Becky Hewitt is the director of the Arizona Twirling Athletes. It all started when some girls in her daughter's kindergarten class wanted some twirling lessons.

“It just started to grow and 35 years later, she’s now 40 and I’m still doing it,” Hewitt said.

Hewitt trains at least 100 girls and boys around the Valley, from age 6 all the way to the college level.

“A lot of people think you can just pick it up and flip it around or whatever, but most of the kids start when they’re pretty young,” Hewitt said.

“They learn how to march, hold a baton, we also do some gymnastics and some dance. So their bodies start to be flexible when their little.”

Two of those girls are Molly Johnson and Brittany Fredericks.

“I kept evolving into different stages like intermediate, advanced and now I’m an advanced twirler,” Johnson said. “I’ve just come a long way.”

Johnson is a freshman at Thunderbird High School. Not only does she twirl with Hewitt’s group, but she’s also a member of her school’s band.

“I can’t lie, I get really nervous, but once I’m out there I have so much fun,” Johnson said. “And you have the crowd and your so excited. They’re cheering for you and your band.”

Johnson’s talent has also earned her the title of this year’s “Miss Twirling Athletes Outstanding Teen.”

“People just think it’s a simple little thing, it’s not a sport,” Johnson said. “But if they go out here and try it, they’re going to be, Wow this is very difficult.”

“It’s more than just flipping sticks, like people say,” Fredericks said. “You meet a lot of new people. You have lots and lots of fun and you get to travel to really good places.”

Fredericks twirls with her band at Shadow Mountain High School. She believes getting involved with this sport has shaped the person she is today.

‘When I was little, I had a hard time meeting other people,” Fredericks said. “But since I’ve been in here, it’s been a lot easier for me to get along with other people.”

Twirling also comes with some advantages. Students like Johnson and Fredericks have an opportunity to get college scholarships.