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Two Warner Elementary School fifth-graders performed at the University of Kentucky’s Kroger Field during halftime of the football game against the Murray State Racers last weekend.

Skylar and Sierra are a part of Warner’s Twirl Jessamine program, which teaches fourth and fifth-grade girls social-emotional learning as well as the art of baton twirling. It’s their second year in the program, and their coach, Donna Daniel, said, “These two girls, it’s their second year,  and they’re super confident with their twirling routines. They’ve done a great job learning baton twirling.  They both like it so much, they want to continue it even beyond this elementary program.”

As part of the University of Kentucky’s “Twirler for a Day” program, young twirlers from the ages of five to 18 get to join the football field for a halftime performance with the University’s own Sweetheart majorettes. 

Typically, the Twirl Jessamine team only performs 4-6 times during Jessamine County youth basketball games in February, but performing and twirling is only one part of the program. These performances are what Daniel said the team works for all year. 

A couple of years ago, through a mentorship program Warner Elementary School has with Southland Christian Church, Daniel, a UK majorette alumna and the current coach for the University of Kentucky Twirler team, introduced herself to Misty Jordan, a coordinator at the elementary school’s Family Resource Center. 

When the two discussed how Daniel could help the school as a mentor, Daniel asked Jordan about starting a twirling team. The school approved it, and they started with seven girls. This year, Coach Daniel, Jordan, and Coach Donna Roberts have 14 girls in the program. 

While Daniel teaches the students baton twirling routines with assistance from Roberts, Misty creates lesson plans. The group of 14 is split into two, with the groups switching at every session. The girls learn baton twirling routines from Daniel and Roberts, and they learn confidence building, self-esteem, and friendship skills with Jordan. 

“The girls love it; it’s a lot of fun; they, of course, get very nervous having to perform. But we see a big change in them from the beginning of the year as they grow into their friendships with each other, and as they learn more confidence in themselves,” Jordan said. 

Any girl can apply to perform with the majorettes, as all the twirlers are given the information, but Skylar and Sierra were the only two who applied. Last weekend, the girls performed with 78 other girls. 

“I’m just so proud of them because it’s a big deal for a young girl to go from performing in front of a small gym of youth basketball parents to performing in front of thousands at Kroger Field.  They are exposed to what it would be like to be able to twirl as part of the UK Wildcat Marching Band. It is a big boost for the team at Warner Elementary, too, as others on the team may get the courage to do it next year.”  Daniel said. “As part of the program,  we quizzed the girls at the beginning of the season and again at the end on what they’ve learned. It is the coolest thing to hear some say, ‘I am more confident,’ and ‘I’ve made more friends,’ just things that young girls need. It goes beyond baton twirling, the baton twirling is just an avenue for us to build the girls’ confidence… a year or two before they go to middle school, and you know how hard middle school can be.”

“The girls did great on Saturday!” Daniel said after their performance, getting to be at the game with them supporting her university majorettes and her two Warner twirlers at the same time “I was so proud of the girls- they were so poised and did an excellent job.”