EAST LONGMEADOW – Jennifer Fonseca, an 18-year-old recent graduate of East Longmeadow High School, recently took home a first place trophy in baton twirling during the annual National and World Open Twirling Competition at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

Fonseca told Reminder Publications she placed first in two-baton category, and fifth in show twirl, duet, and flag. She competed in a total of nine different categories, including three-baton, which entail using three batons at once.

She explained the two-baton category entails having two batons moving at the same time.

“You could have both of them up in the air,” she added. “You could have one of them up in the air. You could be doing something like a roll over your arm … or around your waist.”

She said some of the tricks she did during the two-baton category were “connector tricks” or seamless transitions between tricks as well as rolls and juggling.

She said her first place win was “definitely unexpected.”

Fonseca said she competed against at least 18 different baton twirlers from across the country.

“Your goal in nationals is to place top 10 and I placed top 10 in four events,” she noted.

Show twirl entails preforming a routine to upbeat music alongside props and fun costumes, Fonseca said. She said she wore a “Hairspray”-inspired outfit. She preformed duet alongside a partner and built a routine around competing as a duo. For the flag category, a flag is placed on one end of the baton and limits how much space is available during tosses. A penalty point is given to a person who touches the flag.

Fonseca, who has been practicing baton for 13 years, said twirling is difficult – there is a lot of hand-eye coordination and hand-face coordination involved in practicing baton.

“People say, ‘Oh, you throw a stick up in the air and do a spin underneath and you’re a baton twirler.’ And then you show them something how you manipulate the baton and then they kind of shut themselves up,” she added.

She said she there isn’t a twirling team in East Longmeadow, but does belong to a group in Belchertown.  

Fonseca said she attended the competition the past two years as well, earning 11 medals during past years.

She plans to continue practicing baton while in college at Framingham State University.

“People think it’s a hobby, but it’s definitely a passion if you love what you’re doing,” she explained. “Twirling – it’s only for a select few of people – you have to have the stamina, you have to have the flexibility, the showmanship; the whole package.”