Collegiate Times

Kaytlyn Schmitt, a sophomore interdisciplinary major in education, has been twirling since she was a one-year-old. In addition to making every band practice, Schmitt visits the gym at least three times a week. Schmitt needs to maintain her physical health to excel in the dynamic sport of twirling.

“It requires the gracefulness of a dancer, the flexibility of a gymnast, but also the stamina of a runner,” she said.

Schmitt said she becomes more nervous when performing at competitions than at Tech sporting events. At competitions, the smallest mistake could cost her a win, but the focus of twirling changes when she’s at football games.

“When you’re at Tech and you step out into the field, it’s a whole different experience,” Schmitt said. “It’s so much fun and it’s just about performing. Performing in front of 60,000 plus fans is such a great experience. They’re so full of spirit, and the band’s music just pumps me up even more.”

Despite continuously perfecting their craft, the weather conditions inside Lane Stadium can provide an interesting situation for the twirlers when they perform.

“If it’s really sunny or if it’s rainy, the baton could slip,” Schmitt said. “Twirling in the rain can be fun. It does make it a little bit harder.”

During windy weather, the twirlers must pay close attention to the baton to make sure they catch it. When it’s cold outside, the twirlers try to keep the gloves on before stepping onto the field so their hands aren’t numb.

Bell and Schmitt dress like performers on the field. Bell described their twirling outfits as flashy bathing suits with a skirt and said adorning her attire is one of the most enjoyable aspects of her sport.

“It’s my favorite thing. It really is,” Bell said “I sit on costume Web sites all day long. I really do. I’m obsessed with rhinestones. My guilty pleasure is to sit and rhinestone things.”

However, the baton twirlers’ flashy ware requires that they must dodge the occasional cat-caller.

“We obviously don’t dress like the band,” Bell said. “We have our costumes we wear every game. People tend to hit on you when you don’t look like everyone else. We’ll be warming up on the sides of the band stands, and people from the North End Zone will come and try to talk to us and get us to do tricks for them, and then usually when we go around to the side, people are like ‘Do something for us. You’re so hot.’ You get used to do it. Obviously after five years, I’m used to it.”

Bell said she adjusted to the attention gradually.

“I’m here to entertain, pretty much,” she said. “It was definitely something I had to get used to the first time. The girls prior to me, they warned me. You know, you gotta be careful. Men are all around — you definitely don’t realize it until it actually happens. Trying to go to get food after halftime is not an easy task.”

Bell said she usually just ignores it and walks away. Although, not all the attention they receive is unwanted. Bell said she treasures the moments when younger fans who aspire to be twirlers will want to take photos with them.

“That’s the highlight of the games for me,” Bell said. “It’s great to be such a great role model for kids. I really enjoy that the most.”

Admiration from fans isn’t the only thing that the twirlers enjoy. Schmitt said they complement the band’s performance and add to the overall experience of a game.

“I think it gets the crowd engaged in the band’s performance,” Schmitt said of her work. “Just hearing their sound is amazing. And we just add to the visual effect like the guard.”

Schmitt and Bell are members of the Marching Virginians. They both travel with the band and complete the same service projects.

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