Sydney Butz has been the Indiana University Feature Twirler since her freshman year— an addition to the school’s Marching Hundred that hasn’t seen a twirler in nearly three decades.

Indiana University senior Sydney Butz, has been twirling since the age of two. When a nearby dance studio to her childhood home in Oshkosh, Wisconsin was known for their baton twirling classes and preparing dancers to twirl collegiately, Butz was hooked.

She began taking classes in all genres like ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and of course twirling. She then began to compete in baton twirling, and it quickly became her life.

Butz had big dreams about becoming a college twirler in a marching band, especially after watching the older girls at her dance studio move on to collegiate twirling.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison, her home-state school, did not offer a twirling position in their marching band. Butz had to look for other options, but to her luck, her future school was not too far away.

It only took one visit to Bloomington, IN to sell Butz on Indiana University. The IU Marching Hundred had not seen a twirler in their band for nearly 30 years, but it didn’t take too much convincing for them to fall in love with Butz and her talents. She then committed to Indiana, and became the IU Feature Twirler starting her freshman year— a position that hadn’t been filled in years.

“I think it was so perfect for me that I’ve been able to shape this role into exactly what I wanted it to be,” said Butz. “I wasn’t going off of a template… I was just able to fully be myself.”

Throughout her time at IU, the legacy that Butz has created has been special, and continues to fulfill her childhood dreams everyday.

“Little 10-year-old Sydney would be floored,” she said.

All good things must come to an end, and Butz took her final twirls at Memorial Stadium when the Hoosiers took on coincidentally, the Wisconsin Badgers.

Despite that not being her very last performance (Butz twirled at Lucas Oil Stadium for the Big Ten Championship game), Memorial Stadium was like Butz’s second home and meant everything to her.

“Nothing is Memorial Stadium to me,” said Butz.

Even though she’ll be saying goodbye, Indiana University will not forget her infectious energy, talent, and history that she’ll will leave behind.

Associate Music Director for the Marching Hundred, Jonathan Leveque spent many hours working with the talented twirler. He watched her grow from a freshman into a strong leader, friend, and great addition to The Marching Hundred.

“She always tries to reach out and tries to make connections with every single person involved with the group, said Leveque.

Now, Butz is finishing her degree in Pre-Optometry, and is currently interviewing for Optometry schools upon graduation in the spring. She’ll leave IU with more than just a degree in her hands, but with a lifetime of memories and a legacy with big shoes to fill.

The IU Marching Hundred is currently auditioning their next twirler, and Sydney Butz will go on to twirl in California at The Rose Bowl, to watch IU compete for the National Championship.

“I poured so much into this program. And I think a little part of it will always reflect me,” said Butz.