Miss Boilerette position added to Purdue's Featured Twirler line-up
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Auditions held Saturday (April 10) returned MerrieBeth Cox to the position of Purdue's Golden Girl for the third straight year, kept the entire lineup of Featured Twirlers the same and created a new position titled "Miss Boilerette" for junior Rachel Bazzell.
"The quality of our competitors was so strong we felt compelled to create a position for Rachel," said Jay Gephart, director of the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band. "During the Al Wright era, he took advantage of talent by creating special positions along the way. We are delighted to create this title for Rachel for the 2010 season."
In previous years, Bazzell has distinguished herself on the band's twirling line. The New Carlisle, Ind., native currently holds the title of Miss Purdue.
The Miss Boilerette title raises the number of featured twirling positions with the band from three to four. Besides Cox, a sophomore from Roselle, Ill., retaining her position as Golden Girl, Meg Meridian, a junior from Troy, Mich., will return as Girl in Black, and Sara and Chellie Zou, juniors from Elkhart, Ind., will return as Silver Twins.
Each of the twirlers brings a unique style to their position, said Alisha Kuckartz, auxiliary director for Purdue Bands.
"MerrieBeth is powerful and intense. Speed and athleticism are her niches. Meg offers style and finesse, advanced body work. There's a smoothness in her twirling," Kuckartz said.
(Silver Twins) "Sara and Chellie Zou do everything with class. They have incredibly refined body movement and excellent showmanship. Rachel has a bubbly, youthful personality that's reflected in her twirling. She has excellent precision and offers some unique tricks you don't see very often," Kuckartz said.
All of the Featured Twirlers will appear with the "All-American" Marching Band in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in November 2010. That event kicks off the band department's 125th anniversary celebration.
Contact: Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands & Orchestra public relations, 765-496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu