The ice has been a second home for junior Alison Neumann for quite some time. Originally from Ham Lake, Minnesota, Neumann has been competitively ice skating for nearly 14 years. She competed in figure skating singles up until she started college at MSOE.

“When I stopped competing to pursue my degree, I found it hard to get back on the ice just for fun but when I was approached to join an adult level synchronized skating team, I saw an opportunity to get back on competitive ice and with it the motivation to get on the ice every week,” said Neumann.

At the start of fall semester 2024 she joined Wisconsin Edge, a local synchronized ice skating team based out of the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The organization has been around since 1985 and is part of the Wisconsin Figure Skating Club. This is the first year there has been an adult level synchronized skating team for Wisconsin Edge.

Neumann and her team of 13 members compete in competitions where they all take the ice at the same time and perform a routine simultaneously. This was her first time competing in synchro and she was up for the challenge along with two other teammates who were new to the synchro world. Their successful season gave them the opportunity to compete at the 2024 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“While we did not achieve the score we were hoping for, we were close to our personal best and we skated a fun and great performance that placed us seventh out of 12 teams. With our first team appearance at nationals, we hope to train hard for next year to make it to the podium!”

Her love for ice skating also helped her to co-found MSOE’s Ice Skating Club. Neumann serves as the current president and the club is open to skaters of all skill levels to improve their ice skating skills, engage in friendly competitions and be a fun outlet outside of their course work.

When she isn’t lacing up her skates, she is focused on her studies pursuing a degree in software engineering. Neumann likes the focus on developing programs and she can work on mobile and website applications with the skills she is developing here at MSOE. After graduation her dream is to one day work on video game development.

With the support of the MSOE Career Connections Center and the demand for students in the workforce post graduation, Neumann should have her pick of full-time job offers, but she has a fun alternative that would keep her connected to her passion if that isn’t the case immediately.

“If I do not have a full-time job offer right away, I hope to pursue a role as a performer in Disney on Ice to tour the world and continue sharing what I love to do with others.”