Professional Staff
Certified Professional Coaches
- Are at least 18 years old
- Are home club members of EIFSC (associate members are not eligible)
- Are registered and insured USFS coaches with background checks, have completed USFS Coach Core Certification, and may be a member of USFS Coach I.C.E.
- Have demonstrated record of students passing tests and/or have personal skating skills equivalent to at least USFS Bronze/Juvenile or Adult Gold level
- Actively coach at ImOn in Cedar Rapids and/or in the surrounding area
Suzanne Manninen
Freestyle, Skating Skills, Ice Dance, Recreational Figure Skating Background
Professional Skaters Association Ratings (PSA)
Coaching Experience After many years away from figure skating, Suzanne rediscovered her love for the sport in 2003 when her own children became involved in the Basic Skills program at ImOn Ice Arena. She started out teaching several classes per week and began coaching full time in 2004. Suzanne enjoys working with skaters of all ages and levels – from preschoolers to adults and from beginners to advanced skill levels. Suzanne has coached through the Gold/Senior Singles level and the Gold/Senior Skating Skills level. She also has experience with coaching Preliminary through Pre-Silver Ice Dance. Suzanne currently coaches recreational, test, and competitive skaters. Her competitive students compete at many competitions year round. In addition to coaching, Suzanne owns and operates Five Seasons Figure Skating through which she sells skates and skating accessories. She also sharpens and services all types of skates. Suzanne has a B.S.B. in Accounting and Finance from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She team coaches with her daughter, Lainey Manninen. She can be contacted at: suzanne.manninen@gmail.com. |
Tanya Street
Double Gold Medalist in Freestyle and MIF Pre-Gold Solo and Partnered Ice Dance Freestyle, Figure & Hockey Skating Skills, Ice Dance Competitive Experience
● 1991 Nationals (Novice) 1st ● 1991 Blue Swords (Karl-Marx-Stadt, East Germany) 4th for ● 1992 & 1993 Nationals (Junior) 4th and 6th ● 1994 Nationals (Senior) withdrew ● 1995 Nationals (Senior) 10th ● 1990, 1992, 1993 and 1994 Sectional Champion (Intermediate-Senior) ● 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993 and 1994 Regional Champion (Intermediate-Senior) ● 1994 Nations Cup (Senior) 7th for USA ● 1993 - 1996 United States International team competitor Professional Skaters Association Ratings (PSA) ● Certified rating in Program Instruction ● Senior rating in Freestyle United States Figure Skating Accomplishments ● Gold Freestyle ● Gold MITF ● Pre-Gold Ice Dance in both Solo and Partnered Dance ● 4th Figure Test ● Served on the Rules Committee, Coaches Committee and Singles & Pairs Committee with U.S. Figure Skating Head Coach for 6 National competitors and Assistant Coach for 2 National competitors. Current US Figure Skating Regional Technical Specialist and Certified Data Operator in singles, pairs, dance and synchro. Tanya's Story Starting in Huntsville, Alabama at the age of 4, Tanya began her journey as a competitive figure skater. Around the age of 6, her Huntsville coach joined an ice show leaving the area with no coaches. So her family moved north to Illinois to pursue competitive coaching. During Tanya's competition career, she competed against Michelle Kwan, Nancy Kerrigan, Tonya Harding, and Nicole Bobek. Although known for training in the Chicago area as the women’s highest ranked competitor during that time, she also trained in Lake Arrowhead, California alongside many fellow International, World & Olympic team competitors. She trained in Chicago with Debbie Stoery (coached Nicole Bobek and Evan Lysacek) and in California, Carlo Fassi (coach for Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Paul Wylie, John Curry, and Robin Cousins). Coached multiple National and International competitors including Timothy Leduc (who later became US National Champion in pairs as well as becoming the first Cedar Rapids native competitor in Figure Skating to compete at the Olympics), Joonsoo Kim (2019 US Junior bronze medalist, US International team competitor and 2024 US Collegiate Champion), Lauren Gifford, Carson Bodnarek, Mark Krutzfield, Anya Cockrell and Disney on Ice performer Echo Cassill. Tanya team coaches with Amy Blades. Tanya.N.Street@gmail.com 319-329-9652 |
Amy Blades
Quadruple Gold Medalist in Figures, Freestyle, Pairs & Dance Freestyle, Skating Skills, Choreography *Not Taking New Students* Competitive Experience
Amy Brown Blades is a USFS Quadruple Gold medalist in Figures, Freestyle, Pairs and Dance. She is a Canadian Figure Skating Association Double Gold medalist in Figures and Freestyle. She was South Atlantic Senior Ladies Regional Champion 1978 and 1979, Sectional and National Pairs competitor 1973-75, World Professional Bronze Medalist in Jaca Spain (1980), US Professional Champion (1981), and Australian Professional Champion 1982-86. Coaching Experience She has coached skaters at Regional, Sectional, National, Jr. Worlds, and Worlds. She has directed, choreographed and skated in over 20 ice shows in the US, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong. She has been teaching and skating professionally for 34 years. With an extensive background in music, theater and dance, Amy enjoys specializing in choreography. She has been team teaching with Tanya Street for 23 years. She enjoys teaching all levels of skating from beginner to elite. |
Taylor LaBelle Weber
Triple Gold Medalist in MIF, Adult Freestyle & Adult Solo Free Dance Freestyle, Skating Skills, Ice Dance Competitive Experience
Taylor began skating when she was seven years old in the Chicago area. She grew up competing on behalf of the Wagon Wheel Figure Skating Club and Rockford Figure Skating Club. She has 10 years of experience competing in Midwestern competitions and 12 years of performance experience skating in ice shows. In 2012, Taylor was invited to perform in a personal audition with Disney on Ice, the Dare to Dream show. She has experience working with former multiple Olympian coaches and is a USFS Triple Gold Medalist in Moves in the Field, Adult Freestyle (with honors), and Adult Senior Solo Free Dance. She has also skated through Silver Patterned Ice Dance. Coaching Experience Coached beginner through Senior/Gold Moves in the Field Coached beginner through Novice/Silver Freestyle Coached beginner through Bronze Partnered Ice Dance Experience choreographing competitive and performance programs Over 15 years of coaching experience (groups and individuals) Taylor can be contacted at taylor.labelle@gmail.com or 815-245-2434 |
Lainey Manninen
Triple Gold Medalist in MIF, Freestyle & Solo Pattern Dance Freestyle, Skating Skills, Choreography, Ice Dance Lainey has over fifteen years of experience as an instructor. She participated in competitions all over the Upper Great Lakes region for sixteen years and is a USFS triple gold medalist in Moves in the Field, Free Skating, and Solo Pattern Dance.
She is a professional show skater and has skated for Rosstyn Ice Shows, Holiday on Ice in Europe and the Middle East, All Wheel Sports, Le Cirque Frances in Brazil, and Prodartes in Peru. She graduated from Mount Mercy University and received her BS in Biology in 2018. Coaching She teaches private lessons to skaters of all levels and specializes in choreography and ice dance. She teaches skaters with her mother, Suzanne Manninen. Lainey can be contacted at ecmanninen@gmail.com. United States Figure Skating Accomplishments
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Laurel Gammon
Gold Medalist in MIF, Silver Solo Pattern Dance Freestyle, Skating Skills, Ice Dance Competitive Experience
Laurel has over 10 years of competitive skating experience in the Midwest region. She is a USFS gold medalist in Moves in the Field (skating skills) & a silver medalist in Solo Patterned Ice Dance. Coaching Experience Laurel has coaching experience across a diverse range of skaters, including those with special needs. While Laurel enjoys coaching skaters from various disciplines, she particularly enjoys coaching ice dance and beginner-level skaters. She team coaches with Katelynn DeGroot. Laurel can be contacted at laurelgammon@gmail.com or 319.899.3828 |
Katelynn DeGroot
Gold Medalist in MIF Freestyle & Skating Skills *Currently Accepting Virtual Students Only* Competitive Experience:
Katelynn began skating when she was 3 years old in Minnesota. She has 10 years of experience competing and still occasionally competes at the Adult Masters level.
Katelynn has 11 years of coaching experience (both groups and individuals) and has coached the following levels:
Katelynn enjoys team coaching and consulting with Laurel Gammon and Isaac DeGroot. Katelynn is currently only available for virtual lessons/ consultations. Contact Info: Email: kedegroot@aol.com Phone: 319.333.8487 |
Junior Coaches
- Are at least 16 years old
- Are registered Learn to Skate instructors with USFS and have obtained liability insurance
- Are SkateSafe compliant if over 18 years of age
- May have completed USFS Coach Core Certification and/or joined USFS Coach I.C.E. but not required
- Are home club members of EIFSC (associate members are not eligible)
- Have passed at least USFS Preliminary or Adult Bronze Skating Skills and Singles Skating tests
Isaac DeGroot
Gold Medalist in MIF Freestyle, Figure & Hockey Skating Skills Competitive Experience
Isaac has over 12 years of competitive experience. He was the 2020 Pre Preliminary Boys UGL Regional Champion, 2022 Intermediate Mens State Games of America Champion, and 2023 Midwest Sectional Competitor. He is a USFS Gold Medalist in Moves in the Field (skating skills) and Silver Medalist in Singles Freeskate. Coaching Experience Isaac has over three years of coaching experience:
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