Purdue News
Purdue News
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August 25, 1997 Repeat Performances For Purdue's Solo TwirlersWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The football field sidelines will look strikingly familiar for the Purdue University All-American Marching Band this fall. The four featured solo baton twirlers all are returning to their positions. Nine women competed for the positions. All performed individual twirling routines and answered questions from the judging panel. In addition to performing with the marching band, the solo twirlers represent Purdue at conferences, meetings and other special events throughout the year. Ann Marie Loppnow, a sophomore in industrial hygiene from Hartland, Wisc., returns for her second year as Golden Girl XX. She has been twirling for 16 years, and has won more than 1,000 trophies in local, state and national twirling competitions. While in high school, Loppnow served as captain of "Julie's Touch of Silver" twirling corp in Oshkosh, Wisc.
The Golden Girl tradition began in 1954, during the era of football quarterback Lenny Dawson, whose prowess on the field prompted the press to dub him Purdue's "Golden Boy." At the same time, Dr. Al G. Wright (now Director of Bands Emeritus) brought his first twirling protege to the field, Juanita Carpenter, who became Purdue's "Golden Girl." Dawson soon graduated, leaving Purdue without a "Golden Boy." Carpenter also graduated, but the Golden Girl title remained, becoming a movable crown passed down through the generations. It since has become the standard for excellence within the twirling community. Karen Asadourian, a senior in electrical engineering from Westlake, Ohio, returns as the Girl in Black for the second year. This is Asadourian's fourth year with the band. During the 19951996 season, she served as captain of Purdue's twirling line. She is a certified competitive baton twirling judge and coach, and has won numerous awards in both state and national twirling competitions.
The Girl in Black hit the scene in 1962, providing a back-up for the Golden Girl. June Ciampa Lauer, who also served as Golden Girl V, was the first to fill this position. Dressed in Purdue's other color, she first performed as the "International Twirler." This title was later replaced with the more obvious "Girl in Black." Erin Griffin and Alisha Stenger each return for their third year as Purdue's Silver Twins. Griffin is a senior in math education from Valparaiso, Indiana. Stenger is a senior majoring in special education from Avon, Indiana. Griffin has eighteen years of twirling experience, and has previously performed with Dee-Jay's Baton Twirling Corps, St. Paul's Twirlers, and A Touch of Class Twirling Corps. Stenger has thirteen years of twirling experience. She previously was a member of the Royal Paraders, and served as the Avon High School feature twirler. Both Griffin and Stenger have won numerous individual twirling awards in state and local competitions. The Silver Twins were added to Purdue's lineup in 1960. Although the original Silver Twins were identical twin sisters, there have been many featured twirlers who were "look alike" twins. These young women always appear together in performances and photographs. Purdue's bands department is more than 111 years old and is famous for its unique marching techniques and creative musical arrangements. Featured at all home football games and at selected off-campus events each season, the marching band also performs at the Indianapolis 500 each May. The solo twirlers, twirling line, flag corps and golduster danceline make up the band's auxiliary units which perform with the marching band. The bands department is in the midst of a $2 million fund-raising campaign that will run through Homecoming 1999, with a goal of $400,000 for band scholarships, $800,000 for new instruments, and $800,000 to support student travel opportunities. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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