Pizzazz Star City Twirlers under the direction of Head Coach Joan Duus of Roanoke and assisted by Marie Freeman of Vinton represented our area well at the Virginia State Baton Twirling Championships held in late June at the Arthur Ashe Center in Richmond.

Pizzazz made a clean sweep for the first time in the past 10 years taking first place in 7 of the 7 Team Categories they competed in, and won the Advanced Junior Dance Twirl division for the first time.
They are the State Champions in: Tiny Tot Dance Twirl, Juvenile Dance Twirl, Junior Dance Twirl, Primary Half Time Show, Primary Pom Team and they are the State winners of the Open Street Parade and Beginner Juvenile Twirling Teams.

Team members include:
Stephanie Meriwether of Roanoke
Bethany Baker of Botetourt
Rebecca Keller of Glenver
Christine Wadstrom of Goodview
Danielle Cormier of Greensboro
Elizabeth Hudson of Vinton
Rachel Benton of Roanoke
Meredith Smith of Roanoke
Madison Engl of Roanoke
Olivia Thomas of Roanoke

In individual competition the following girls placed in the top 5 in their State Events:

Bethany Baker competed in the Pre-teen division and placed 4th in Advanced Strut Queen.

Rachel Benton competed in the Juvenile division and won Beginner 2-Baton & Miss Old Dominion. She placed 2nd in Beginner Super X Strut, 3rd in Solo Twirl and 3rd in Advanced Show Twirl.
Rachel along with Duet Partner Danielle Cormier won the Juvenile Beginner Duet.

Harlie Dale competed in the Senior division and placed in the top 3 in Advanced Solo, Super X Strut, 2-Baton, Show Twirl, Rhythmic Twirl and 3-Baton competition.

Elizabeth Hudson competed in the Juvenile division and placed 4th in Novice Solo Twirl, 5th in 2-Baton & 5th in Super X Strut.

Rebecca Keller competed in the Pre-Teen division and won Advanced Show Twirl, Beginner Solo Twirl & Miss Old Dominion & Novice 2-Baton. She was 2nd in Beginner Super X Strut and Strut Queen.
Rebecca along with duet partner Bethany Baker won the Junior Novice Duet.

Stephanie Meriwether competed in the Juvenile division and
placed 2nd in Novice Solo Twirl, 2nd in Basic Strut and 3rd in Military Strut.

Meredith Smith competed in the Juvenile division and won Advanced Show Twirl, Novice 2-Baton, Solo Twirl & Miss Old Dominion. She placed 2nd in Novice Super X Strut.
Meredith along with Duet Partner Rachel Benton placed 3rd in the Tiny Tot Novice Duet.

Olivia Thomas competed in the Tiny Tot division and won Advanced Show Twirl, Novice Solo Twirl, 2-Baton, Super X Strut, Miss Old Dominion and placed 4th in Military Strut.

Christine Wadstrom competed in the Junior Division and placed 3rd in Advanced Show Twirl & 2nd in Flag, 2nd in Intermediate 2-Baton and 3rd in Super X Strut .

-Submitted by: Joan Duus