Twirling Zone News

 5-year-old twirler, Michaela Rader, was featured at the Iowa Summer Games in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa Games is an Olympic-style competition of multiple sports held for Iowa's amateur athletes. The State Games are recognized as a member of the United States Olympic Committee and a project of the Iowa Sports Foundation.

The Iowa Games are held annually for both winter and summer sports. While baton twirling was not offered as a competitive sport at this years summer games, Michaela was invited to perform her solo routine at the Jack Trice Stadium for the Opening Ceremony for a crowd of 5000.

Michaela wowed the crowd with her solo show routine using batons, hoop and streamers performing to "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy". Michaela has been twirling for two years under the direction of Iowa State University feature twirler Allison Arnold. The Iowa Games website has also featured MichaelaΓÇÖs picture on their home page.

When TwirlZone asked Kevin Bourke, Director of Sports and Operations for the Iowa Games, what it would take to introduce baton twirling as an organized sport in the Iowa Summer Games, he replied that anyone interested in adding new sports would need contact him for an application. Bourke states, ΓÇ£Many factors are looked at before a new sport is added. Decisions are made by January.ΓÇ¥ For more information on the Iowa Games you can visit www.iowagames.org.

On August 14th, Michaela will be competing at the the Bill Riley Talent Search, held annually at the Iowa State Fair. TwirlZone would like to wish Michaela ΓÇ£good luckΓÇ¥ on her upcoming performance!

Author & Editor: Michelle Weiss
Information and photos provided by: Malisa Rader