Stockton - The nation's top twirlers are coming to Stockton!
Nearly 500 of the nation's best baton twirlers will compete in the 2022 U.S. National Baton Twirling Championships, July 11-16, at the Stockton Arena. The competition, which is sponsored by the United States Twirling Association (USTA), runs from 8 a.m. to approximately 7 p.m. each day and is free and open to the public. Results will be posted at https://bit.ly/2022USTANationals.
“Baton twirling is an aerobic sport that combines athleticism with artistry,” said USTA President Karen Cammer. “A top twirler must develop the speed of a sprinter, the hand-eye coordination of a hockey player, the technique of a ballet dancer and the flexibility of a gymnast. I know Stockton sports fans will enjoy seeing our nation's top twirling athletes in action.”
Male and female twirlers from across the country who range in age from five to adult will demonstrate their skills in the National Championships, which is a competition for advanced and elite athletes, as well as the Festival of the Future, a competition for novice, beginner and intermediate athletes. In both competitions, athletes will compete in individual and group events, including:
- Solo - an exciting event using one baton which is rolled, flipped and tossed around the body and through the air at great speed
- 2-Baton and 3-Baton - highly difficult events using two or three batons which must be kept moving at all times
- Strut and Artistic Twirl - beautiful but demanding events combining twirling with dance and gymnastics
- Groups - the crowd will be on its feet as groups of twirlers perform synchronized twirling and challenging exchanges
The competitors include current Grand National Champions Bower Sarra, Savannah Miller and Kylie Cates, as well as more than 80 athletes from California, including Jaida Jobe and Austin Arellanes. They are all members of Team USA, which will represent the United States in the World Baton Twirling Championships, to be held August 4-7, in Turin, Italy. At that competition, the best baton twirlers in the world will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in the twirling equivalent of the Olympic Games.
“Baton twirling is a popular sport in the U.S. and other countries around the world,” said Sandi Wiemers, president of the World Baton Twirling Federation (WBTF). “It has gained new prominence in recent years through exposure in shows like Cirque du Soleil and America's Got Talent.”
Twirling experts say the sport helps promote physical fitness and flexibility and helps fight childhood obesity. It also helps young people develop positive self-esteem and valuable life skills, such as goal setting, self-discipline and time management.
The 2022 U.S. National Baton Twirling Championships mark the second time the National Championships have been held in Stockton, and the second time they have been held in California since 1996, when they were held in Oakland.
“We are excited to return to the West Coast and hold our National Championships in Stockton,” said USTA President Cammer. “Stockton is a beautiful, welcoming city that offers our athletes and their families a quality competition venue surrounded by family-friendly attractions and amenities.”
For more information about Stockton, go to www.visitstockton.org. For more information about the sport of baton twirling and the United States Twirling Association, visit www.ustwirling.com.