Every five years, the United States Twirling Association recognizes twirling professionals who have made significant and lasting contributions to our organization and the sport of baton twirling, by inducting them into USTA's Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame inductees are nominated by USTA members and others in the twirling community, then selected by USTA's HOF selection committee and Board of Directors.
USTA is pleased to announce the 2024 Hall of Fame inductees. Collectively, they have dedicated decades of time and talent to USTA and the sport of baton twirling. They are former national and world champions; athletes and artists who have pushed the boundaries of baton twirling. They are coaches and choreographers who continue to advance our sport. They work tirelessly on behalf of athletes and parents, coaches and judges, and all USTA members to ensure that our educational and competitive programs and events are the best in the world.
Congratulations to the 2024 Hall of Fame inductees:
John Chamberlain - Florida
- 4-time USTA National Champion
- WBTF Silver Medalist
- USTA Certified Coach and Master Judge
- 5-time WBTF World Championship Judge
- USTA Board Member for 36 consecutive years
- Past Member U.S. Technical Committee
- Past U.S. World Team Coordinator
- Current USTA Adjudicator Department Director
Ginnette Groome - New Hampshire
- Many-time New York State and Northeast Regional 2- and 3-Baton Champion; Seven-time USTA National Champion, including USTA's first-ever 3-Baton Grand National Champion
- Feature Twirler at Indiana University, 1976-1980
- Coach of USTA State, Regional and Grand National champions in Solo, 2-Baton, 3-Baton, Strut, Artistic Twirl and Pairs; Coach of World finalists / medalists in Freestyle Solo, Freestyle Pairs and IC Gold medalists in Solo, 2-Baton and 3-Baton; Coaches in the U.S., Canada, and throughout Europe
- Served on the U.S. Technical Committee, Essentials Commission, and New York State Baton Council
- Educator for WBTF and IBTF coaches and judges on 2- and 3-Baton, via training webinars, creation of instructional videos, and writing text for manuals.
- The cup presented to the Grand National 3-Baton Champion was named the Ginnette Groome 3-Baton Cup in her honor in 2016
Sandi Rios - California
- Coach of many USTA Grand National Champions in Solo, Strut, Men's Solo, Pairs, 2-Baton, and Artistic Twirl. Has coached in six countries
- Founder and coach of Syndication, which has represented the U.S.A. at the WBTF World Championships 25 times, winning gold medals in 1993, 1997, 2005, and 2014
- Only U.S. coach to have WBTF gold medalists in Team, Freestyle, and Pairs
- Served as president of the California Baton Council and Western Region Baton Council
- Served on the U.S. Technical Committee and Coaches Commission
- Served on the WBTF Executive Technical Committee
- Project manager of the 2005 and 2018 World Championships
- Currently USTA Director of Operations and U.S. Technical Advisor
Jackie Stewart - Tennessee
- Served on the Indiana Baton Council and Mideast Regional Council
- Served on the USTA Board of Directors for 36 years
- Coach of state, regional, national, and international champions
- USTA Certified Coach and Master Level Judge
- Past USTA Judges Chair and Education Chair
- Current USTA Coaches Department Director
- Current WBTF Judges Chair and IBTF Judges Chair
Dale White - Ohio
- National Men's Champion in 1968
- Grand National 2-Baton Champion in 1970
- Drum Major for the famed Miller's Blackhawks
- USTA Certified Coach and Master Level Judge
- Coach of more world champions, as well as state, regional, national, and international champions and competitors than any other coach in the world
- Past member of the USTA Board of Directors and the U.S. Technical Committee
- Currently serves as USTA's Director of Professional Development, as the WBTF Judges Representative for the U.S., and as a member of the IBTF Technical Committee
