New Twirlers Selected for 2023-24 Purdue “All-American” Marching Band

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Emily Cowette of Londonderry, NH will continue as the 32^nd Purdue Golden Girl, continuing a tradition started by Director of Bands Emeritus, Dr. Al G. Wright in 1954. On Saturday, February 18, her audition earned her one of the most iconic positions on Purdue’s campus. Cowette, who began twirling at six years old, is currently a sophomore studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. She held the position of Silver Twin during the 2021-2022 season.

Haley Aiken will return as the Girl-in-Black. She is currently a junior majoring in Psychological Sciences. Aiken is from Jeannette, PA and has been competing both individually and on a team since 2008. She is a member of Team USA World Baton Twirling Team.

Katie Harris will be continuing in the position of Miss Boilerette, taking the field as the 4^th person to hold the title.  Currently a junior studying Interior Design, Harris held the position of Silver Twin for the 2021-2022 season. Miss Boilerette was originally part of the Purdue Twirling program during the 2009-2010 season and has been a fixture in the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band since 2018.

The Purdue “All-American” Marching Band is pleased to have current junior, Alexa Lytle of Englewood, CO and current sophomore, Alana Diedrick of Broadview, OH continue as the 2023-24 Silver Twins. Lytle is majoring in Geology and Geophysics and Diedrick is major in Biomedical Health Sciences Pre-Dental. Both are formerly members of the Purdue All-American Twirling Team.

In addition, nine students were offered spots on the All-American Twirling Team to round out the Purdue Twirling program. They include returning twirlers, junior Jack Matthews, sophomores Emma Alexander and Clara Berg, freshmen Lili Breunig, Anna Hardesty and Dallas Ingle. Three incoming freshmen have been offered a position on the team as well. They are Ireland Jones, Anya Stewart and Meghan Zoll.

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 solo auditions. We are thrilled to welcome our new team to Purdue this fall. They will make their debut performance on Saturday, August 19, when the 138^th edition of the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band takes the field for their End-Of-Camp Performance.

Photo: The 32nd Purdue Golden Girl – Emily Cowette