Purdue's Golden Girl going for more gold at World Championships
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue Golden Girl MerrieBeth Cox will compete for more precious medal as a member of the USA Twirling Team at the World Championships in Neuchatel, Switzerland next week.
Two years ago, Cox placed third in the World Championships and received a bronze medal. She will participate in the April 2-8 competition in two different events - solo baton and two-baton. Each category will have approximately 100 participants from 31 countries around the globe. Like the Olympics, the top scoring competitor in each category gets a special ceremony accompanied by the playing of the National Anthem.
"MerrieBeth is the most talented Golden Girl that Purdue has ever had," says Alisha Kuckartz, who coaches Purdue's twirlers and is a former Golden Girl herself. "The reason she's good is because she is so well-rounded and very powerful. Not only does she do difficult tricks, but she incorporates gymnastics and dance."
MerrieBeth's younger sister, Melissa, also qualified in the strut competition.
"Sometimes people say that just qualifying for the Worlds is the hardest thing to do," MerrieBeth says. "My name's out there a bit more since the last Worlds. Also my career's coming to an end so it's a bit sad. But I want to go out with a bang."
Contact: Kathryn Matter, 765-496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu