17-Year-Old Ice Skater to Represent the U.S. in Italy

In a couple weeks, Whitefish Bay figure skater Anne Marie Misey will take to the ice in Italy wearing red, white and blue as part of an international synchronized skating competition.

Misey, 17, is part of the Starlights synchronized ice skating senior team, which was selected to represent the U.S. at Milan’s Spring Cup. Beginning Feb. 17, the team will be competing against other teams from around the planet.  

Misey is a member of the Wisconsin Figure Skating Club and trains regularly at the Pettit Center. She travels to the Chicago area several times per week to be part of the Starlights team, which is the closest program with a Senior (or championship) competition level. Misey has been skating since she was 3 years old, and trains in individual free style, moves, and ice dancing. Now at age 17, she balances high school, advanced placement classes, Student Council and skating at an international level all at once.  

“I am so excited to skate in Italy and to see the teams from other countries,” Misey said. “My teammates are friends for life; we love the sport and work very hard together. We know a small mistake can result in injuring a teammate, so we all train a lot - on and off the ice.” 

The fastest-growing discipline of skating, synchronized ice skating is a technical form of figure skating that brings together teams of eight to 20 skaters who perform a routine together. While it is not yet an Olympic sport, competitions are held at the world level, and the U.S. team has placed in the top three of the world in the last three out of five years.

Every year, the U.S. Figure Skating Association selects the best teams to represent the U.S. at international competitions, and this year, the Starlights were chosen.

Anne Marie's coach Mary Duecker, who has been mentoring her individually for years, said Anne Marie works hard to reach her goals, and she is excited to see her travel to Italy with her synchronized skating team.

"Once she sets her eyes on a goal, she is very dedicated to taking the steps to make it happen," she said. "She's always looking for the next thing she could do to keep improving herself."