Banks Trail teen picks up baton for good cause

Olivia Thomas, a Banks Trail Middle School eighth-grader, wants to bring awareness to a sport she holds near to her heart.

Originally from Roanoke, Va., Thomas moved to Fort Mill in January and brought with her a passion for baton twirling.

“It’s a huge part of my life,” she said. “It’s such a fun sport.”

Olivia, 13, has been twirling since she was 4 years old. Thomas said in Roanoke, she used to watch older girls perform.

“I wanted to be that good someday,” she said.

Olivia will showcase her twirling skills during the Fort Mill’s Got Talent competition at 7 p.m. Sept. 12 in the Fort Mill High School auditorium.

Proceeds from the competition will benefit the Fort Mill High School band’s March to Normandy campaign to raise $90,000 for a trip to Normandy, France, where the band has been invited to perform at the Normandy American Cemetery.

Olivia said her mother, Stephanie Poe-Thomas, is a big influence in her following that passion. She was also inspired by sister Jameson and Adeline Kenerly. Jameson is a University of Georgia feature twirler and Adeline, who Olivia said she met at camp a few years ago, is a University of Georgia Majorette.

“They have been really good role models,” Poe-Thomas said.

Olivia said baton twirling has helped her gain self-confidence and remain calm under pressure.

“I’d be a completely different person if I hadn’t picked up a baton when I was little,” she said.

Olivia said she wants others to know the work that goes into baton twirling. She said she practices nearly five hours a day for competitions and the sport requires hand-eye coordination much like in football.

“These are really intense athletes,” Poe-Thomas said.

Olivia competed in the National Baton Twirling Association’s nationals, also called America’s Youth on Parade, competition July 21-25 at the University of Notre Dame in Indianapolis. She competed in the Preteen Miss Majorette of America event as Preteen Miss Majorette of the Southeast. Olivia competed in the advanced 12-year-old solo event and placed eighth against girls from across the country, Poe-Thomas said. She also placed sixth in the two-baton contest.

Olivia also won the Advanced Preteen Bulldog Classic in Athens, Ga., in March, and she competed in the 2014 United States Twirling Association national championships in Stockton, Calif., where she placed seventh in advanced solo and won the intermediate two-baton and three-baton titles.

The Fort Mill’s Got Talent competition is a chance for Olivia to bring awareness to baton twirling to Fort Mill, where she said she has not met many other twirlers.

“I want to inspire others to get up and start twirling,” she said. “After all the hard work, sweat and broken bones, it’s nice to have something that you are proud of.”

The first place winner will receive $500 and a trophy, second place will take home $300 and third will win $200. Chuck Boozer of WRHI’s “Palmetto Mornings” will host the show.

Tickets for the Sept. 12 show are on sale at fortmillhsband.com. Adults tickets are $15 and youth (ages 17 and younger) are $8.

This story was originally published August 28, 2015 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Banks Trail teen picks up baton for good cause."