Emma Kate Wichman, twelve, excitedly captured the title of Junior Miss Iowa in June.  She competed against other girls, ages 10-12, from across the State, and won after participating in the following: a six-minute interview, casual wear, party dress, talent, and on-stage question. Her title, Jr. Miss Iowa, is part of the Miss America Scholarship program.

Carly Bender, SMU Feature Twirler, twirled at the last SMU men's home basketball game against Marshall this past Saturday, March 6th. Carly is a sophomore at SMU pursuing a double major in business accounting and mathematics with engineering applications.

When then 5-year-old Grace Wood, left AYOP 2008 as the 0-6 National Show Twirl Champion and Advanced 0-6 2-Baton Co-Champion, she told her mom, “Next year, I want to be Little Miss Majorette of America!” So began a year of hard work and dedication for a young twirler.  Little did her mom and coaches, Dawn Reed and Diana Reed, know that Grace would really accomplish that lofty goal!  AYOP is Grace’s favorite week of the year.  She loves the atmosphere at AYOP where everyone else is as passionate about twirling as she is.  AYOP 2009 was no exception. 

Erin Ketterman is in her third year as Feature Twirler for the Lionhearts Marching Band at Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, Arizona. This season's theme is America the Beautiful, a tribute to our armed forces. The band received an "excellent" rating at state championship. Erin is USTA's national champion in Beg. Solo and Beg. 2 Baton in her age division. Erin is hoping to continue to twirl for a marching band in college.

Members of Applause of Bel Air Baton Twirling Corps, a program of Bel Air Parks and Rec, competed in July at AYOP (America’s Youth on Parade) Baton Twirling National Competition in South Bend, Indiana. The Junior Small Beginner Dance Twirl team won first place to become the 2009 National Champions in their division.

All three Iowa Collegiate twirlers participated in the Iowa State Fair Parade in DesMoines, Iowa on August 13th 2009. From left to right, Katy Paulsen of University of Northern Iowa, Chelsea Russell of University of Iowa and Emily Bright of Iowa State. The crowd loved seeing all three twirlers perform throughout the 3 mile parade.

MerrieBeth Cox did not put away her batons after winning the bronze medal in Belgium for her solo. Instead she continued her 5:30am practices with hopes of performing well at AYOP in July.

Corpus Christi, TX – Middle Tennessee State University successfully defended its title as Collegiate Team Champion at the Fifth U.S. Intercollegiate and National High School Baton Twirling Championships on Sat., Feb. 28, at Texas A & M University – Corpus Christi. The exciting day of competition featured twirlers from high schools, colleges and universities from California to Florida

Jonathan Burkin, national twirling champion, is scheduled to appear on "America's Got Talent" tonight (Tuesday, Sept. 2).  The show airs at 8:00 p.m. on NBC.

AMES, Iowa - While many Iowa State student-athletes are in the midst of their summer training regimens, sophomore Emily Bright is hard at work competing.

Two weeks ago (week of July 21st, 2008), the Norwalk, Iowa native participated in a multitude of events at the 2008 Baton Nationals held at Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Bright garnered top-10 finishes in almost every event in which she competed, capturing first place in Collegiate Field Performance.