TWIRLETTES WIN JR. GRAND NATIONAL HALFTIME CHAMPIONSHIP. The Twirlettes summer was culminated by their 2nd biggest win to date. The full national team comprised of 23 twirlers ages 9-22 competed together in the halftime show twirl division against 25 of the best teams across the country.This division is a 3 minute routine comparable to what you would perform at a halftime to demonstrate twirling to the community. The teams are judges on creative chorography, twirling ability, high entertainment value and age appropriate theme. The Twirlettes presented their version of “Revenge of the Nerds’, where twirlers dressed as nerds, school girls and bad girls. During the routine many props, interpretative twirling skills and costume changes helped the win the prestigious Hutchinson 6 foot Dynasty Traveling trophy. The team won the Sr. division in 2009. In 2011, the team was thrilled to win with this new routine. Since school was out the team has practiced 5- 12 hours a day to prepare for the national event.This team hopes to perform their award winning routine this winter at several local basketball games. The Team will share the traveling trophy with each team member over the year along with presentations in the community. In addition the senior dance twirl team named” New Alliance” had its best showing making it into the grand team finals which the winner qualifies for the World Championships. The team reached their goals and made it to the finals and placed 4th overall. The team is comprised of University of Michigan Twirlers Stacey Girbach, Cassie Burke and Nathan Magyar. Virginia Tech Twirler Harlie Dale, EMU feature Twirler Conner Potter, Western Michigan feature twirler Haley Williams, Former College Miss Majorette of America Tiffany Reicosky, and Saline Senior Chrissy Houle. The Saline Twirlette beginner teams also had a very good showing. The junior dance twirl won a 2nd place award for their routine. The team is comprised ofKaylynn Austin, Mariah Austin, Amber Reed, Christine Cauley, Natalie Haubenstricker, Dana Kalem, and Amanda Coy.The Pre-teen team: “Dig a Little Deeper’ won a 5th place award at their 2nd nationals.Members worked hard this summer to improve upon their skills. Team Members are Colleen Issel, Erin Evans, Amanda Coy, Andrea Doa, Christine Cauley, Natalie Haubenstricker, Julie Palmer and Elise Koberl. Nathan Magyar, Michigan Twirler, qualified to be a part of the USA World Team for 2012. Nathan also represented his university placing 10th in the down the field routine and 14th in the collegiate halftime.Nathan is the artistic director for the halftime team using all his talents to add to the overall effect of the team’s performance. Stacey Girbach, Michigan Twirler, competed in the College Miss Majorette of America pageant for the first time. She had a great showing in this division by placing 15th overall against the nation’s best twirlers in the country. .In the collegiate halftime she placed 13th, in open strut 10th and 4th in the world open solo qualifyingher for the finals. WMU Twirler Haley Williams placed 3rd in world open strut qualifying her for the finals. She also won 2nd in the Team Member of the year contest representing the Saline Twirlettes.She also won a 3rd in duet with partner Colleen Issel. EMU Twirler Conner Potter placed 3rd in world open 3-baton, 13th in open solo and 13th in the College Miss Majorette of America solo.She also represented her university in collegiate events. Saline Senior Chrissy Houle had her best nationals to date.She placed 3rd in show routine, 10th in open strut, 9th in world open solo, 7th in 3-baton, and 2nd in Teenage Miss Majorette of America strutting, which gave her an overall 15th in the pageant. These results allowed Chrissy to be recognized by a National panel. She was invited to be a Twirling Ambassador to Peru this fall. She will have the opportunity to twirl for the International Festival ,,,,,, Harlie Dale, Virginia Tech Twirler, student of Missy Townsend, joined the national team this summer and helped them have much team success. She also won 4th place in the College Miss Majorette of America Pageant, 2rd in solo,strut, 4th in 2-baton, 1st in 2-baton, 10th in collegiate halftime and 3rd in the down the field. Dale and Girbach paired up for duet and won a 10th place overall. Both girls had an outstanding year in the collegiate division representing their respective universities. Saline sophomore, Amber Reed competed in the advanced division for the first time at nationals and had a great outcome. She placed 3rd in 2-baton, 12th in duet with partner Mariah Austin, 14th in national strut and 26th in the Grand National solo against 90 competitors. Intermediate Twirlers: Dana Kalem, Saline Junior, won a 7th place in Intermediate strut and 13th in 2-baton. Amanda Coy’s was rewarded at nationals by placing high in the national in her division.She represented Michigan in the Juvenile Intermediate pageant and won a 5th place overall award in the National pageant.She won 5th in pageant solo, 7th in strut and 6th in modeling.She also won the Juvenile Team Member of the Year award and represented the Twirlettes at the grand team finals and the Big Show.Amanda also won 2nd place in show twirl, 5th in strutting, 11th in solo, 9th in 2-baton, 2nd in flag, 3rd in All American girl modeling, and 4th in duet with partner Evans. Natalie Haubenstricker, Saline freshman won a 5th in intermediate solo and flag. She respresented Michigan in the National Jr. Intermediate pageant. Tecumseh Twirler Kaylynn Austin, won a 15 in Intermediate solo while her sister EMU Twirler Mariah Austin was the representative in the teen Intermediate pageant. She won a 12th in pageant solo and in Intermediate open solo & strut, 2nd place. She also won a 6th place medal in 2-baton. Ohio twirler Erin Golden , student of Townsend, Joined the team this summer and won 10th individually in Int. strut. Beginner Twirlers: 7th grade Twirler Erin Evans had an exceptional national competition and placed top 10 in all her events. She is the Show Twirl National champion and the Beginner National strut champion.She also placed 2nd in her solo, 4th in 2-baton, and 4th in duet with partner Coy. Colleen Issel, Saline 7th grader, won 9th in beginner solo, 5th in strut, 9th in show twirl and 2-baton. Along with her duet partner Haley Williams and a 3rd place allowed Colleen to place top ten in all her events. Christine Cauley, sophomore in Saline, won a 17th in Intermediate solo, and 11th in beginner strut, 7th in novice 2-baton and 4th in novice flag. Natalie Haubenstricker and Cauley won a 13th in their beginner duet. Both girls will take the field for the first time this fall as Saline Majorettes. Novice Division: Saline 8th grader, Andrea Doa won a 8th in novice strutting, 11th in 2-baton, 10th in duet with Palmer, and 7th in flag solo.Julie Palmer, Saline 7th grader, won a 3rd in flag twirling, 10th in duet with partner Doa and 11th in 2-baton. Elise Renberg, Gracie Reilly, Sloane Pepper, and Elise Koberl attended nationals for the first time and competed in the halftime division. Individually they did very well for their first national contest Elise Koberl, had an outstanding outing, placing 6th in novice solo, 8th in 2-baton , 5th in flag and 11th in duet with Renberg. Saline 5th grader, Gracie Reilly placed in the top ten in her first nationals which is a huge accomplishment. She placed top 6th in strutting, and won a 13th in 2-baton. Saline 5th grader, Elise Renberg won a 8th in novice solo, 8th in novice 2-baton, 10th in novice strut and 10th in novice duet with partner Koberl. Sloane Pepper won 2 top ten medals at her first nationals. She won 9th place in novice solo and flag solo. Susan Usher is the Head Coach/director of the Twirlettes, Assistant Coach Amie Branch, Assistant Missy Townsend (chorographer), and Cliff Gray of Ohio(show design).Twirlettes ended their summer with performances at Saline Summerfest, The Saline Blue and Gold Game, the Ypsilanti Heritage Parade, and the Chelsea Fair Parade. The new season will start with an orientation night on September 20th at 7:00 p.m. at Woodland Meadows cafeteria.The team will be accepting new students for the fall. For more information go to: www.salinetwirlettes.org.