Maria Gerardi couldn’t believe it when she heard the invitation. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘USA Baton Twirling All… Maria Gerardi couldn’t believe it when she heard the invitation. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘USA Baton Twirling All Stars, come join the parade,’ said the marshall of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. ‘ ‘ ‘ Gerardi, a 19-year-old Pitt sophomore, marched along 149 other baton twirlers dressed in red tuxedo-like pant suits with gold sparkle cummerbands, red bowties and red headbands in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It was like time stopped just for the parade,’ she said.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Gerardi began twirling when she was 2 years old, the same year she received a baton and a costume for her second’ birthday. Gerardi began marching in parades when she was 4 years old, and when she was 6 she began to compete.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The parade was the most recent in a long list of events at which Gerardi had twirled. In the days leading up to it, she and her teammates practiced 16 hours a day, as opposed to the 10 to 15 hours she normally practices each week. ‘ ‘ ‘ The day of the parade Gerardi woke up at 3 a.m. and ate breakfast at 4:30 a.m. before getting on the bus at 6 a.m. to head into the city. As she walked with her teammates to the steps of a museum in Central Park West, where her team was to line up, she passed all of the balloons that were featured in the parade. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘They were bigger than I ever could have imagined,’ she said. ‘ ‘ ‘ As she waited in line for two hours in the 30 degree weather before performing, she saw Miley Cyrus, whom the USA Baton Twirling All Stars marched directly in front of during the parade, and all of the floats. The whole experience, Gerardi said, was simply a dream come true. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I watch the parade religiously every year and only wished that one day I would have the chance to march into Herald Square,’ she said. ‘When I got the opportunity, it was the most incredible experience of my life.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Still, there’s one moment of the parade that particularly stands out in Gerardi’s mind. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘The crowd was so receptive and would cheer for us any time we did a trick,’ Gerardi said. ‘My favorite part of the parade was when I got to [perform a solo] in Times Square. There is nothing like standing alone in one of the greatest cities in the world and doing something you love. Times Square is breathtaking to begin with, but when you get to march through it with tons of people watching you, it is even more incredible.” ‘ ‘ ‘ Gerardi was the only twirler from the Pittsburgh area on her team and one of only four people from Pennsylvania. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘The support I received from the entire Pittsburgh region was truly touching, and I can’t begin to thank all of those people who supported me and tuned in to watch me twirl,’ she said. ‘ ‘ ‘ The three-mile parade route began in Central Park West and continued around Columbus Circle and through Times Square before ending up in Herald Square, where Gerardi performed in the front line. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘When we arrived at Herald Square, it was exactly as you see it on television,’ she said. ‘Macy’s is all decorated, and people are screaming for you as you perform. There is truly nothing like it.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Although this was the first time that Gerardi marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, she was not a stranger to performing.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ She has also twirled in a pre-game performance at the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA game, the Shaler Area Homecoming Parade, Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, three times in Disney World and numerous school talent shows. She has also participated in exhibition solo performances.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ She’s been invited to the Twirl Mania Gold Invitational in Disney World. ‘ Gerardi has won three international titles, two scholarships, 12 regional titles, three state titles, three chapter titles, an outstanding spirit award and more than 500 trophies, ribbons and medals for her twirling. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ In addition to becoming a member of the USA Baton Twirling All Stars team, Gerardi has been twirling with the Sensations Drum and Baton Corps for the last 15 years and serves as the captain of the senior majorette competition team. She choreographs their routines. ‘ ‘ ‘ Gerardi sticks with the sport because she loves it. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I have two favorite things about twirling,’ Gerardi said. ‘The first is entertaining people. I love to please the crowd, and nothing beats hearing the crowds cheer for you as you do a big trick. My second favorite thing would have to be twirling fire. I twirl three fire batons, and there is nothing like it. It is quite a rush. People love watching fire twirling, and it is something that I have spent a lot of time practicing and perfecting.’ Twirling runs in the family ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I got involved in twirling because my mom and aunts were all twirlers, so it just ran in the blood,’ said Gerardi. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Gerardi’s mother traveled to New York with her to watch her perform in the Thanksgiving Day parade and said it was a treat to watch. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It was an awesome experience for her,’ said Joanne Gerardi, her mother. ‘Maria has been twirling for a very long time and has been very dedicated to the sport. Being given the opportunity to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and representing the USA on the USA Baton Twirling All Stars twirling team was the icing on the cake for her. Some of the world’s top twirlers gathered to form this team.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Maria Gerardi remembered how her mother was always there to support her over the years. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I felt like this parade was the perfect way to thank her and show her that the countless hours we spent practicing and going to competitions paid off,’ said Gerardi. ‘She is the reason that I was able to do this. If it wasn’t for her love and support, I never would be the twirler I am today.’ Gerardi focused on studies ‘ ‘ ‘ Besides twirling, Gerardi plays the drums on a competitive drumline, bowls with her friends and runs to stay in shape. She’s a die-hard Steelers fan and loves the Pitt basketball and football teams. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I was actually very sad that I had to miss the Backyard Brawl while I was away, but I did tape it,’ she said. ‘ ‘ ‘ Gerardi’s mother said that Maria continues to make her studies her main priority as she has done throughout her twirling career. ‘ ‘ ‘ Maria Gerardi was a gold medalist in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Outstanding Young Citizens Award and was in the top 10 percent of her graduating high school class. Gerardi also made the Dean’s List during her first two semesters at Pitt, her mother said. ‘ ‘ ‘ Gerardi said that it can be difficult keeping up with all of her activities. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It does get hard to balance school work at Pitt and twirling, but I have always put my academics first,’ said Gerardi. ‘I am a firm believer that education is priceless and something you will have forever, so I make that my top priority.’