Cherry Creek High School feature twirler Ashley Dolan won two national titles and several other awards at the National Baton Twirling Championships, held July 12-17 in Savannah, Georgia.
Months of hard work and dedication paid off for Ashley Dolan, the feature twirler at Cherry Creek High School, when she won the 17-Year-Old National Two Baton and Dance Twirl Championships at the 2010 U.S. National Baton Twirling Championships, July 12-17, at the Savannah Civic Center in Savannah, Ga. More than 800 athletes from 26 states participated in the competition, which was sponsored by the U.S. Twirling Association.
“To earn one national title is a great accomplishment,” said Michelle Dawson, Dolan’s primary coach. “To earn two national championships is just outstanding, and a true testament to Ashley’s talent and determination. She spent a lot of time in the gym this year perfecting her competition routines.”
Dolan also earned second place in the 17-year-old National Strut Championship and third place in the 17-year-old Solo Championship. In addition, she won the silver medal in the Senior AAA division of the prestigious U.S. PreTrials competition, which prepares athletes for the rigors of international competition.
That experience will be invaluable next year, because Dolan also qualified to compete in the 2011 International Cup Championships, which will bring the best twirlers in the world to Jacksonville, Fla., in August 2011.
“I’m really honored to have the chance to represent the United States in the International Cup Championships and compete with the best twirlers from other countries,” Dolan said.
Sharing the sport of baton twirling with others is one of Dolan’s passions. She is a junior coach with Colorado Twirls and hosts Twirl Girl Parties for birthday girls and Brownie troops.
A junior at Cherry Creek High School, Dolan is co-captain of the Bruin Marching Band Color Guard and will perform with the band at the 2010 Citrus Parade in Orlando, Fla., in December. She also plays flute in the CCHS Wind Ensemble and is a member of National Honor Society and Big Sisters.
