Local twirlers earn competition honors

Photo

Neighbors | Submitted.Pictured is the Northern Strut twirlers. They are, from left, (row 1) Adele Colonna, Madison Svirbly; (row 2) Amanda Bendel, Jessica Yozwiak, Cassidy Oyler, Syrenna Ramahi, Cali Gialousis, Kathyrn Rosinski, Riley Timms; (row 3) Celia Melillo, Yiannoula Katsadas, Amanda Dicks, Maria Katsadas, Emmy Graffius, Shannon Chaffee, Monica Mattiussi and Madeline Crish. Missing are Loni Bowles, Grace Economus, Jessica Bowers Hall, Megan Howard, Tahlor Kimble, Kerry Kingsley, Dina Notareschi, Meghan Susko, Alyssa Thomas, Jillian Wollet and Madi Zickefoose.

Northern Strut twirling teams recently celebrated their 16th season, culminating in numerous honors at Marching Auxiliaries competitions.

This past competition season with Marching Auxiliaries, Northern Strut earned a Superior Rating, Best in Class, Best Choreography, and the Winner’s Circle Cup for their high school/collegiate Team Twirl entry. Kerry Kingsley and Madeline Crish earned champion senior duet honors, while Monica Mattiussi/Dina Notareschi were first runners-up.

Shannon Chaffee earned first runner-up honors in the senior solo division, followed by Kerry Kingsley (second runner-up), Jessica Yozwiak (third runner-up) and Dina Notareschi and Kathryn Rosinski (tie for fourth runner-up). In the junior solo twirling division, Mattiussi earned top honors and Crish earned a fourth runner-up placement.

In the Pre-K division, Adele Colonna took top honors as did Emmy Graffius in the senior color guard solo division, with Rosinski following with as first runner-up.

Additionally, Crish and Graffius earned Superior I ratings at the national competition in Fort Worth, Texas, and Graffius placed fourth overall in the senior color guard category.

Many members also competed and placed in local NBTA and TU competitions this season.

Earning spots on twirling lines at the collegiate level are Meghan Susko of Poland twirling for the Kent State University Touch of Gold Twirlers, Jillian Wollet (Poland), twirling for the University of Pittsburgh Golden Girls and Jessica Yozwiak (Boardman) twirling for the Thiel College Majorettes.

Twirlers selected for area high school positions include: Shannon Chaffee and Megan Howard (both Boardman), Monica Mattiussi (Mooney) Madeline Crish, Celia Melillo and Dina Notareschi (all Poland), Emily Combs, Amanda Dicks and Cassidy Oyler (Springfield), Cali Gialousis and Kathryn Rosinski (both Ursuline) and Emmy Graffius and Alyssa Thomas (both Western Reserve).

Several twirlers will attend the Marching Auxiliaries summer camp and competition at Ashland University. Those include Monica Mattiussi (Austintown), Jessica Yozwiak (Boardman), Emmy Graffius and Alyssa Thomas (both of Canfield), Madeline Crish (Poland), and Cassidy Oyler (Springfield). They will look to achieve Northern Strut’s 11th consecutive Grand Champion honor at the camp.

The Northern Strut organization expanded its staff this season to include Rebecca Platt, former Springfield Local Majorette Captain and member of the 2008 MA National Champion Senior Twirl Duet. The organization, established in 1995, is a local twirling group that specializes in both recreational and competitive baton twirling as well as flag twirling and drum major instruction for students in elementary school through college.

The group is located within Astre Total Fitness in Boardman and is sponsored this season by diamond sponsors Jumpstart CDC and Noday’s Deli. There will be open registration for new members Aug. 4 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Astre.