She was born in Imperial, Missouri, and she graduated from Windsor Senior High in 1993, becoming a Hall of Fame inductee in 2006.

Two years later she won the bronze medal with the American team in the 3000 metre relay event.

Ziegelmeyer planned to compete for the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan, but suffered a severe break to her back when she fell to the ice and skidded into the boards at 35 mph[2] during a training session in Lake Placid, New York, in 1997.

She attempted a comeback for the 2002 Winter Olympics Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, in July 2000, but retired again on the day before she was to report to training camp.

She ran her painting business for nine years and now owns Casa Di Vino wine bar in Imperial.