By Joshua Robison / The Jambar
Youngstown State University’s feature twirlers, Madison Huff and Kaylynn Egan, participated in the International Baton Twirling Federation World Championships in Turin, Italy, to represent Team USA from Aug. 2-10.
Huff, junior biochemistry major, and Egan, sophomore exercise science major, won two gold medals and one silver medal at the competition.
Their first gold medal was earned as a part of the majorette corps, a performance composed of 25 athletes and a “Blues Brothers” theme. Huff and Egan won their second medal in the Nations Cup with a smaller, eight person team that finished first in the preliminary and final rounds against 15 other national teams.
The twirlers added to their success by winning the silver medal in the World Championship, composed of the top-five teams.
Huff and Egan said their opponents at the competition were challenging, and evoked different emotions for them.
“[The competition is] definitely very overwhelming, just because you know you’re going out there and you feel so much pressure that you want to do so good,” Huff said. “But once you go out there, I just kind of zone in completely. Then after it, you just feel all of these emotions, whether you did good or bad.”
“I was very overwhelmed, very nervous, but it felt amazing coming off that floor after doing my job I knew I could do,” Egan said.
Not only did Huff and Egan work hard to achieve the gold medal, but they had a support system that helped them get through it.
“I’m so grateful for all the support we’re getting from my friends, my family, my coaches — everyone here. It’s so crazy. I have no words to describe it,” Egan said.
Gianna Tompson, YSU Penguinette and feature twirler instructor, was also excited for Huff and Egan with their recent accomplishment.
“I am so excited for them,” Tompson said. “I’m just so proud of everything they accomplished with their team.”
Tompson, who had been with Huff and Egan for years during their training and preparation for this competition, said she was grateful that their hard work paid off.
“I was able to follow them the past few years, seeing what they’ve accomplished before. I’ve been able to see [Huff and Egan] when they were preparing for this big competition two years ago,” Tompson said.
Tompson said that going forward, she is going to push more of her students to partake in competitions like the International Baton Twirling Federation World Championship.
Huff and Egan will both continue twirling with the Feature Twirlers during YSU football games during the remainder of their collegiate careers and will continue working to achieve their goals.
“It really proves that nothing is impossible. You just keep working and your dreams can come true,” Huff said.
