Stepping out on the floor to begin her twirling routine is the most invigorating component of competition for Whitman Hanson majorette Shannon Winslow of Hanson, current Miss Majorette Royalty of Massachusetts.

As a senior at Whitman-Hanson, Winslow has excelled at twirling and gained her recent title following a competition hosted at Whitman Hanson in early January.

It’s pretty much a year-round sport. She twirls at fall football games and begins preparing for competitions — which start in January — with twice a week team practices and private lessons. After competition season ends in July, team practice for the fall sports season starts up again in August.

 “I can honestly say that I would not be the person that I am today if it were not for Mrs. Maccini and baton twirling. Through baton twirling I have learned to have good sportsmanship, speak in formal settings, be proud of myself for even the little accomplishments, and how to learn from a setback,” said Winslow.

Over the years, Winslow has earned state and regional titles and in 2012 she considers herself lucky to represent Massachusetts at Nationals held at Notre Dame in Indiana over the summer.

Her favorite winning experience was the Novice Basic Skills Pageant as a first year participant in Regional’s.

“I was so excited to win,” Winslow said, recalling the exhilaration of that day. “But the best part was I hadn’t expected it at all. I did not know that I was participating in the pageant until that day … I just about fell over when I heard my name called!”

The events that she competes in most often are team, solo twirling, X-strut, and modeling.

In the team event, her entire team participates in a routine set to music.

“This year, our team won our division,” she said “Last year, I placed first at States in the 16 and over intermediate solo twirling. I am an advanced twirler now – the order is novice, beginner, intermediate and advanced.”

X-Strut is probably the most complicated even to understand, according to Winslow.

“When I do an X-Strut, I have to stay in beat with marching music the whole time while I dance and twirl,” she said.  “There is a set pattern that I must follow while doing all of this (shaped like an X).”

Modeling in a formal gown before an event judge like the X-Strut event, she has to follow a certain pattern while modeling the gown, followed by a brief interview.

She came in second place in the Miss Majorette of Massachusetts pageant held at Whitman-Hanson, qualifying for Nationals held in July.

Although most competitions are held throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire, she has also traveled to Connecticut and as far as Indiana to twirl.

With a full schedule for the majorettes, Winslow was extra busy through the fall and football season performing with her fellow majorettes in the halftime show at each home football game.

An accomplishment this past year was twirling fire. She reportedly still holds the title of youngest twirler from the school district to compete as a soloist, an achievement with which she is very pleased.

“I twirled fire at the Homecoming football game and the Thanksgiving Day game in Abington this year, during the halftime shows,” she said. “Twirling fire was probably one of the most exciting and coolest things I’ve had the privilege to do on the field.”

Twirling began for Winslow following third grade; it has helped form the young woman she has become.   She says twirling is something she enjoys so much that it will always remain in her life.

“Right now, I am excited to compete in the advanced category. It’s something that I have been working for since my first competition,” she said.  “As I get older, I hope to qualify for worlds. Eventually, I would like to coach my own team. I would like to make an impact in other twirler’s life, like my coach has done for me.”

When she is not twirling she is working at Honey Dew Donuts. She also is a participant in several school activities such as Mock Trial, Dollars for Scholars, and DECA. She is president of Students against Drunk Drivers, and a member of the National Honor Society. Like all teens Shannon loves hanging out with friends, but also is an avid reader where she finds solace in a good novel.

“I am currently reading “The Kite Runner,” by Khaled Hosseini,” she said. But she added her all-time favorite book is “Mr. Popper’s Penguins.”

 As senior co-captain of Whitman Hanson Majorettes Competition Team, advisor Colleen Macinni spoke highly of Shannon’s dedication and commitment.

“She takes such pride in her twirling,” Macinni said following the recent competition hosted by Whitman Hanson. “It is a wonderful day for her. She has reached the highest level competition in the Miss Majorette of Massachusetts pageant.”

Shannon’s parents Cindy and John both support her twirling and competing. As a proud dad, John said he feels a mixed bag of emotions when he first sees his “little girl” ready to participate in a pageant.

“When you first see her in a gown … I wondered where this young woman came from,” he said. “She is not my little girl any more.  She has grown up.  It really takes my breath away. We are very proud of her.”

Making plans for college next fall, Winslow wants to study physical therapy in college. She also plans to twirl at either basketball or football games as she can’t imagine going off to college and not twirling; it is an intricate part of her life.