New Twirlers Announced for 2019-2020 Purdue “All-American” Marching Band

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Kaitlyn Schleis of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, will serve for a second year as the 30th Purdue Golden Girl, continuing a tradition started in 1954 by Director of Bands Emeritus, Dr. Al G. Wright. On Saturday, March 2, her audition earned her one of the most iconic positions on Purdue’s campus. Schleis is a junior in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, and she has held the positions of Silver Twin, Girl-in-Black, and Golden Girl during her time at Purdue.

Current freshman, Amanda Coy of Saline, Michigan, will return as the Girl-in-Black. Coy began twirling in 2003 and twirled on a competitive team for 13 years. Coy is studying Political and Health Sciences.

For the second consecutive year, the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band will feature Miss Boilerette. Alicia Dennie, from Culver, Indiana, will return as Miss Boilerette for the upcoming season. Dennie is a sophomore majoring in Pre-Dental, and previously held the position of Silver Twin as a freshman. Miss Boilerette was originally part of the Purdue Twirling program during the 2010-2011 season.

Current freshman, Alexis Piskulic of Arnold, Missouri, and sophomore, Brooke Wyatt of LaFontaine, Indiana, will return next season as the iconic Silver Twins. Wyatt, who is majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management and minoring in Event and Meeting Management, is returning to her position as a Silver Twin for her third year. Piskulic, studying Political Science and Sociology with a minor in American Sign Language, will perform as one of the Silver Twins for her second season.

In addition, eight students were offered spots on the All-American Twirling Team as part of the Purdue Twirling program. They include returning twirlers, juniors Mackenzie Joefreda and Emma Schafer, sophomore Marin Parker, current freshmen Ashley Brazeau and Leah DePasquale, and incoming freshmen Marissa Grigora, Caroline Hawkins, and Alexa Tamburlin.

All twirlers and band members are required to audition for positions annually, and candidates must be admitted to Purdue University in order to qualify for auditions. We are thrilled to welcome our new team to Purdue this fall. They will make their debut performance on Saturday, August 17, when the 134th edition of the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band takes the field for their End-Of-Camp Performance.