Harlow Ragsdale brought home the gold for Pierce County and the United States at large with her recent win in Italy at an athletic event described as the “Olympics of baton twirling.”
“When they called my name followed by ‘from the USA’ I just felt so proud,” said Ragsdale. “I really wanted to win a medal for my country and I’m so grateful for this experience!”
The International Baton Twirling Federation Nations Cup and World Technical Baton Twirling Championships was held in Torino, Italy. Ragsdale was part of a select group to make the U.S. team at a qualifying event in South Carolina earlier this year. The championship event in Italy was her first trip to another country and Ragsdale’s mother, Haley, accompanied her as a chaperone.
“To see 22 different nations represent their country in baton twirling was absolutely amazing! Harlow was able to meet twirlers from all around the world,” said proud mother Haley Ragsdale. “To see her represent the USA with so much pride was so special. God has given her this platform to share His glory!” Approximately 40 girls competed in Ragsdale’s 2baton division and a similar number in the X-Strut division. Ragsdale finished fourth overall in 2-Baton, but took first place overall in X-Strut, which earned her a gold medal for the U.S.
Ragsdale began twirling at the age 5 with Center Stage Studio in Waycross, where she also took dance and acrobatics classes. Eventually, Ragsdale joined the M Twirling Team, based out of State College, Pennsylvania, and run by Matt and Meredith Freeman, the feature twirler for Penn State University and a twirler on the line there respectively. Periodically traveling to Pennsylvania, she further honed her skills, which have paid off in a big way.
Ragsdale qualified for Junior 2-Baton and Junior X-Strut for the 15-17 age group, though only 14 at the time. Rules state twirlers have to compete in the age range they fall into at the end of the current year. The next competition season for twirl starts in January and ends in July with nationals at Notre Dame.
Harlow Ragsdale is the oldest daughter of Jason and Haley Ragsdale. She is currently a sophomore at PCHS.
