Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

She's got trophies to back up her twirling

A Brooksville 6-year-old takes home four awards from a drum majorettes contest. She heads to the nationals in North Carolina in July.

By MARYAN PELLAND
Published February 14, 2006

BROOKSVILLE - Alana Jagger is still pinching herself.

The 6-year-old can hardly believe she won four trophies at the recent Drum Majorettes of America Mini-Nationals in Charleston, Tenn. She took first place in her class for Queen of the Day modeling competition in formal wear.

"The trophy is nearly as big as she is," said Megan Jagger, Alana's grandmother.

Alana also brought home trophies for fourth place in beginner basic strutting, fourth in America's Most Beautiful Miniature Majorette and third in special beginner twirling solos. The Mini-Nationals began at 7 a.m. Jan. 14 and ended at midnight; the twirlers were back in the auditorium at 7:30 a.m. the next day for a 9 a.m. competition.

"(Alana) took a fall in the middle of one event and got right back up," Jagger said. "She did a great job. She's okay when she doesn't win, too. Just does her best, and then she's off to whatever is next."

Alana's baton instructor, Diane Sorvillo, who once held the title of Majorette Queen of America, said there is a lot of hard work and practice involved as twirlers move from local and state competitions into nationals.

A student at Wider Horizons School in Spring Hill, Alana began twirling the day she turned 4 years old. She has lots of potential, said Sorvillo, who is the Southeast regional director and a gold seal judge for Drum Majorettes of America.

Sorvillo has been holding competitions in Hernando and Citrus counties since the 1970s.

Drum Majorettes of America is a service organization that provides competitive opportunities for children, both boys and girls, as individuals or groups. Winners are awarded savings bonds and college scholarships, along with trophies. The organization has been around since 1947.

"There haven't been many individual winners from Hernando County. Most kids would rather compete in groups. We've done very well in group events," Sorvillo said.

She thinks Alana will continue to compete in individual events, but the decision is Alana's.

The next opportunity for Alana will be the nationals in North Carolina in July. Her events will be twirling and strutting. She will compete in the 4- to 6-year-old category.

"I'm destined to have bleacher butt, but that's okay," Jagger said. "I think (Alana) might continue long term. She likes to travel, and she likes meeting the kids she's competing with. They play with dolls or coloring books and are great friends between events.

"It's not a tough competitive spirit at all, with the kids or the parents."

[Last modified February 14, 2006, 02:45:31]