Chelsea Russell is currently attending the University of Iowa to get her Masters of Arts and Teaching for Secondary English Education. She graduated in 2011 with a Bachelors of English, Creative Writing and a minor in French. She is currently a student teacher in Ms. Field’s class at City High.
LH:How did you decide that teaching was what you wanted to do?
I was never really sure but I have been teaching baton twirling for seven or eight years and I always said to myself, ‘oh I am going to be a writer or I am going to be an actress.’ I originally went to college for theatre. But it when it came time to graduate, I wasn’t really ready to leave Iowa because I was having so much fun being the Golden Girl. I was like why am I not going to school to be a teacher?
LH: How and when did you start baton twirling?
I was about three years old. My mom would teach in a room in our house and they would close the doors. My dad told that I would go up to him and ask ‘what’s mom doing in there? Why can’t I go in there?’ I asked my if I could do it and she said no! She was a national champion and in Miss America and this phenomenal twirler. I was actually born pigeon toed. So I was so turned in that I would trip myself over my own feet and fall all the time. I was so uncoordinated. Finally she gave in and let one of my babysitters teach me baton twirling. When I was about four or five my started teaching me because she was like ‘Ok fine I’ll teach you. This seems like it’s what you want to do, you seem really motivated.’ Which seems kind of crazy because I was just this four year-old girl!
LH: What does it mean to be Iowa’s golden girl?
It means having the most fun ever! It’s one of the premier ambassador positions for the U of I. Not only are you performing at football and basketball games, you also get to do a lot of charity events and compete in baton twirling across the country representing the University of Iowa. I was really overwhelmed by how big of a deal being the golden girl was. I don’t mean to sound conceited or anything but I was always shocked that people would recognize me in the bathroom of a restaurant.
It’s basically just being a role model and being that representation of what the U of I and the hawkeyes are all about.
LH: What are some of the most memorable experiences you had as the golden girl?
My junior year was the year the hawkeyes went to the orange bowl and we went 9-0 for a little while until Ricky Stanzi broke his ankle. It was horrible! Just that whole season getting to see the way the fans reacted not to just the football team but to the band. We had a really special performance where we did the Thriller dance at a football game against Indiana on Halloween. We were losing by a lot at half time. We get out on the field and I was like I don’t know how this is going to go. I had choreographed the dance myself and we had spent weeks doing it. Its 260 people and some know how to dance and others I have never danced before. So we start doing the dance and we get a standing ovation from the crowd. I have never had an experience like that before in my life. It was so incredible to have all the fans rally around us. After that we had this great come back and Stanzi threw a bunch of touchdowns and we won the game!
It’s amazing how a college town works and how supportive everyone is of their football team. It’s amazing to see how one town centered around one team is like. I was so so lucky to be a part of that atmosphere and that kind of community.
LH: What does it mean to be a national champion in baton twirling?
On a national scale it’s kind of like boxing where there are different organizations. I competed in both baton twirling organizations for a while. You start at a state level and have to qualify for nationals. There is usually 60 to 80 girls in your division at nationals. There are differents events too. To qualify for worlds you have to make top three in your event. I have been fortunate enough that I have qualified for four separate world championships and I have won seven world gold medals. That was over the course of quite a while. My first world championships was when I was ten in England.
It’s just like any other sport. It takes the same grace and agility as a figure skater. It takes the same focus and drive as a football player. The same footwork as a soccer player. It combines so many things in this one sport.
LH: A lot of boys were talking about asking you to Prom. How would you feel about going to another high school Prom?
Well, I got asked by three of Ms. Fields students! I had to politely decline in the middle of class. I don’t know about the appropriateness of doing such a thing. I do have some friends who are student teaching that are going to their high school’s prom just to be a chaperone. If I was asked to do that, sure I would. Why not? Not with a student though, that’s a little crazy. But I saw the instagrams and the tweets after the pep assembly. I have all those things, you just can’t find me!
LH: Do you get nervous before you perform?
Oh, absolutely. I was terrified for that pep assembly! It’s so crazy because its a different kind of nerves for each thing that you do. Being a student teacher here and knowing that some of my students would have to be in class with me after. I was kind of like what if I mess up? What will they think? Will they think, ‘oh this girl is so silly, shes out there twirling and did a terrible job.’ Nerves for a U of I football game is totally different than for a world championship. For each different thing you have different things to worry about and I am a total perfectionist. I actually have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder so I have to do these weird routines before I perform and I have my lucky towel that I can’t leave home without. Over the years I have learned how to wrangle that a little bit and channel it into adrenaline and energy and focus.
LH: How often do you perform now?
Well I quit on and off for a few years and then kept coming back. People were calling me Brett Favre for a few years which was really embarrassing! I really want to get my judging license for twirling and once you do that you are no longer allowed to compete. I try to perform as much as possible because I love performing. My senior year of high school I auditioned for cirque de soleil. I thought if I could have a career in twirling baton of course I would do it. But for now I’m happy performing a little bit and teaching.
LH: What is it like to twirl with fire?
I didn’t start twirling fire until i was in high school. I mean you don’t get to do as hard of things. It looks cool but you’re not really doing much of anything. Now I’ve started doing more stuff. I’ve actually twirled four fire batons before which was terrifying! I don’t think I will ever do it again. I just wanted to prove that I could do it. I got it on video tape and was like ok I did it. The batons are way heavier and you have gas flying everywhere. Once you get three batons going, it is hot! The hair on my arms get singed off. It’s really scary. I used to have my hair slicked down against my head and as tight of clothing as I could. But I mean you saw me at the pep rally. I had a t-shirt and a ponytail and I hadn’t practiced in a year. Don’t tell Mr. Bacon! The thing is you’re not going to burn yourself if you keep the baton moving. It’s a lot safer than it looks.
LH: How have you enjoyed your time student teaching at city high?
I love City High. I think it’s the greatest school ever. I love working with Ms. Fields, she’s absolutely amazing. The students here are hilarious, it’s so funny because my sister is a freshman back at home and it’s interesting just to get a glimpse of what her high school life is like. I mean I’ve only been out six years and things are totally different. We didn’t have a newspaper or show choir or a lot of things that you guys have here at my high school. I like the community atmosphere of City High. You guys really seem like a family to me. I’m going to be really sad to leave.
LH: What are your plans after this semester?
I have no idea and I hate that question! I’ve applied all over Iowa and in New York. My boyfriend and my family are there. Each place has pluses for me. I would love to stay but I would be happy going home. It’s just wherever the career Gods take me!
