For about two decades, Silsbee ISD has not seen a twirler on the field under the Friday night lights, but one performance from sixth grade student is Ava Patterson at Edwards-Johnson Memorial Silsbee Middle School could be the spark the district needs to reignite the passion for twirling.
Ava, the daughter of Silsbee High School Band Director Todd Patterson, has been twirling since she was four years old. Patterson said his daughter comes from a long line of twirlers. He noted that Ava’s mother, grandmother and great-grandmother were all twirlers.
Oct. 15, Ava showcased her talents at the UIL Region 10 Middle School Twirling Contest, representing Silsbee. She earned a first division rating, which is the highest rating possible, indicating a superior performance. Patterson said, since Ava’s performance, the pre-teen has sparked some interest in bringing back twirlers at Silsbee.