Paris-bound baton twirler breaks stigma
· Yahoo Sports
May 30—SUPERIOR — Traxx Nelson-Kavajecz has been twirling batons for as long as he can remember. And now his skill is about to take him all the way to Paris for an international championship.
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His mother, Carolyn Nelson-Kavajecz, owns Sterling Silver Studio, which focused on baton twirling before expanding to dance around 35 years ago.
"I grew up with it," Traxx said. "Plus, I just have a very artistic family. We are full of musicians and painters and carpenters and hair stylists, so I grew up immersed in the arts. I took a liking to performing arts in particular at a young age."
In addition to baton twirling and dance, Traxx and his sister Rokkyn Nelson-Kavajecz started their classic rock band Born Too Late when he was 9 years old and she was 11 years old, along with other musician friends.
And that combination of a love for classic rock and baton twirling has led Traxx to his current routine for his men's rhythmic solo performance: "Paint it Black" by the Rolling Stones.
"There are different kinds of events, some of them you pick your music and some you don't. But for this one, we picked this song because it kind of ties everything together," Traxx said. "Rokkyn choreographed the routine with help from my aunt and mother, so it was a team effort putting it together."
The routine qualified Traxx to represent Team USA at the 2026 International Baton Twirling Federation World Freestyle & Rhythmic Twirl Championship & Nations Cup in Paris in August.
"This is kind of the equivalent to the Olympics for baton twirling," Traxx said. "Since it's not in the Olympics, this is pretty much it."
Traxx said he hopes people will see him and "understand that twirling is for everyone."
"There's a certain stigma of being a male in a predominantly female sport or art form," Traxx said. "I think because I grew up in the studio and all my friends were baton twirlers and girls, I just continued to want to pursue this. And I want to be a good example for those who want to do it, too."
Traxx teaches at his mother's studio and said he's seen several boys in his classes quit as they reach their teenage years.
"I teach baton classes to all boys, many girls, and people of all ages. I have kids who are around 2 to I believe my oldest twirler in an adult class is 76, so it's all over the board," he said. "I'm pushing back against the stigma that things are only for one kind of people."
Traxx said teaching has helped reignite his passion for the art.
"I love performing, but I also really truly love sharing my passion for baton twirling and my knowledge with all of my students," he said. "And I learn a lot from them as well, and we keep building off of each other."
A move that Traxx is excited to showcase in his routine is a thumb toss, in which a twirler tosses a baton into the air, spins underneath it and catches it.
"I've been known for doing a lot of those, so that's probably my favorite move," Traxx said. "I think the most I've done at once is seven, so that'd definitely be something I'm known for."
Traxx said he's excited to return from Paris with new ideas.
"I truly am incredibly grateful for the opportunity, and I really look forward to bringing back my experiences and my knowledge and what I learned with all of my students and the community," he said.