Oct. 26, 2021

When freshman Ella Earnest was applying to colleges, she knew she wanted to twirl at an SEC university. After competing in national championships and earning a spot as one of the best baton twirlers in the country, she was looking for a place to take her tosses to the next level.

Florida is a long way from Faurot Field. But when Earnest, an Orlando native and health sciences major with an emphasis in rehabilitation sciences, visited campus, she knew the University of Missouri was right for her.

“When I woke up Sunday morning in Columbia after being offered a spot, it just felt like home,” she said.

Earnest is the newest member of the Mizzou Feature Twirlers, a small but elite team within Marching Mizzou that entertains crowds with high-flying baton tosses and plenty of Tiger spirit.

Though Earnest and the rest of the team make it look easy, twirling is a craft that requires a near lifetime of practice and commitment. In order to represent the black and gold, there’s also an audition process that pits the best in the country against each other for a chance at game day glory.