When most people think of baton twirling, they might picture a parade feature. But for Mary Matt Pierson, a freshman at St. Pius X, baton twirling is a serious sport– one that has taken her across the country and is soon leading her to the World Championships in Italy next summer.
While many of her friends juggle the typical challenges of high school, Pierson spends her weekends twirling her way to the top, both figuratively and literally. A dedicated baton twirler with eight years of experience, she’s quickly making a name for herself on the global stage.
Baton twirling runs deep in Pierson’s family. Inspired by the legacies of her great-aunt and mother, she picked up the baton around the age of six. It’s something that’s always been a part of her life. But what began as a family tradition blossomed into a full-fledged passion.
Her weekly schedule is not for the faint of heart. On Saturdays, Pierson practices from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, followed by more hours of training on Sundays. During the week, she squeezes in dance classes and private lessons, all while managing her schoolwork.
Summers are even more intense, with weeklong sessions sometimes extending from 8 am to 10 pm.
“Grub Hub is my best friend at practice,” she laughed, noting how she powers through the day with the help of Dr. Pepper and a variety of snacks.
The dedication is paying off. Pierson competes on both an artistic team and a junior team. The artistic group, which focuses on thematic performances, recently took on the theme of women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).
“There’s always a meaning behind it,” Pierson said, emphasizing the work that goes into each theme. Dressed as Rosie the Riveter, Pierson and her teammates secured a spot in the upcoming World Championships in Turin, Italy.
Competitions can be grueling. Pierson’s day typically starts at 4 am to prepare her hair and makeup. She arrives at the venue by 6 am, where she’ll stay until 10 pm.
“You get there, get warmed up, and then you’re locked in,” Pierson said.
The competition floor is a stark environment– just her, a few judges, and her routine. It’s nerve-wracking.
“You never know how the crowd is going to react,” she admited. “People might think it’s ‘easy’ or ‘dumb’, but it’s not as simple as just ‘throwing around a metal stick.’ All the twirlers I know, we all put in a lot of dedication to this.”
This year, nationals took her to Ohio, where she once again demonstrated her skills and determination by representing the USTA (United States Twirling Association). Her hard work earned her a third-place finish in individual qualifiers and a first-place victory with her team, clinching a spot in the prestigious World Championships.
Outside of competitions, Pierson is a proud member of the St. Pius X Marching Lions.
Despite often being mistaken for a Color Guard member, she clarified, “Band is very different from competition. I’m not in the Color Guard; I’m the feature twirler.”
Although, she does say that she’s a band kid, and proud to say it.
“We all put in a lot of work,” Pierson said. “Not just me, the entire band does.”
In addition to her school and twirling commitments, Pierson has also landed an internship with Only Twirlers, a leading baton company. As part of their social squad, she creates TikTok videos, one of which recently garnered over 6 million views.
“It’s a big deal,” she said. “I’ve been watching them since I was little. I really looked up to these people.”
With the 2024 World Championships on the horizon, Pierson’s future in baton twirling looks bright. When asked if she sees herself twirling in the Olympics, Pierson remains hopeful.
“Maybe. Maybe at least one,” she said. “Hopefully it comes soon, because, I mean, they put breakdancing in there.”
Baton twirling is expected to become an Olympic sport within the next five to seven years.
For now, Pierson remains focused on each performance, knowing that every twirl, toss, and catch is one step closer to the next big thing.
