Joanne Kutzler has been the Head Coach of the Synchronettes since 1999. Joanne also coaches the Varsity Synchro Team at Carleton College. For the last two years Carleton placed 3rd overall among the other Division III colleges and 15th among all universities and colleges at the U.S. Collegiate Championships. Last year Carleton placed second overall at the Collegiate Regional Championships in Ohio.

Previously Joanne served as University of Minnesota Synchro Club Head Coach, a St. Louis Park High School Varsity team coach, and the Bloomington High School Varsity Head Coach where the team tied for 1st overall at the Minnesota State Championships. Joanne continues her professional development by attending numerous training programs including the Santa Clara Aquamaids Coaches College in 2002, 2003, and 2004.

Joanne is a former bronze medallist at U.S. Junior Nationals, two time bronze medallist at U.S. Senior Nationals, and a former team member of the Santa Clara Aquamaids, a top national synchronized swimming club that produces swimmers for U.S. National and Olympic teams. Before moving to California to compete with Santa Clara Aquamaids, Joanne was a nine time gold medallist at the Minnesota State Championships in high school and college. More recently she has medalled 15 times as a U.S. National Masters Champion (1996-2003).

Honors and Recognition: In 2005 Joanne will receive the Development Coach of the Year Award from the USSS National Governing Board. She is a pending USSS National level figure judge and is currently a Regional and Zone ranked judge. She is the USSS Minnesota Association Officials Chair, a position responsible for determining panels of judges at the Association level meets as well as the training, testing, and evaluating of USSS judges in Minnesota. She has been nominated to the St. Louis Park Athletic Hall of Fame and will be admitted to the new USSS Minnesota Association Hall of Fame.

Joanne holds a JD degree from Southwestern University and a Doctorate of Public Administration (abd) from the University of Southern California.

Joanne works with the Blue, Red, and Yellow groups, and she leads the following five part-time coaches, who are also committed to excellence.

Lisa Ahmann works with the 12-13 Green group and the yellow group. Lisa competed on a high school synchronized team and currently swims with the Minnesota Northern Pikes, a masters' synchronized swimming team that competes in the US National Masters Championships. She is a 4-time medalist at the U.S. National Masters Championships (2002, 2003). She is a pending USSS 2F judge, a rating that qualifies her to judge figures at the Minnesota Association level. She joined the coaching staff in 2003. Lisa attended the Santa Clara Aquamaids Coaches College in 2004. Her daughter is a Synchronette. Additional information about Lisa will be added later.

Bonnie Buxton works with the Red, Green and Yellow groups. Bonnie competed and medaled at the high school and collegiate level and now competes with the Minnesota Northern Pikes. She is a 24-time medallist at the U.S. National Masters Championships (1995-2004). She is a pending USSS 2F judge, a rating that qualifies her to judge figures at the Minnesota Association level. She attended the Santa Clara Aquamaids Coaches College in 2003 and 2004. She joined the Synchronettes coaching staff in 2000. Bonnie has a BA in Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Currently she is medical technician and dog groomer.

Jill Hansen works with the Yellow group the 12-13 Green group. Jill competed at the collegiate level, coached the Osseo Varsity High School team, the Minnesota Aquafins, Stillwater Synchro, and now competes with the Minnesota Northern Pikes at the U.S. National Masters Championships. She joined the Synchronettes coaching staff in 2004. Additional information about Jill will be added later.

Claudia Parliament works with the Red and Yellow groups. Claudia competed at the high school and collegiate level and now competes with the Minnesota Northern Pikes. She was a three time gold medallist at the State Championships and a 24 time medallist at U.S. National Master Championships (1995-2004). Claudia is a USSS 3A judge that allows her to judge figures and routines at the Minnesota Association level, and she is a pending 4R judge, a rating that will qualify her to judge figures and routines at the regional level. She attended the Santa Clara Aquamaids Coaches College in 2003 and 2004. She joined the Synchronettes coaching staff in 2001. Claudia holds a Ph.D. in Agriculture and Resource Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a Professor, Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota.

Sara Tilman works with the 11 and Under Green group. Sara competed at the high school and the collegiate level with Carleton College. She was a silver medallist at the Minnesota High School Championships and a silver medallist at the U.S. Collegiate Regional Championships. Sara is a pending USSS 2F judge, a rating that qualifies her to judge figures at the Minnesota Association level. Previously she coached a synchronized team in Northfield, MN. She joined the Synchronettes coaching staff in 2004. She holds a BA in Biology from Carleton College and currently is an Americorps volunteer teacher in the Minneapolis Public School District. Additional information about Sarah will be added later.