Photo Credit: Harper Chase
By Emily Aponte ’27
In 1981 Peggy Steininger opened a baton studio called Scooties Baton. That name was then changed to Scooties Baton and Dance in 1991. Baton twirling is a sport that mixes dance, gymnastics, and physical agility (the ability to move quickly) while spinning and flipping under a weighted metal rod, trying to catch it.
Steininger retired in 1993, leaving her daughter, Wendy Rhoads, to take over that summer. Steininger had a strong clientele established when she retired, leaving a smooth transition for Rhoads.
In 2009, Rhoads changed the business name to Ab-Salute Twirling, which is what it is still called today. Rhoads kept pushing herself through the hard times because of her passion for the sport and her love for helping others grow. “For me it is all about the moments…whether they are small in the studio moments of conquering something a student has been working on or in completing a successful competition,” said Rhoads.
Though Rhoads has been through many hard times in her career, she never gives up and keeps pursuing her dreams and passion in twirling. Rhoads said, “My first baby picture was of me as a newborn with a baton across my chest. I don’t know my life without it and look forward to seeing students each week.”
Rehearsal schedules change each year, but throughout the year they are kept pretty consistent on the days and times. Alexis Landis (12), a twirler at Ab-Salute twirling said, “Team practices are on Tuesday. Team and privates last about an hour each for me personally.” Twirlers in the studio range from as little as 3 to 20.
Students come and go every year, but there are a handful of members who have been there since the beginning. Twirler Maddison Heartman (11) said, “I have been twirling here since I was 4 years old, and my mother has also been twirling here since she was little.”
Ab-Salute offers many classes besides baton “to encompass all of the styles of baton and dance,” according to Rhoads. Ab-Salute offers a variety of different styles of dance including jazz, tap, pom, and ballet.
Eight Ab-Salute twirlers attend Conestoga Valley school district, including Michaela Aponte (2), Alannah Groff (5), Ava Aponte (7), Jaquline Andrews (7), Juliet Koffman (8), Isabella Aponte (9), Julia Rhoads (11), and Emily Aponte (12). Two of the twirlers from Ab-Salute are Conestoga Valley High School’s feature twirlers.