Ever since she was a child in her mother's baton studio, P.J. Maierhofer wanted to become the College Miss Majorette of America. Now her dream has come true.
Maierhofer (senior-public relations) brought home the title -- and a $900 scholarship -- after The USA and World Twirling Championships last week at the University of Notre Dame.
The events started on July 21 and ended on July 24. Maierhofer said she competed in three individual competitions, placing first in the modeling and strut categories while coming in third place in her solo. She was given the title for having the best overall average compared to her competitors.
"It's like every twirler's dream," Maierhofer said. "It's the biggest honor of baton twirling -- like winning the Masters for golf."
Maierhofer is not the first Penn Stater in recent history to take home the title. She is preceded by former Blue Sapphire Bobbie Jo Solomon, who won the title in 1999.
Penn State majorette instructor Heather Bean said she is very happy for Maierhofer's achievement. Bean said she does not even remember how Maierhofer placed in each event because she was so anxiously anticipating the announcement of the overall winner.
"I was too excited to even listen to what they were saying that night," Bean said.
Maierhofer will have some responsibilities that come along with her title. She said she will be the guest of honor at twirling competitions, which she hopes will inspire younger athletes. She will represent the National Baton Twirling Association (NBTA) for one year and will be required to give a "farewell performance" at the 2010 championship, Bean said.
"It's like getting the best job for one year that I could ever ask for," Maierhofer said, "being a role model and being a baton twirler."
This award did not just come from natural talent. Bean said that all of the majorettes who competed in the competition began training in the spring, but Maierhofer started practicing in January after returning from the Rose Bowl.
"This is a huge achievement because they do have to work very hard for it," Bean said.
She said it takes a lot of physical discipline to perform at the standard of the Penn State majorettes because the program focuses on not just basic twirls but acrobatics too.
Bean said the majorettes also need endurance to be able to perform during the pre-game and halftime shows of football games.
"It's very involved," she said. "Most people don't realize that."
Maierhofer agreed that most people do not notice how much time and effort is put into twirling. She hopes that her title will bring more notoriety to the sport, letting the community know there is more to twirling than just the Blue Band.
Penn State spokeswoman Annemarie Mountz thinks Maierhofer has succeeded in spreading awareness and said the university is thrilled to be represented by her.
"P.J. certainly has brought a lot more visibility to twirling in a very good way," Mountz said. "The fact that P.J. got crowned College Miss Majorette of America really speaks highly over her."
