Our people
Experience that guides.
A community that cares.
Behind every Hayden Synchro team are people who help athletes grow, keep the program moving and carry its purpose forward.
Our leadership story
Lynn Benson created the foundation. Saga Krantz carries the program forward. Their experience and dedication have shaped generations of Hayden Synchro athletes.
The foundation
Founder. Led the program, 1979–2005
Lynn founded Hayden Synchro in Lexington in 1979. Her vision helped build a community of athletes and brought synchronized skating to a wider stage.
Considered the "Mother of Synchronized Skating," Lynn was a former national singles figure skating competitor and Ice Capades performer. She founded Hayden Synchro in Lexington and led the Haydenettes to 15 U.S. titles between 1988 and 2005.
In 2014 she became the first synchronized skating coach ever inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame. No other synchro coach followed until 2022.
Lynn passed away on August 7, 2025, at the age of 76, leaving a program she built from nothing and a sport she helped bring to the world stage.
The next chapter
Director of Synchronized Skating, 2005–present
Saga joined Hayden Synchro in 2005. As Director of Synchronized Skating, she guides a program built around technical excellence, creative choreography and athlete development.
Before joining Hayden Synchro in 2005, Saga skated four seasons with the Rockettes in Helsinki, Finland, competing twice at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships and taking silver.
A 2023 inductee into the PSA Coaches Hall of Fame, Saga has led the Haydenettes to 6 World Bronze Medals, 2 World Silver Medals, and 18 U.S. National titles between 2007 and 2026 during her 21-year tenure. For her full coaching record, see U.S. Figure Skating.
Her choreography has also been nationally recognized: the 2024 Paul McGrath Award for Choreographer of the Year (joint PSA/U.S. Figure Skating EDI Award), and the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Choreographer of the Year, a Coach I.C.E. Award in Category 2, for the Haydenettes’ 2026 Free Skate Program.
Athlete development
From a skater’s first team experience to the international stage, Hayden Synchro’s coaches bring competitive experience, technical knowledge and a commitment to the people they train.
Choose a team to see its coaches. Team names link to the programs they coach.
9 coaches listed across the program.
2023 inductee, PSA Coaches Hall of Fame. Skated four seasons with the Rockettes in Helsinki, competing twice at the World Championships and taking silver. Coaching at Hayden Synchro since 2005 and head coach of the Haydenettes since 2007, leading them to 6 World bronze medals, 2 World silver medals and 18 U.S. national titles.
Six-time World Championships competitor in synchronized skating, 2011 to 2016, taking three World silver medals and the World title in 2015. Five-time national champion in singles: pre-novice men in 2006 and 2007, novice men in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Coaching at Hayden Synchro since the 2020–21 season, and known for choreography and a fine eye for technical elements.
Four consecutive U.S. national titles with the Haydenettes, 2014 to 2017, and a World bronze medal in 2016. Sixteen years in synchronized skating, five of them competing internationally. Gold tests in moves in the field and ice dance. Eleven years coaching, all of them at Hayden Synchro.
Six U.S. national medals and one World medal. Twenty-nine years in synchronized skating, six of them competing internationally. Gold tests in moves in the field and free skate. Eight years coaching, five of them at Hayden Synchro.
Five U.S. national gold medals: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023. Fourteen years in synchronized skating, nine of them with Hayden Synchro and eight competing internationally. Gold tests in moves in the field and ice dance. Fourth year coaching, all of it at Hayden Synchro.
Three U.S. national medals, in 2020, 2023 and 2024. Twelve years in synchronized skating, six of them with Hayden Synchro and five competing internationally. Gold test in moves in the field. Six years coaching, three of them at Hayden Synchro.
Four consecutive U.S. national titles with the Haydenettes, 2016 to 2019, and a World bronze medal in 2016. A junior national bronze with the Hockettes in 2015. Seventeen years in synchronized skating, four of them with Hayden Synchro and five competing internationally. Gold tests in skating skills, dance, international dance, solo free and senior supplemental. Twelve years coaching, eight of them at Hayden Synchro and four with the Cleveland Edges.
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Four consecutive U.S. national gold medals, 2017 to 2020. Fifteen years in synchronized skating, twelve of them with Hayden Synchro and eight competing internationally. Gold test in moves in the field. Sixth year coaching, all of it at Hayden Synchro.
Six consecutive U.S. national titles with the Haydenettes, 2015 to 2020, and a World bronze medal in 2016. Seventeen years in synchronized skating, eleven of them competing internationally. Gold tests in moves in the field, ice dance and solo dance. Ten years coaching, all of them at Hayden Synchro.
Coach names to be announced.
Coach photographs 2026-2027 by David Shilale Photography.
Volunteer leadership
Hayden Synchro’s volunteer Board of Directors guides the organization and helps sustain the community around our athletes.
Have a question, an idea or an interest in getting involved? Connect directly with a board member below.
President
Treasurer
Director of Giving
Director
Secretary
Director
Director
Director
Daily operations
Operations and finance support the work happening across Hayden Synchro’s teams, helping the organization run day to day.
Director of Operations
Director of Finance