MEET OUR COACHES
All of MESA’s coaches are members of the Professional Skating Association.
KEAUNA MCLAUGHLIN
FOUNDER & HEAD COACH
Keauna McLaughlin is a three-time U.S. National Champion. She is also a Four Continents silver medalist, a World Junior Champion, and a proud member of Team USA. In addition, she appeared on the show Skating with the Stars! Keauna has a true passion for coaching young skaters and believes in building confidence and character in her skaters both on and off the ice in a way that translates to all facets of life. Keauna also specializes in program choreography and competition packaging.
ELENA
TAYLOR
TECHNICAL ELEMENT SPECIALIST
Elena Taylor is a former U.S. Figure Skating international competitor and medalist for Team USA. She performed for three years on Royal Caribbean Cruise ships and has been a head coach at IFK Helsingborg Skating Club in Sweden prior to joining the coaching team at MESA.
KAREN CHRISTENSEN
MOVES & EDGE SPECIALIST
Karen Christensen has over 25 years of coaching experience. She is a moves in the field and edge specialist, having coached skaters from Pre-Preliminary Moves-in-the-Field and Freestyle through Senior Moves-in-the-Field and Freestyle tests. She holds ratings in moves, Freestyle, and Group. In addition, Karen has toured throughout the United States and Canada with the Ice Capades.
VITALIY NIKIFOROV
ICE DANCE & SKATING SKILLS SPECIALIST
Vitaliy Nikiforov is a former member of the Ukrainian National Figure Skating Team competing internationally in ice dance. He competed for 16 years before taking his skating professional as a principal skater with Disney on Ice for 5 years performing in pairs and ice dance. After touring, he returned to Ukraine to coach for the National Team of Ukraine, specializing in skating skills and ice dance. Now he brings his expertise to MESA to help our skaters achieve power in their skating, quality in their edge work, and confidence on the ice!
ANTONELLA ROSS
MOVEMENT & EXPRESSION SPECIALIST
Antonella Ross is a professional figure skater, ballerina, and yoga instructor and brings this unique combination of expertises to the ice in her coaching. As a coach, she seeks to enhance the artistry of skating through presentation, spins, and creative transitions. She was a principal skater with Disney on Ice for many years, touring the country and the world representing Princess Jasmine…and her Aladdin? None other than our own Coach Vitaliy (who is also her husband!).
RHEA
NELSON
DIRECTOR OF CORE PROGRAM
Rhea Nelson was a former competitor in his youth and after a hiatus from skating, returned to coach now with over five years of experience specializing in Learn to Skate, Excel and well-balanced Singles. He is the Director of the CORE program at MESA (Curriculum of Required Elements) and technical rules/components consultant for all levels. He offers lessons across disciplines as well as specializes in both on- and off-harness work.
HANNAH BENET
STRENGTH & FLEXIBILITY SPECIALIST
Hannah Benet began skating at the age of two and went on to compete at the junior national level in both singles and pairs. She’s an alumni of the UC Berkeley Cal Figure Skating Team and competed at the intercollegiate level. She’s a seasoned coach with three years of competitive gymnastics under her belt, and nearly a decade of coaching both recreational and competitive gymnastics where she specialized in recruitment and curriculum development for gymnasts slated for competitive team tracks. As someone who loves coaching, she’s a firm believer that the strength, confidence, and work ethic that her students develop as young athletes will translate into tools they can utilize on any path they choose.
SYDNEY
PAULING
CORE SKILLS
Sydney Pauling is a USFS Gold Medalist in Skating Skills and a certified Learn to Skate coach. Growing up, she skated competitively with her synchronized skating team, the Fond du Lac Blades, and earned three national medals at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships. As an adult, she continues to skate competitively as a singles skater and loves to teach new skaters of all ages to promote a sense of accomplishment and belonging for everyone in the figure skating community.
SARAH
LEE
SPINS & TRANSITIONS SPECIALIST
Sarah Lee has competed for many years especially with the Stars of Austin Synchronized Skating Team. She specializes in choreographing group numbers as well as coaching classes in power, spins and show tricks.
MATTHEW CANGELOSE
COMPONENT SPECIALIST/JUMP & SPIN TECHNICIAN
Matthew Cangelose began figure skating in 2005, and has many years of competitive and coaching experience. He is a two-time Sectional competitor, senior moves in the field distinction, and has passed skaters up to the Novice level in free skate and moves in the field. Currently, he is a professional figure skater with Disney On Ice and has toured nationally and internationally performing with many skaters and choreographers from around the world.
ANNE MARIE CHIEN
CORE SKILLS
Anne Marie Chien is a USFS Gold Medalist in Skating Skills, a three-time National Showcase medalist and a certified Learn to Skate coach. She specializes in introducing young beginners to the sport and cultivating their love of figure skating.