (2019) and continued her education at Northern Illinois University where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology (2023). The past few years, she has worked in various rinks throughout the chicagoland area, teaching learn to skate classes and private lessons and is eager to get her start with coaching synchronized skating.
Olivia Dussel – Aspire 1 & 3 Co-Coach, Pre-Juvenile Assistant Coach
Olivia began skating when she was 2 years old and joined the Chicago Jazz Synchronized Skating Organization when she was 6 years old. For the next 12 seasons, Olivia went on to earn numerous National and International titles. She represented Team USA for the last 3 years of her competitive skating career (2019).
Olivia graduated from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY (2023) and served in numerous leadership positions across campus. During her time at school, she skated on the university club skating team and served on the Executive Board as the Competition Chair, helping to coordinate collegiate competitions across the Midwest.
Olivia graduated with her Bachelor’s of Business Administration in both finance and marketing and currently works as a Financial Analyst.
Ambryn Meehan– Aspire 3 Co-Coach
Ambryn grew up skating starting at the age of 3 and fell in love with it. She joined the Chicago Jazz Synchronized team for 6 years. As a Juvenile skater with Chicago Jazz, Ambryn earned 2 national medals (Silver and Gold).
Ambryn has coached learn-to-skate classes for 4 years and is excited to help inspire a new generation of synchronized skaters.