Purdue's Girl in Black, Golden Girl selected
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Cecilia Daizovi, a sophomore from Ossian, Ind., was chosen Saturday (Feb. 25) as Purdue's Girl in Black, and MerrieBeth Cox will remain as Golden Girl for the university's "All-American" Marching Band.
Daizovi, who performs as a Golduster dancer, twirled her way to the Girl in Black position during auditioning. She will begin her performing career with the 2012 football season.
She is Purdue Bands’ first legacy twirler. Her mother, Kim Ratcliffe, was Girl in Black from 1986-89 and Golden Girl in 1989-90. Her aunt, Kelly Ratcliffe, was Girl in Black in 1989-90.
Daizovi has been twirling since the age of 5. She is the current USA National Baton Twirling champion in two events and Team USA Junior Women’s gold medalist.
Cox will continue her reign as one of the most popular Golden Girls of all time. A native of Roselle, Ill., she will be a fifth-year senior in the fall and the first Golden Girl to be featured in the position for five years.
No sets of identical twins competed for the Silver Twins position, so it will remain vacant for the 2012-13 season. Six competitors were offered the chance to join Purdue’s newly revamped twirling line, according to Marching Band Director Jay Gephart. The women, who came from as far as Florida, Arizona and Maryland to audition, have until May 1 to accept the department’s invitation.
Purdue’s current Girl in Black, Meg Merdian, will graduate in May. Silver Twins, Sara and Chellie Zou, graduated in December 2011.
Contact: Kathy Matter, 765-496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu