Today we’d like to introduce you to Sydney Ward. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Sydney is a member of the University of Memphis Mighty Sound of the South Marching band as a feature twirler with the Memphis Tigerettes. Sydney is currently a Sophomore in the Health Science program, an active member of ADPHI Sorority, and hails from Ontario, Canada. Sydney began twirling at age of 4 and spent most of her competitive twirling competing in Canada, the USA, and internationally competing at 4 World Championships.
Sydney is the current Senior Miss Majorette of Canada, she holds Grand National Champion titles in every discipline of our sport and is the most decorated athlete currently in Canada. She is a member of Stars United Baton Club in Canada and recently returned from the WFNBTA World Baton Championships with 2 Team Silver medals and 2 Team Bronze Medals.
Sydney also became the most decorated Canadian athlete earning 2 4th place finishes and 2 5th place finishes as an individual. This Summer Sydney represented the University of Memphis at the USA AYOP National Collegiate Championships and finished 4th overall out of 111 College athletes and became 4th runner-up in Miss Majorette of North America. Sydney has always wanted to twirl for a US College and perform on the field, it has been her dream since she first saw twirlers at AYOP when she was 6 years old.
The University of Memphis has given her that dream. She loves performing at the Liberty Bowl cheering on the Tigers and hearing the crowd cheer when she tosses her batons in the air. College twirling has enhanced her competitive twirling and she is looking forward to continuing to represent the University of Memphis at Collegiate Championships and hopes to once again compete at the 2023 IBTF World Baton Championships next summer in Liverpool, England. She loves that Memphis is her “home” away from home and being able to twirl and represent her School and her sport is truly a dream come true for her.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest obstacle for Sydney was the fact she had to do all her auditioning and college tours via “zoom”. She was in the middle of looking for schools during COVID and being in Canada where the land border was closed for 2 years this posed a struggle in allowing Sydney to travel to campus. Thankfully through the world of technology, Sydney was still able to compete for a feature role and the University of Memphis was so very accommodating in her audition process. Not being able to perform live was so hard, she had to rely on video submissions and a personal zoom meeting. She is very thankful to Suzanne Jackson, head of the Tigerette twirlers, and especially Dr. Plenk, University of Memphis Band Director for taking a chance on her.
The first year in Memphis was hard as Sydney had never stepped on campus until Band Camp, but she instantly knew Memphis was home. Moving to another country during a pandemic was not easy, but Sydney through being an elite athlete knew how to overcome obstacles and found an immediate “family” in her Tigerette “sisters”, Band mates and ADPHI sorority that she cannot imagine being anywhere else or twirling for any other school.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Sydney has been a competitive twirler since the age of 4. Unlike in the USA where twirling is seen on football fields, in schools all over Canada it is not as well known or seen. Sydney began twirling as her mom ran a local Baton Club in Ontario. The Club traveled a lot to the USA for competitions as there were simply more twirlers. Sydney fell in love the moment she watched College twirlers compete at the biggest USA competition. AYOP- American Youth on Parade. When she was just 6 years old Sydney won the Beginner 0-6 AYOP Pageant event and from there, her dream to be a feature twirler began. Every year she along with her Canadian Teammates traveled to South Bend, Indiana to compete and of course watch all those awesome College twirlers.
Sydney attended her first world Championships at age 8 where she finished Top 6 in the Solo event. From there her goals simply grew– she has become one of the most decorated Canadian athletes winning Miss Majorette of Canada titles at all levels Juvenile, Pre Teen, Junior, and most recently Senior. Sydney has represented Canada in 4 world Championships and has become the most decorated International athlete with 2 Silver, and 3 Bronze, along with 12 Top 6 medals. For the past 5 years Sydney has been competing in the USA and with her move to Memphis last year and attending UofM she now proudly competes to represent the South and Memphis at USA National events. Sydney is most proud of being a member of the Mighty Sound of the South, it has been her dream and to now be living it is still sometimes surreal for her.
Winning medals at worlds have been amazing for Sydney but her dream was this past year when she got to step on the competition floor and be announced as the Feature Twirler for the University of Memphis in the AYOP National Collegiate Championships. Sydney even shocked herself by placing 4th overall in the Collegiate event against some of the Nation’s top College athletes, over 111 competed from every school across America. Sydney is a hard worker, and passionate about her sport however she always keeps it in perspective and is forever grateful that she is living her dream in Memphis
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Finding her “family” in Memphis. University was scary and with covid preventing any college tours, Memphis was taking a big leap of faith on Sydney and She was taking a BIG leap of faith never having visited the College. The moment she became a Tiger she knew this was “home”. Finding her Tiger family with the Mighty Sound of the South and also with her ADPHI Sorority has made her dream even better than she imagined.
Getting to twirl at the Liberty Bowl in front of thousands of tiger fans and with the most amazing twirlers beside her has been a reason why you will always see her smiling. Sydney loves Memphis and twirling so much that she is considering sharing her passion in Memphis just like when she was in Canada. Sydney is a certified twirling coach and may soon look to offer lessons in the Memphis area.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.starsunitedbaton.com
- Instagram: @Sydney.ward
- Facebook: Sydney Ward
- Youtube: www.starsunitedbaton.com
Image Credits
Faydra Foster, Erin Keller, Joey Clark, and Jerry Arnold
