Nebraska twirler learns the value of perseverance

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By JoANNE YOUNG / Lincoln Journal Star

If at first ....

She started out at age 9 with baton in hand, following in the figure eights of her mom, a twirler back in the day at Norris High School.

After a flier came home about baton lessons, the mom asked the daughter if she was interested.

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Emily Brinton, one of the Nebraska Marching Band's twirlers, performs during the pregame show. (Gwyneth Roberts)

Emily Brinton, one of the Nebraska Marching Band's twirlers, performs during the pregame show. (Gwyneth Roberts)

Sure, the little girl said.

And so Emily Brinton’s work began. The competitions, the glittery costumes, the daily practice,  the three years of twirling  at Lincoln Northeast High School.

All aimed at one thing.

Someday, she hoped, she would join the list of featured twirlers with the Pride of All Nebraska, the Cornhusker Marching Band.

you don’t succeed ...

Brinton first auditioned for the  spot in 2004, before her freshman year.

She wouldn’t say she came off like a deer caught in the headlights, but she needed some work on her confidence and self esteem.

Brooke Walter from California won the spot. But Brinton was not deterred.

try, try, try, try, again.

Brinton tried out a second year, with a different routine and a different costume. Daily practice had improved her skill and animation. But Walter took the spot again.

Brinton’s positive outlook continued, but her third try still didn’t bring success.

She got more determined, more dedicated. And the fourth time, Emily Brinton had her strongest audition thus far.

“Then when I didn’t get it, I was kind of dejected,” she said. “I had put in so much time and effort.”

That leads us to spring 2008.

She had completed four years at the university, but with three  changes in her major, technically was going into her junior year.

Her twirling experience had become an epic poem. And it was time for the big finish.

She chose the music of Billy Joel’s “Pressure” for audition five.  It showed her increasing skill,  stamina and interpretive talent.

Four days later, she came home to find a letter. Hands shaking, heart beating almost out of control, the 5-foot-1, 101-pound Brinton opened it. She saw another student’s name — Jennifer Curtis of Papillion.

But she saw something else: A practice schedule for the band.

She looked again at the letter. It read, You and Jennifer Curtis ....

“You? That’s me,” her brain told her. The band had chosen them both.

This year, the panel of judges felt two candidates were worthy of the spot that adds that extra sparkle, that gives a face to the group that tends to be all hats and horns and  drums. 

“It really kind of warmed my heart to say to Emily, ‘This is your year,’”  said marching band Director Anthony Falcone. “Nobody worked harder.”

Reach JoAnne Young at 473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com.