Carley Kernan ’27, Staff Writer
The LVC majorettes welcomed young twirlers ages 5–17 to the football field on Saturday, Oct.
24, for their annual Twirler Day.
The event gave young participants from the surrounding
communities an opportunity to learn and perform a halftime routine alongside the college
majorettes.
Performing to “Walking on Sunshine,” the young twirlers joined the majorettes for the halftime
show, while members of LVC’s on-campus Twirling Club participated in both the pregame and
halftime performances. Together, the performances highlighted the connections between the
college’s majorette program, its Twirling Club and the wider twirling community.
For sophomore Rachel Thomas, a member of the college’s Twirling Club, Twirler Day offered a chance to try something new.
“I joined twirler club last year as a freshman, probably in November,” Thomas said. “I was
interested because my friend recommended it to me, and I decided to give it a try.”
After hearing positive feedback from participants the previous year, Thomas decided to
participate in Twirler Day herself.
“I thought it looked fun! I heard very positive things from the twirlers last year and am excited to
perform on the football field,” she said.
One of the aspects Thomas looked forward to most was the opportunity to twirl alongside the
college marching band.
“I’m excited to twirl to live music,” she said.
The performance also offered an experience Thomas had not had before. Without previous
marching band experience, participating in Twirler Day gave her the chance to experience what
it was like to be part of the majorette line.
“It’s meaningful to me because it’s something I have never done before,” Thomas said. “It gives
me the opportunity to try something new and feel like I’m on the line for a day.”
For senior Samantha Lawler, LVC’s majorette captain, the event carried personal significance. Having started her own twirling journey in Twirling Club before becoming a majorette, Lawler understood the value of introducing participants to the college
program.
“It means a lot to me to welcome Twirling Club members to perform with us because I started in
the club before becoming a majorette,” Lawler said. “Giving them the opportunity to experience what it is like to be a majorette is so important because it can inspire them to join the line in the future.”
Preparing for Twirler Day involved learning choreography, planning formations, practicing with
the band and coordinating with club members. Lawler said she was most excited to see those
efforts come together during the performance.
When selecting a song, the majorettes looked for something that would appeal to the younger
participants. This year’s choice, “Walking on Sunshine,” offered an upbeat and recognizable
tune for the halftime routine.
Beyond the performances, Twirler Day helped strengthen connections between the Twirling
Club and the majorette line.
“Twirler Day really brings the Twirling Club and the majorette line together because we spend
so much time working and practicing together,” Lawler said. “It strengthens existing
relationships while also allowing for new connections to be made.”
Thomas said having a specific routine to learn and a performance to anticipate made Twirling
Club activities even more exciting. She also enjoyed attending marching band practice the Friday
before the event and learning the pregame routine.
Both Thomas and Lawler emphasized that opportunities like Twirler Day can encourage people
to explore twirling, regardless of their previous experience.
Lawler noted that LVC’s Twirling Club does not require prior twirling experience and provides
batons for those interested in learning. Club officers and majorettes are available to help
newcomers develop their skills.
Thomas offered similar encouragement to anyone considering joining the club.
“I would say to give it a try! It doesn’t hurt,” Thomas said. “Everyone is very welcoming and
friendly. I would say it’s a very positive club.”
Through opportunities to perform, learn new skills, and connect with other twirlers, Twirler Day
celebrated the twirling community while introducing young participants to the possibilities of
twirling at the college level.