I was introduced to the amazing sport of baton twirling by by babysitter's daughter. When I was 4 years old, I started twirling with the Saskatoon Myracles Inc. My parents first put me in a 8 week introductory program, then registered me with the club in the fall. There were times when I said, "I can't do this", especially working on my finger twirls and two-hand spins. But something about it made me want to come back year after year.

In my 16 years of twirling, I have attended 4 World Championships and 5 International Cup Competitions:

• Osaka, Japan 2004: Junior Women Freestyle (placed 16th)
• St. Paul, U.S.A 2005: International Cup (IC) Solo (placed 2nd), 2-baton
• Rome, Italy 2006: Junior Women Freestyle (placed 15th), IC Solo, 2-baton, 3-baton
• Hamilton, Canada 2007: Senior Women Freestyle (placed 8th), IC Solo, 2-baton, 3-baton
• Limerick, Ireland 2008: Alternate Senior Women Freestyle, IC Solo, 2-baton, 3-baton
• Sydney, Australia 2009: IC Senior Women Freestyle, Short Program, Solo, 2-baton

And I am very excited to represent Canada at the 30th World Baton Twirling Championships in Bergen, Norway as a Senior Women Freestylist!

There are a number of reasons why I twirl baton. People often ask, "why do you twirl baton? Why not any other sport like dance, gymnastics, swimming, skating, etc.?" And my answer is...I love to twirl because of the travel opportunities, friendships, physical activity, the life lessons, and it's creativity. One can travel to places that they never even thought possible and experience different cultures. You meet and make friends every year. It's great to be friends with your competitors and other athletes that love the same sport that you do. We wish each other good luck and always share a few laughs thoughout the year.

Baton keeps me physically and mentally healthy. It is not only physically demanding for the entire body, but mentally challenging and rewarding at the same time. Baton is a great way to take your mind off other things in life, whether it be school, work, relationships, etc. I feel it clears my mind and makes me feel more energized. For the challenging part...nerves and some times I think about the what-ifs. It takes alot of experience to control your own thoughts. One thing my coaches have taught me is to "BELIEVE IN YOURSELF" and don't worry about anything else. I have to "THINK POSITIVE" and "JUST DO IT". Even though baton is a competitively judged sport, it is important to remember to go out on the floor and perform for only yourself.

Things you learn in baton are not only used in the sport, but many can be applied to everyday situations. Every year, I develop and build new skills, and I learn something new about myself. Baton has built my self-confidence in whatever I do. I use these skills in exams at school, projects, relationships with family and friends, and other situations that bring change to my life. As twirlers, our first instinct is to catch when a baton is coming towards us and adjust quickly in routines.

I not only compete individually, but in routines and in the pairs event with my sister. There are times when we don't get along, but for the most part we are like best friends and love twirling together.

Baton is a unique sport because it combines dance and gymnastics, and we add a difficult element to them to make it more entertaining. I really enjoy dancing, tumbling in gymnastics, and performing my talent for other people to enjoy. At times I start to make up my own combinations or tricks. One thing about baton, you can create any type of character. Each person is unique and the routines and tricks are entertaining to watch and lots of fun creating them. My favorite trick is a one spin double reverse illusion beacuse I love the feeling when I catch it. I love doing contact sections too because I like twirling fast; flipping, catching it any which way. Once you get a baton in my hand, it's hard not to twirl it.

Other than baton I enjoy long distance running, sketching/drawing, reading, and spending time with my family and friends. I am a 3rd year university student majoring in Accounting at Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan.

It's great to see the sport growing.  I enjoy seeing new twirlers come into the sport and giving it a try. I've taught at the recreational level for 4 years. I like helping them learn the basic twirls and choreographing short group routines. As a coach great seeing your athletes improve to higher levels. It's a feeling of accomplishment and pride in saying that you helped them get there. I think anyone can do baton and you don't have to have be the greatest at co-ordination.  A quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes, "What lies before us are little matters compared to what lies within us". And one of my coach's favorites quotes, "Shoot for the moon...even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."My motto is to "believe in yourself, and anything is possible." You can do anything you want, if you put your mind to it.