Performing under the spotlight of thousands of fans and cheering crowds of people is an adjustment everyone makes as a Marching Virginian. And for those of us that perform with outside groups, such as DCI and other national leagues over the summer, it can continue to be quite an exciting thrill. Meredith Smith, one of our fantastic feature twirlers, shares some of her experiences competing on a national level as well as what it means to be an MV.
How long have you been twirling?
“I have been twirling for 14 years. I started when I was 7.”
Meredith with her first team Pizzazz Star City Twirlers; Source: Kim Benton
What’s been your favorite moment as a twirler, one that you wouldn’t trade any experience for?
Meredith with director Dr. Polly Middleton after her live audition; Source: Mary Smith
“My favorite moment was after my live audition when Dr. Polly informed me that I would be the newest feature twirler. I had dreamed of twirling for Tech my entire twirling career and to finally reach that goal was exhilarating. The friendships and experiences I’ve gained from being an MV are so special to me and I wouldn’t trade them for anything! “
What made you decide to become a professional twirler?
“I am in no way a professional! There are very few career options that come from twirling. It has always been a hobby of mine that I enjoy. When I started going to competitions around age 8, and even to the Tech games as a child, the older twirlers always caught my attention. Just like most small children I looked up to them, and I made it a goal of mine to try to get to where they were.”
What placements did you make at USTA National Collegiate Twirling Championships? How long have you been competing in nationals for?
“I competed in the USTA National Twirling Championships. The National Collegiate Twirling Championships falls under that umbrella. Baton twirling is very complicated! There is a lot to it that people do not know about. There are two main organization that twirlers compete under. The National Baton Twirling Association (NBTA) and the United States Twirling Association (USTA). While there are many similarities among organizations, there are also many differences. There are several events that competitors compete in, each with different objectives. Some focus mainly on the fluidity of the baton and difficulty of tricks, while others focus more on staying in step with the music and body lines.
Meredith with her secondary coach Teresa Hollowell (left) and primary coach Lori Cobb (right); Source: Mary Smith
I competed mainly in solo (which is one baton), two-baton, and three-baton and the collegiate event. The collegiate championships are held in both organizations for all the college athletes across the nation. For my college routine, I compiled 2 ½ minutes of regular music, band music, and other sound tracks that represent what it is like to be a feature twirler at Virginia Tech.
For solo, two-baton, and three-baton I competed against other 21-year-olds in the nation. The top two from the age division move on to the next round, where they compete against the top two from 18 to 21-year-olds. Finally the top two from the 18-21 division move to the grand final round where they compete for the one grand national champion (from the junior, senior and adult divisions). For 21 year-olds, I got 4th in solo, 2nd in two-baton, and 1st in three-baton. I was disappointed with my collegiate event performance, but I placed 14th out of 45 individuals. I have competed at nationals since I was 8!”
What are the World Twirling Association Nationals? When do they take place? Will you be competing in them?
“Making it to worlds is a huge accomplishment, one that I have not mastered yet. There are four different levels of baton; Novice, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Once you make it to the advanced level, the competition is fierce, those individuals can do some things that will blow your mind! Worlds for both NBTA and USTA are held in different places around the world every four years. Some examples of places where it has been held are Croatia, Columbia, Switzerland, Peru, France, and England.”
How long do you think you’ll be competing for in your twirling career? Where will you go after undergrad?
“I plan on competing one more year after undergrad. By that I mean when I graduate in May of 2022 I will compete until July of 2022. If I end up making into vet school, I don’t think I will have the time to practice diligently and continue competing. I know I will continue to do it for fun during my spare time until my body can’t do it anymore!”
Do you feel there’s a difference when competing at national levels and performing for the MVs?
Meredith during NBTA National Collegiate Twirling Championships in 2019; Source: Time J Glore
“Yes, there is huge difference! For nationals, I have premade routines that I have practiced thousands of times. Each year my coach makes adjustments to my routine to make it more challenging. This gives me new goals to work towards. For the MVs, the other twirlers and I make up our own routines to every show. My competition routines tend to be a lot harder than the ones I put out on the field. For those who do not know much about baton twirling, they do know that I shouldn’t drop. The tricks I put out on the field are ones I felt I have mastered enough to where my nerves will not get in the way and mess anything up.”
What does being an MV mean to you?
“Being an MV means so much to me! I am so thankful to be a part of such an amazing organization. The people in this organization are so passionate about what they do, and they love sharing that passion while supporting a school that they love. Sometimes I think I get a lot more credit than I deserve. The band members work so incredibly hard, and if they didn’t do what they do, I could not do what I do! “