As winter replaces autumn many aspects of our lives change. We get out the heavy coats and put on our snow boots. For the Twirling Club, this past year has also been filled with change.   

In 2017, following the end of the football season, their past sponsor had to pass on the baton, due to other obligations, to Jami Baustert.

“At first I was just [their] choreographer, but after a month or so, the girls and their parents asked if I would consider becoming their sponsor,” Baustert said. “I typically work with individuals so this was something new for me, creatively, which has been a lot of fun to explore.”

But a new sponsor is not the change that the Twirling club has experienced. As part of her coaching, Baustert wants to get the twirlers to become more involved in the activities of the school and the community.

“Unless you’re at pregame for football games or at one or two basketball games, you don’t really know about us,” sophomore twirler Jessi Mumm said. “We work hard for our routines so we want to get them out there more [by doing more performances].”

But there is more than one reason that Baustert puts community service as a top priority for the Twirling Club.

“Giving back and sharing what we do is very important to all the girls, and I think a great life lesson for the future,” Baustert said.

One tradition that will be upheld again this year is the Twirling Club visiting and performing for kids at the Children’s hospital.

“When we perform at the Children’s Hospital, they record our performance so that it can be shown in the hospital rooms for those kiddos who aren’t able to come down and enjoy in person,” Baustert said. “The twirlers also decorate placemats that are used on patient meal trays.”

For the members of the baton twirling team, this tradition is more than just another performance. It is one performance that they look forward to.

“[It’s] my favorite activity we have done, Twirling at the Children’s hospital around Christmas time,” senior twirler Adyson Therkelsen said. “It’s just such a good feeling to see all the smiles on their faces when we are able to perform for them and talk to them.”

While the talent required to twirl is great, using that talent to affect the community is what makes the baton twirling team impactful.