parents of twirlers

It’s a warm welcome wrapped around valuable information delivered by people who know what it’s like to be the parent of a baton twirler: the members of the USTA Parents Commission.
This group of dedicated volunteers has spent several months developing the first-ever USTA Parents’ Guide.

Whether your child is just beginning their twirling journey or advancing into higher levels of competition, this guide is designed to help you understand the sport, support your athlete, and feel confident navigating practices, performances, and USTA events. Inside, you’ll find clear explanations, practical tips, and a warm community spirit that reflects what makes twirling such a meaningful and empowering activity for young athletes across the country.

USTA is grateful to these parents, who also volunteered at the 2025 National Championships, supporting the USTA Athletes Commission as it hosted the Champions Celebration and Athletes Party.

The commission members say the sport of baton twirling has truly benefited their children.

“Baton helps young people build friendships, teamwork, self-discipline, and confidence, giving them tools that support success in school and throughout life,” said Mary Brace, parent of Josie and Grazi D’acquisto, and a medical equipment company operations manager.

“The thing I’ve loved the most is traveling with Bridgette to competitions,” said Jennifer McCollum, mom to Bridgette McCollum, and a public relations professional. “We’ve spent many hours on the road together and we’ve seen so much of America.”

“I love being a twirler parent because of the strong sense of community and support within the baton world,” said Kaydance Richardson’s mom, Brooke Richardson, who is a middle and high school band director and HS marching band auxiliary director. “The friendships, encouragement, and shared experiences among parents and athletes are truly special.”

These parents say serving on the commission is very rewarding.

“There are so many nice people involved with baton twirling, who truly care about the sport and the kids,” said Melissa Schuller, mom to Mikayla Schuller, and a professional in engineering and business management. “Not growing up in the sport myself, I thought I can also be a voice for other parents who are new to the sport as I was.”

“I was a new parent once too,” said Alicia Olivier, mom to Cerena Olivier and an educator. “Though I twirled competitively myself and knew some things, there was still a lot to learn on the grownup side. Now I enjoy helping other new parents and guiding them to be the best supporter of their athlete they can be.”

“Joining the Parents Commission has allowed me to offer insight from other professional boards and committees to make USTA better,” said Cheyenne Sorenson’s mom, Gigi Sorenson, an RN and corporate director of telehealth for Shriners Children Hospitals. “This then gives our twirlers access to other levels of support for their growth and development in the sport.”

“As both a parent and an educator, I value organization, communication, and advocacy,” Richardson added. “I want to give back to a sport that has given so much to my child and help support families, athletes, and the overall success of the organization in any way I can.”

You can contact the USTA Parents Commission at parentscommission@ustwirling.com.