Meet Your Judges
Barbara Cox
Melissa Heyward
Terri Dominick
Visiting us from Illinois is our Head Judge, Barbara Cox! A former Western Illinois Majorette, Barbara has been an NBTA judge for 15 years, as well as a judge for TU, AAU, and MA. She started twirling at the age of 5, and since has enjoyed teaching private lessons over the years, especially helping with college tryouts, and was previously also a coach with the Silver Knights.
Terri Dominick
Melissa Heyward
Terri Dominick
Visiting us from Pennsylvania is Terri Dominick! A former Slipper Rock University of Pennsylvania Twirler, Terri is a past Top 6 National Twirling Finalist. Terri has been coaching for 45 years and has been an NBTA judge for 40 years. She is also a WFNBTA World Judge representing the USA!
Melissa Heyward
Melissa Heyward
Melissa Heyward
Visiting us from South Caroline is Melissa Heyward! A former Clemson Feature Twirler, Melissa is a previous National/World Open Champion in X-Strut, 2-Baton, and 3-Baton. She has been an NBTA judge for 12 years and a coach for 18. Melissa currently coaches the Jr. Grand National Twirl Team Champions & IBTF USA Twirling Team-A, Paramount D
Visiting us from South Caroline is Melissa Heyward! A former Clemson Feature Twirler, Melissa is a previous National/World Open Champion in X-Strut, 2-Baton, and 3-Baton. She has been an NBTA judge for 12 years and a coach for 18. Melissa currently coaches the Jr. Grand National Twirl Team Champions & IBTF USA Twirling Team-A, Paramount Dance Twirl! She is also the twirling Coordinator for the Univ. of North Carolina in Charlotte.
Patti Jankowski
Barbara Pope Neely
Barbara Pope Neely
Visiting us from Michigan, but soon to be Arizona, is Patti Jankowski! A former twirler with the Detroit Lions Professional Football Team, Patti held various State and Regional titles in NBTA and DMA. Patti has been coaching and judging in NBTA for 35 years, and is also a judge for AAU, TU, and a DMA Gold Seal Judge.
Barbara Pope Neely
Barbara Pope Neely
Barbara Pope Neely
Visiting us from West Virginia is Barbara Pope Neely! A former West Virginia University Feature Twirler, Barb was previously a Top 5 finalist for Miss Majorette of America and been coaching and judging NBTA for over 40 years!
Lora Reigner
Barbara Pope Neely
Lora Reigner
Visiting us from Ohio is Lora Riegner! A former Slippery Rock University Feature Twirler, Lora is a previous Miss Majorette of America and World Strut Champion, as well as a past captain and a coach for the World Champion Modernettes. Lora has been coaching since she was 16 years old, has been an NBTA judge for 25 years, and is also a TU and AAU Judge.
Lynette Starkey
Carolyn "Cookie" Thompson
Carolyn "Cookie" Thompson
Visiting us from Florida is Lynette Starkey! A former Florida State Twirling & Two Baton Champion, Lynette has been coaching and judging for over 35 years. Lynette is the Director of the 3x NBTA & 2x USTA Grand National Show Corp Champions, the Sundancers! The Sundancers will also be representing Team USA in August at the World Championship as the USA Show Twirl with Accessories Corps!
Carolyn "Cookie" Thompson
Carolyn "Cookie" Thompson
Carolyn "Cookie" Thompson
Visiting us from Florida is Carolyn “Cookie” Thompson! A former Iowa State University Feature Twirler, Cookie is a previous Miss Majorette of America as well as a World Solo and X-Strut Champion. Cookie has been coaching baton twiring for 58 years, with 56 of them as an NBTA judge, and is also a TU and AAU judge.