Competition proves Golden Girl is one of the best

For years, Purdue Bands has boasted that its Golden Girl is the Midwest’s best twirler and one of the nation’s top twirlers.

In the summer of 2004, the National Baton Twirling Association offered its first ever national collegiate twirler competition, open to featured performers from colleges and universities across the country. Purdue Golden Girl Christy Stallings’ placed fourth in the nation, besting all twirlers from the Midwest and the Big 10.

A total of 41 collegiate twirlers competed by performing to their own school music at the special event, which was part of NBTA’s annual four-day national competition held in July at Notre Dame.

In other competitive events, Christy topped all twirlers to become the National Two-Baton Champion and the National Three-Baton Champion.

“Christy performed extremely well,” says Alisha Kuckartz, Purdue Auxiliary Director. “It was great to hear “Hail Purdue” as Christy performed as an ambassador for the university and the band department.  The Purdue Golden Girl has long been recognized as one of the most talented performers in the nation, and Christy certainly confirmed that high standard.”

  The timing of Stalling’s triumphs couldn’t be better. “For 50 years, Purdue has bragged about the talent of its Golden Girl, and this fall, as we celebrate the Golden Anniversary of that great tradition, it’s particularly wonderful to have our claims validated,” says Band PR Director Kathy Matter.

Christy Stallings’ twirling talents will be showcased throughout the Boilermakers home football season beginning with the Syracuse game on Sept. 5. A special 50 th Anniversary salute to the Golden Girls will be held at Homecoming on Oct. 16.

In the collegiate twirling competition, the top five placings went to: First, Hope Carrell, University of Georgia; Second, Kelly Montgomery, Southern Methodist University; Third, Brittany Brown, University of West Virginia; Fourth, Christy Stallings Purdue University; Fifth, Diana Reed University of Iowa.