Jennifer Marcus performing at an Orlando Magic game, and with the 2010 Team USA (back row, middle)
Baton Twirlers Hope For Recognition As Athletes
By Eloísa Ruano González, Orlando Sentinel
For years, the debate has been whether cheerleaders and figure skaters should be considered athletes. The world of sports finally budged and gave them the title. Florida baton twirlers hope for the same recognition.
"You train every single day. You have coaches and you have training camps," Jennifer Marcus said before taking part in the state baton twirling championships Saturday in Celebration. "It's a sport and it is a performing art."
Marcus, 26, trains for at least three hours a day. The Baldwin Park woman said it's difficult to find a gym that will let her practice. Marcus, who twirls for the Orland Magic at games, often trains at the RDV Sportsplex Athletic Club between the basketball team's practices.
Twirlers say it's demanding on the body to toss a metal rod roughly 40 feet in the air and whip their bodies around fast enough to catch the baton before it hits the ground. They also lunge, spin and roll their bodies to perform basic baton twirling tricks.
"It takes a lot of years of training to do the basic stuff. It looks a lot easier than it is," Deric Vest, 23, of Orlando, said. Vest, one of the few men at Saturday's competition, said twirlers often risk injuries, as with any other sport. A friend dislocated his knee and couldn't compete, Vest added.
Marcus is a member of the Team USA, which will compete in August at the World Baton Twirling Championships in Norway. She has to raise money to help her cover costs for the Norway trip, but that will be no easy task.
"Our sport is not recognized by a whole lot of people. It's difficult to get sponsorship, especially in this economy," she said.
Marcus, a Miami native, has been called the "Michelle Kwan of baton twirling." She's won dozens of medals from national and world championships since she joined the sport at 3.
The world championship is the highest honor, said Tessah Ceballos, treasurer of the Florida council of the United States Twirling Association. She said, "it's our Olympics."
The sport, which started as a male-only sport, draws thousands of people throughout the U.S., said Amy Trujillo, president of the state baton council.
Trujillo was a competitive baton twirler for many years and she now coaches a team from Jacksonville, which competed in the state championships. She said not much as change since her twirling days when it comes to being respected as an athlete.
Part II: Keeping Things Spinning
By Donna Turner, Spark Volunteer
Jennifer Marcus won her first national championship in baton twirling at the age of seven. She wanted to be just like her older sister, and at the tender age of three, began her competitive twirling experience. It didn't take long for her to excel.
If you are a FSU fan, you may have seen Marcus lead the FSU Marching Chiefs as the feature twirler throughout her undergraduate years. Marcus attended Florida State University, Tallahassee, is where she received a degree in Public Relations with a minor in Journalism. She continued her education at FSU and obtained a Masters Degree in Sports Administration.
While gaining her education, Marcus was amassing more twirling awards on the State, Regional, National and World titles. She and her sister, Melissa, who originally inspired her to take up baton twirling, formed a company in Miami in 2005. The goal of the company, Syngery, is to expand twirling in the Greater Southern Florida Area. The Synergy Twirling Team won the 2008 National Championship. Marcus was an assistant coach, and performed with the seven member team.
When she competes, Marcus performs in more than one competition. She competes in solo, two-baton, team, and her favorite three-baton performances. One of her favorite places to compete is right here at Disney at the Twirl Mania Competition where she won gold in February 2009.
Marcus’ life is like a three baton competition, she juggles many activities at once. During the year, the internationally known twirler has competitions to win, routines to plan, costumes to design, and writing to do. Her major client is the company Premium Seats USA and she is a contributing writer for the Orlando Style magazine here in Orlando. Since moving to Baldwin Park in early 2009, she has traveled in the US, and internationally including seminars and clinics in Sydney. She assisted the Sydney organizers with suggestions on their championships in August 2009.
Meanwhile if you enjoy the Orlando Magic Games, you might see Marcus perform with the Orlando Stunt Team at select games.