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Alana Christie
Director of Synchronized Skating • Head Coach of Junior & Collegiate, Co-Head Coach of Novice, Assistant Coach of Juvenile A Minneapolis native, Alana Christie started competing as an individual skater at a young age. She is a double gold medalist in freestyle and moves in the field. After a dozen plus years as an accomplished freestyle skater, Alana skated two seasons for Team Braemar Junior where the team was the 2011 World Junior Bronze Medalists and the 2012 U.S. Synchronized Skating National Junior Champions. Alana was a member of Miami University Senior Varsity Synchronized Skating team for four seasons, from 2013-2016, where they represented Team USA, claiming medals in international competitions across Europe. She was part of three U.S. Senior World Teams, competing at the World Championships against the best synchronized skating teams in the World. She also served as a co-captain of Miami Senior during the 2015-2016 season. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Miami University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health with a concentration in Sports Leadership and Management. Alana truly has great love and passion for the sport of synchronized skating and is committed to building a world class organization and to giving competitive Twin Cities skaters an opportunity to be a part of this incredible sport. |
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Hailey Voss
Co-Head Coach of Novice, Assistant Coach of Junior + Collegiate Hailey Voss has been skating for over 24 years and has over 20 years of synchronized skating experience. Hailey skated for the Chicago Jazz where she was a member of their Juvenile, Novice and Junior teams. During her time on the Chicago Jazz, she represented the United States as a member of Team USA internationally five times, competing in France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Switzerland. Hailey then skated at Miami University, where she was a member of both the Junior and Collegiate teams. Hailey skated for both teams as a Freshman, where the Miami University Junior Varsity team represented Team USA in Sweden. She skated on the Collegiate team her remaining three years, winning two US Synchronized Skating Collegiate National Championship gold medals (adding to the teams 17 total National Championship wins). Hailey graduated from Miami University in May of 2017 with majoring in Strategic Communication. Hailey holds four National Championship gold medals in addition to her five National medals, as well as an international gold medal. Hailey has loved all aspects of synchronized skating since she started it at 8 years old and now loves continuing that passion through coaching and helping to develop competitive synchronized skaters. |
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Jillian Christie
Assistant Coach of Novice, Junior and Collegiate Born and raised in Minneapolis, Jillian has had a love and passion for the ice since she was three years old. A highly accomplished freestyle skater, Jillian competed as an individual for over 16 years. She was a two-time Minnesota State Champion, a three-time Minnesota State Medalist, a three-time Upper Great Lakes Regional Medalist, and a twelve time USFS National Showcase Medalist. She is a triple Gold Medalist in Moves in the Field, Freestyle, and Solo Dance. Jillian was a member of Team Braemar Junior for four seasons, winning two U.S. National Championships and three Midwestern Sectional Championships. They also represented Team USA in four international competitions, including the the 2012 World Junior Championships, where they skated to a fourth place finish. Jillian was also a four year member of the Miami University Senior Varsity Synchronized Skating team. During her time on the team, they represented Team USA at nine international competitions, earning medals at events across Europe. In addition, she was a member of the 2016 World Team, representing Team USA at the Senior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Jillian graduated Magna Cum Laude from Miami University in May, 2019, with a double major in Media & Culture and Interactive Media Studies. She also works as an onboarding manager for Sportsdigita in Minneapolis. |
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Katie Bjorlin
Director of Developmental Synchro, Co-Head Coach of Juvenile, Head Coach of Preliminary Katie grew up in Chanhassen, MN and skated at the Lake Minnetonka Figure Skating Club, where she was a member of the Windjammers synchronized skating teams for 8 years. As a Windjammer, she was a national competitor at the Juvenile and Novice levels. She then attended Wheaton College (IL) where she graduated with a BA in Psychology in 2016. Right after college, she skated on the Chicago Radiance Adult team, competing at Nationals in 2017. Katie is a USFS triple gold medalist in Moves in the Field, Solo Free Dance, and Solo Pattern Dance, and a Silver medalist in Freestyle. Katie is so excited to be able to share her love of synchro with the our teams! When not at the rink, Katie spends her days as a nanny and runs her own closet organization & online reselling business. |
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Eri Lee
Co-Head Coach of Juvenile, Assistant Coach of Novice Originally from the Chicagoland area, Eri was a synchronized skater with the Chicago Jazz Skating Teams, before moving to Boston, MA and finishing her competitive career with three seasons with the Haydenettes. She is looking forward to rejoining the synchro community as a coach and is excited to nurture the next generation of young athletes with the Northernettes. She is currently serving as the co-head coach of Juvenile, and as an assistant coach for Novice. Outside of the Northernettes, Eri will be joining the University of Minnesota’s School of Kinesiology as a graduate student and DOVE fellow. Her research investigates the experiences of Asian American athletes in mainstream institutions of sport, utilizing frameworks and methodologies from sociology and ethnic studies. Ultimately, she is motivated to reimagine a model of sport that promotes health, equity, and joy. |
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Tori Bennett
Assistant Coach of Collegiate Tori’s passion for skating began at age 4 in Cleveland, Ohio. She started in synchronized skating with the Mentor Ice Diamonds at ages 5 and 6, competing on Preliminary and Pre-Juvenile teams. Later, she focused on freestyle, qualifying five times for the Midwestern Sectional Championships across Intermediate, Novice, and Junior levels. Tori is a four-time Gold Medalist in Moves in the Field, Partnered Ice Dance, Freestyle, and Solo Free Dance. Reconnecting with synchro in high school, Tori joined the Mentor Ice Diamonds again before attending Miami University. Her freshman year, she was a member of the Miami University Collegiate team and won a US Synchronized Skating Collegiate National Championship gold medal. Her remaining years at Miami, she was a member of the Senior team, competing internationally in Sweden and France as a member of Team USA. Her senior year, the team skated to a silver medal at the National Championships, earning them a spot on the 2022 World Team where they competed in Hamilton, Ontario. Tori graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Sports Leadership and Management and a Minor in Coaching. Currently, Tori works in digital marketing and coaches private skating lessons in her free time. She also served as assistant coach for the Northernettes Pre-Juvenile and Preliminary teams (2022-23) and as co-head coach of the Juvenile team and assistant coach of the Novice team (2023-24), and is excited to be working with the Collegiate Team this season! |
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Makenna Leik
Assistant Coach of Novice + Junior Makenna (Northernette #7) is a passionate and accomplished figure skater originally from Blaine, Minnesota. She grew up competing in singles, dance, and solo dance before beginning her synchronized skating journey with the Northernettes in 2017. She skated two seasons with the program before moving on to skate with Miami University’s Senior Varsity Synchronized Skating Team. While at Miami, Makenna competed at the highest level of the sport, representing the U.S. at two ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships (2022, 2023). She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Leadership and Management with minors in Marketing and General Business. Following her collegiate career, Makenna spent the 2024–2025 season training with Les Suprêmes Senior in Montreal, Canada. Makenna is thrilled to return to Northernettes as an assistant coach for the Junior and Novice teams! |
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Clara Pederson
Co-Head Coach of Aspire + Open-Juvenile, Assistant Coach of Preliminary Clara (Northernette #56) grew up in Shakopee, MN, and started skating at a young age. She is a double gold medalist in both freestyle and moves in the field, and spent years competing as a individual skater. She began her synchro journey during the 22-23 season with Northernettes Junior, where she represented Team USA in Gdansk, Poland. During the 23-24 season, she became a National Bronze Medalist as part of Northernettes Collegiate, and during the 24-25 season, she become a National Silver Medalist with the Northernettes Collegiate Team. She is currently a student at the University of MN, majoring in health science. She continues to compete as part of Northernettes Collegiate, and loves sharing her love of skating with the next generation of athletes. |
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Kella Mrozek
Co-Head Coach of Aspire + Open-Juvenile, Assistant Coach of Preliminary Kella Mrozek (Northernette #47) grew up in Sauk Rapids, MN and skated with the St. Cloud Figure Skating Club. She joined the Northernettes in 2020, skating on the Novice team and later competing for Northernettes Junior and as part of Team USA in Gdańsk, Poland during the 2022-2023 season. During the 23-24 season, she became a National Bronze Medalist as part of Northernettes Collegiate, and during the 24-25 season, she become a National Silver Medalist with the Northernettes Collegiate Team. She is currently a student at the University of Minnesota, majoring in Human Physiology. Along with coaching, she has continued her passion of skating by competing for the Northernettes Collegiate team. Aside from Northernettes, Kella loves to travel as well as spend quality time with her friends and family. She is excited to be a part of the Northernettes coaching staff and loves sharing her passion for skating with others! |
