Local twirlers prepare for fall season

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Neighbors | Submitted.Northern Strut Twirling Teams are celebrating their 18th anniversary season this year. Current twirlers are, from left, (front) Ashley Niemla, Kaylee Catcott, Megan Bendel, Madison Svirbly, Lily Ditz, Allison Lockiec, Adele Colonna; (second row) Grace Economus, Tara Schuster, Kathryn Rosinski, Dina Notareschi, Jessica Kozar, Casey Kantaras, Emily Garrett; (third row) Anngel Benson, Maddie Crish, Emily Combs, Cassidy Oyler, Amanda Bendel, Monica Mattiussi, Yiannoula Katsadas, Jenna Benson; (back) Alyssa Thomas, Shannon Chaffee, Celia Melillo, Maria Katsadas, Emmy Graffius, Megan Howard, Madi Zickefoose, Amanda Dicks, and Karlie Kowal. Missing is Marissa Melillo.

Northern Strut twirling teams will be celebrating their 18th anniversary season this year.

The organization is busy with the addition of a new staff member, preparing students for local collegiate twirling lines and high school majorette and color guard lines, participating in area community and collegiate parades, and rehearsing to send young women to the Marching Auxiliaries Ohio Classic and national competition.

Earning spots on twirling lines at the collegiate level are Amanda Dicks of New Springfield (Indiana Tech University - the university’s first Feature Twirler), Meghan Susko of Poland (Kent State - Touch of Gold Twirler), and Jessica Yozwiak of Thiel College (college’s first Feature Twirler).

Students selected for area high school positions include Shannon Chaffee, Monica Mattiussi, Madeline Crish, Casey Kantaras, Maria Katsadas, Celia Melillo, Marissa Melillo, Dina Notareschi, Emily Combs, Cassidy Oyler, Kathryn Rosinski, Alyssa Blosser, and Alyssa Thomas.

Northern Strut is also expanding its twirling staff this season to include Kelly Brothers, former Springfield Local majorette captain and current adviser for the Springfield Local High School majorettes.

Northern Strut Twirling Teams, established in 1995 and under the direction of Janet Gbur, 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 across from Boardman Park. Open registration for new members will be held on Aug. 25 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Astre. For more information, visit www.northernstruttwirling.com or call Astre Fitness at 330-726-9292.