When we think of baton twirlers, we often think of marching band majorettes helping us to celebrate a national holiday or a scholastic sporting event. Though these parade vignettes are admirable in their own right, the world of fierce competitive baton twirling generally goes unnoticed by the public eye.

The sport of baton twirling requires the strength of a gymnast, the grace of a dancer, and the precision of an ice skater. The greatest athletes can amaze us with unimaginable feats, utilizing the 30-inch metal shaft in ways we would have never thought possible, and then move us to tears with their emotional and thought-provoking performances. It is a beautiful sport that fosters and extols both athletic achievement and creative artistry.

Monica Lee began twirling when she was 9 years old, and has since won a plethora of State, Regional, National, and World titles on the competitive circuit. Among her many accomplishments, she is proud to be a 2-time World Bronze Medalist and 3-time World Silver Medalist in the Pairs event (along with her brother, Jason Lee), and a member of the 2005 World Champion team.

She twirls with the Syndication Baton Club, under the direction of Sandi Rios.