CM Majorettes Ready to Dazzle at Home Competition Saturday, March 1

By Emily Wright

MILL HALL— Excitement is mounting at Central Mountain High School as the Central Mountain Indoor Majorettes gear up to host their home competition this Saturday, March 1, 2025. With a season already marked by significant achievements, Head Coach Stephanie Ford shared insights into the team’s preparation leading up to the indoor competition season’s start this month and what spectators can look forward to at the upcoming event.

For Coach Ford, baton twirling has been a lifelong passion. “Baton twirling has always been a part of my life since I was a little girl,” Ford said, recalling her early days of twirling lessons starting at age seven under the guidance of Barb Powlus of the Powlus Dance Studio in Mill Hall. Ford continued baton twirling throughout her years at Bald Eagle Nittany High School, which she considers to be some of the most memorable experiences of her high school career. “If I were asked what were some of the most memorable times of high school for me, I would say twirling with my team. That is why it was so important to start coaching; I wanted students to make those same types of memories,” Ford emphasized.

The opportunity to become the majorette coach came about during the 2014-15 school year, and Ford eagerly embraced it. “I felt like I needed to jump on it and get the baton back in my hands,” she shared.

This year’s show, titled “The Struggle is Real,” goes beyond just showcasing intricate routines; it delves into a profound exploration of emotional resilience. As Ford explains, “This year’s show is taking a deeper look at how one might respond to the emotional burdens that we experience in life. Whether it is being called fat, bullied, abuse, or anxiety, every burden has weight to it,” she said. “Resilience and strength help to break through the chains that hold us down.”

Spectators can expect to embark on an emotional journey, beautifully portrayed through the art of baton twirling. “The performance will take you through an emotional transition of the weight of the burden and then shining through like bright neon,” Ford describes.

Under Coach Ford’s direction, this year, the Majorette team comprises 18 students. These students come from Central Mountain High School (CMHS), Central Mountain Middle School (CMMS), Sugar Valley Rural Charter School (SVRCS), and Lock Haven Catholic School, ranging in grade levels from 5 to 12.

Recently, the Central Mountain Majorettes achieved a significant milestone at the Tyrone Indoor Competition when the National Judges Association promoted them from the Scholastic A Classification to the Scholastic Open Classification on February 22. This marks the first time in over 15 years that Central Mountain has been placed in this classification. As the season has just begun, the CM Majorettes currently find themselves unmatched, with no other Scholastic Open Class Majorettes competing against them in their new classification. Although majorette units can undergo re-evaluation and possible re-classification each week leading up to April 1, this promotion stands as a testament to the CM Majorettes’ dedication and hard work. 

This weekend’s home competition will feature over 35 units competing in Dance, Baton Twirling, Colorguard, and Percussion, with participants traveling from different areas in Pennsylvania. “At the CM home show this weekend, there will be other scholastic majorette units representing Bald Eagle Area High School, Glendale High School, and Canton High School,” Ford noted. Additionally, several local independent majorette units will also be competing. 

The team’s rigorous preparation began well before the competitive season officially started in early February. “We start preparing for our season very early on, starting in October with open skill-building practices,” Ford said. Open skill-building practices then progress into more concentrated practices, where the show is developed with all its movements, choreography, backdrops, and props. This meticulous preparation continues with weekly modifications to the show based on feedback from judging panels, ensuring that the CM majorettes refine and perfect their performance before each competition. “Typically, what a spectator might see early in the season will not be the same that they might see late in the season,” Ford shared.  

Coach Ford beams with pride at the team’s sportsmanship and motivation. “The sportsmanship that this team shows to other units that attend these events is top-notch,” she expressed before mentioning that the CM Majorettes make an effort to wish every participant the best of luck. “We call them ‘good luck pins,’ but the students take these pins and go around to other groups and pin them, wishing them good luck for their performances,” she said, emphasizing the camaraderie shared among competitors.

As the team prepares for their upcoming performance, Ford offered a heartfelt thank you to all supporters: “It is amazing to see so many faces in the stands to watch these teams perform. I would also like to thank the KCSD administration for their support of the program as a whole,” she expressed. “If you plan to attend the home competition, wear a neon color so we know you’re in the stands cheering us on!”

With determination and community support, the CM Indoor Majorettes are poised to shine at their home competition, bringing a unique blend of performance artistry, skill, and emotional storytelling to the stage at CMHS. 

Spectators and supporters are encouraged to come out and see the dedication and talent of these young athletes as they perform in the gym at Central Mountain High School, 64 Keystone Central Drive in Mill Hall, beginning at 12:00 p.m.