BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
“No matter how small the county, we can still do big things.”
Those words said by Lake Butler’s Karly Shatto ring true for her and three other young women from Bradford and Union counties, who did more than prove they belonged at a world-championship event. They returned home with gold medals.
As members of Allstars Twirling Academy, Shatto, Julia Casey of Starke, Lyndee Griffis of Lake Butler and Laura Park of Lake Butler represented Team USA at the World Majorette Championship in Liverpool, England, earning the gold medal in the senior division of the Majorette Exhibition Corps event.
Team USA placed ahead of silver medalist Czech Republic and bronze medalist Spain.
“When the results were announced, it honestly didn’t even seem real,” Park said. “This was our first year competing at the world competition, and we never imagined that we would beat the other teams that had so much experience. I think we all went in with the mindset that we would be grateful just to medal, so we were in shock when we kept hearing the other countries being called for silver and bronze.”
Hope turned to surprise as Team USA waited to hear its name called.
“It was crazy,” Shatto said. “We were all so excited. There were many happy tears by athletes and coaches.”
Griffis said, “We never expected to win first place on the world level. We were only hoping to place the top three, but when they kept calling other countries, we all could not believe what was about to happen. ‘And in first place, All Stars from the USA.’ I think this quote will replay in my mind forever. It was truly the most memorable moment, where I felt like all of my time and hard work finally paid off.
“When they announced us as first place, we all started hugging each other and some of us (me) even started to cry. This was the closest we have ever been as a team, and I am proud to be part of this twirling family.”
Casey said the events her team competed in are events that twirlers in the U.S. don’t normally participate in. Therefore, she described the experience as “intimidating.”
“I think many of us put a lot of pressure on ourselves to do well so that we represented our country and our group in the best way possible,” Casey said.
It was the best possible representation, to say the least.
“I think it was a shock for all of us,” Casey said. “Hearing our name be called for winning the World Championships in our division was something that we only dreamed of, and I have never been as grateful for the opportunities that baton twirling has given me throughout the past 18 years. Qualifying for the World Championship was something that I had always wanted to do, so to be able to go with my group and win was a moment in my career that I will never forget.”
Going for the gold
The twirlers had to be early risers to ready themselves for practices and performances as well as the opening ceremonies on the first day of the two-day event.
“We were expected to be at the arena where the championships were held at 8 each morning — with hair and makeup done — so we were ready to perform almost immediately after arriving,” said Casey, who has been a part of Allstars Twirling Academy for 17 years.
Griffis, who’s been part of Allstars Twirling Academy for seven years, said, “A typical day during this event started with a very early morning. I would wake up at around 4:30 or 5 to start getting ready. The arena doors would open at 7:30, and we would instantly start to warm up and stretch.”
It wasn’t a full day of practicing and competing, though. Park, who’s been with Allstars Twirling Academy for 15 years, said, “We had a good bit of free time to get lunch or dinner and explore, even with practice times worked into our schedule.”
Some of the free time was spent watching, as Griffis put it, watching “some of the most insanely talented twirlers in the world.”
“The mornings were early, but many stayed after we performed so we could watch teams from other countries compete,” Casey said.
That was something Casey enjoyed, as it allowed her to “see other talented twirlers from other countries that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to see otherwise.”
Watching competitors from other countries was one of the things Park enjoyed the most.
“My favorite highlights were just being able to spend time with my teammates and enjoy being in England,” Park said. “I also loved being able to watch twirlers from around the world. It’s crazy to think that you can speak different languages and not understand each other, yet baton twirling brings us all together and connects us.
“It was so enjoyable watching the different twirling styles, dances and techniques that all of the countries had.”
Shatto, who’s been with Allstars Twirling Academy for 12 years, admitted that watching the other teams was intimidating, but she added, “I still felt like we had a chance.”
Griffis said, “The most nerve-wracking moment about all of this was knowing that other countries were watching you, and you know that you’re the ones representing the entire USA. At that point, you really want to impress everyone and show what you can do.”
The twirlers obviously didn’t allow the big stage to affect their performances. Griffis said, “To me, this competition felt like any other baton competition. People from all around the world were brought together in one place by this sport. I didn’t really feel nervous when we got onto the competition floor. I knew that we all had put in our hard work and effort and that we could knock this out of the park, and we did just that.”
Griffis said one of the highlights for her was her team’s performance of their winning routine, which was titled “Jetset.”
“I have never felt prouder of myself and my teammates,” she said.
So many highlights, so many emotions — all leading up to that moment of earning a gold medal for your country.
“Hearing our national anthem because we won was so humbling,” Shatto said.
Experiences
The event offered more than just the chance to compete at the highest level. Casey said meeting and talking with twirlers from other countries was a “really cool experience.”
“Most interactions between twirlers from other countries involved exchanging different goodies, such as sunglasses, beads, flags and other small gifts.”
Park said she didn’t have many opportunities to interact with others, but added, “It was definitely amazing being able to see all of the twirlers from different countries gather in the same room for opening ceremonies. Even just to hear the different languages being spoken was cool.”
The four local twirlers all had chances to be tourists as well as competitors. Griffis, for example, was able to spend a few days in London.
“It can be intimidating at first to go to a different country, but once you learn your way around town, it is very exciting,” Griffis said. “My family and I had a blast seeing Big Ben, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and the city itself. My favorite thing to do was to just wander around London because all of the buildings are just so beautiful and very different from the U.S.”
Shatto, who also visited Wales and Paris, enjoyed touring London as well.
“I loved Buckingham Palace,” she said. “It was so pretty — almost unbelievable.”
Casey was able to leave the U.S. early. She spent five days traveling to Paris and London.
“These were both two cities that I had wanted to see for quite some time, so I enjoyed getting to explore and learn more about each during my trip,” Casey said, adding, “My favorite thing that I saw was the Palace of Versailles. The palace and the gardens were beautiful, and knowing the history of what happened there was all interesting, and I think it helped make it one of my favorite things from the trip.”
Park had quite the trip outside of the world championship.
“I spent almost four weeks sightseeing both before and after our competition,” Park said. “It was the trip of a lifetime. Apart from my time in England, I traveled to Italy, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro and Scotland. Part of this trip was spent traveling with the UF CALS (College of Agricultural and Life Sciences) Leadership Institute.
“I honestly don’t think there was any one part of the trip that I enjoyed over the other. From family to classmates to teammates, I enjoyed the different groups of people I was able to spend time abroad with. I can say, without a doubt, that traveling abroad gives you such a different perspective on life, and I think that’s what I will be most grateful for.”
Twirling
Casey, a fourth-year sociology major at UF, first began baton twirling when she was 3, following in the footsteps of her sister, who twirled at the University of Florida.
“My sister was a Gatorette from 1997-2001, so we had many of her Gatorette posters hanging up in our house,” Casey wrote. “I had told my mom that I wanted to be in a poster like my sister, and she decided to sign me up for baton the following fall. Through my 18 years of twirling, I have competed in group routines as well as individual events on state, regional, national and now international levels.
“Baton twirling is something that requires a lot of hard work and determination due to skills that are needed to learn and perfect all fundamentals and bodywork that is involved in the sport. I find joy in not only working to master these skills myself, but also being able to help other twirlers with problems that they have.”
And that childhood dream of wanting to be on a Gatorettes poster? She made it come true. She is a fourth-year member of the Gatorettes.
“As a senior, who will be twirling for the Gators for the last time this football season, I will cherish every memory that I have made while on the line,” she wrote. “Getting to twirl in front of 90,000 people in the Swamp during each home game is a feeling I will never forget. I have had the pleasure the past four years to be able to twirl with a talented group of girls from all across the state and country, and also be a part of such a wonderful organization like the Gator Marching Band.
“As a Gatorette, I know that I am a role model for younger twirlers and like that I can potentially make an impact in their lives.”
Griffis, a senior at Union County High School, was inspired to twirl while in elementary school.
“I started twirling in fifth grade because I saw some girls twirl fire batons at Tiger Growl during homecoming,” she wrote. “I thought that was the coolest thing ever. After twirling for a couple years, a lot of my teammates became Gatorettes and were able to twirl at the collegiate level, and that became my new dream.
“I love baton because there is never a limit to what you can do. Seeing myself achieve new skills over the years really motivates me because I know that I can always learn new things.”
Griffis plans to try out for the Gatorettes in the spring and follow in the footsteps of Casey, Park and Shatto.
“I adore watching all of my teammates on the field during football season, and I hope that this time next year I will join them on that field,” she wrote.
Park, a junior studying agricultural communications at UF, began twirling at the age of 4.
“I started twirling shortly after my older sister, which is ultimately how I got involved,” Park said. “This sport almost feels like a stress reliever at times when you really get into the music and enjoy the people who are around you. I think it’s those times when it really brings me the most joy.”
Park is entering her second year as a Gatorette.
“Twirling for the University of Florida will always be one of the hardest, yet most rewarding, experiences when it comes to baton twirling,” she said. “It has given me so many opportunities and friendships that I will cherish for a lifetime. The adrenaline rush you get running out of the tunnel on game days is definitely an experience like no other.”
Shatto, a freshman at Florida Gateway College, who plans to pursue a degree business administration, has been twirling since she was 6. As you can imagine, the ensuing years have consisted of a lot of time devoted to becoming good at it.
“I don’t remember what got me involved,” she said, “but I have always loved twirling. Twirling gives me joy because it is not easy and takes lots of practice.
“Winning on a world level made all that hard work worth it.”
Her hard work has also led to an opportunity to twirl with the Gatorettes, beginning this fall.
“Being able to do what I love at a collegiate level is amazing,” Shatto said. “I cannot wait till the first game, being in front of all those fans, doing what I love.”
Lifelong memories
Winning a world championship is an unforgettable experience, receiving a gold medal and getting that chance to represent your home as part of Team USA.
“As someone from Bradford County, it made me really proud of the opportunity that I was given and that I was able to represent my small town in such a big way,” Casey said. “Growing up and later graduating from Bradford High in 2020, I always feel proud when I am a part of something that can bring pride to my hometown, such as being a part of Team USA and bringing home a world championship title.
“I think the biggest thing that I am going to remember from this trip is once we got off the floor and being able to celebrate with girls that I have twirled with for many years. There are a few of us that are reaching the end of our twirling careers, so going on the floor and performing a really good routine was something that we all were proud of, and then finding out later we won was a really special moment for us.”
As for her world-championship experience, Griffis said, “I felt very honored to represent such a small county at the world level. I realized that I could accomplish incredible things even though I live in a small town.
“I am always going to remember the time spent with my teammates. I think that the competition brought us all closer. I was able to spend some of my downtime with some of my teammates, and that really brought us closer.”
Park said, “I always leave Lake Butler knowing that I am representing my faith, my family and my community, and it makes me proud knowing I was able to represent them well through this event.
“I will always remember the countless laughs, wandering around the streets of an unexplored country and our country being called as the gold medalist. I think most of all, I will remember the gratefulness that I feel to be able to experience the things that I have at such a young age. From here, it seems that the world is my oyster.”
Like Shatto said, you can do big things, even if you’re from a small county.
“I was so proud to represent my country and our little counties,” Shatto said.
