The Northwestern Figure Skating Club (NUFSC) was founded in the 2004 with the creation of the Purple Line Synchronized Skating Team. From the very beginning, the team gave Northwestern students the opportunity to continue skating while building a supportive community and proudly representing the University. 

The team was founded by skaters Brittany Bettendorf, Lindsay Dean, Corey Merrill, and Courtney Wallace. The program officially began during the 2004–2005 season under the leadership of Carrie Rennemann. For their first program, the team skated to selections from The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. Due to the number of Collegiate teams in the Midwestern region, the Purple Line received a bye and went on to compete at the 2005 U.S. Synchronized Team Skating Championships in Lowell, MA, placing 7th in Qualifying Round Group B. 

The following season, Jennifer Caron (2005–2006) stepped in as head coach, further developing the team’s presence in collegiate synchronized skating.

In the 2006–2007 season, Kathy Janik took over as head coach, bringing new energy and vision to the program. Under her leadership, Purple Line made a pivotal move to the new Open Collegiate division. This season turned out to be a historic one for the team: The Purple Line captured its first-ever medals in program history, beginning with a first-place finish at the Mid-Americas competition. Building on that momentum, the team went on to capture the title of Midwestern Sectional Champions. 

For the 2010–2011 season, the team moved up to the Collegiate level, competing under the IJS scoring system for the first time. Kathy Janik continued to lead the Purple Line through the 2014–2015 season, providing consistency and growth during a formative period in the club’s history. Under her leadership, the team earned four more sectional medals at the Open Collegiate Level, placing 3rd in 2008, 4th in 2009, 2nd in 2010, and 4th in 2014. 

From 2015 through 2022, David McGrouther served as head coach, a period during which the team continued growing and competing at the Open Collegiate level.

Most recently in 2023, Alyssa Schmuecker, a former member of the Miami University Collegiate Synchronized Skating Team, became head coach. From the start, Alyssa brought fresh energy, strong technical knowledge, and a deep understanding of the collegiate skating experience. She has created an environment where skaters feel both supported and challenged, helping the Purple Line continue to grow as a team on and off the ice. Under her leadership, the Purple Line returned to the Sectional podium, finishing 4th at the 2025 Midwestern Sectional Championships, the program’s first Sectional medal in 11 years. The team ended their historic season by winning gold at Tri-State Synchro. 

During the 2024-2025 Season, NUFSC expanded beyond synchro to launch an Intercollegiate Freestyle Team. This new program allows Northwestern skaters to compete individually, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the club and creating opportunities for skaters to shine in both synchronized and freestyle disciplines. The team placed 10th at their first and only competition of the season earning 104 points, placing them 14th overall in the Midwestern Section.