Anna Mitchell Ralston grew up going to football games in Athens with her family, but while family was glued to the game, Anna Mitchell was always eagerly awaiting halftime. At just 7 years old, she was impressed by the majorettes on the field as they twirled their batons in the air and caught them behind their backs or over their heads. She knew she wanted to do that someday. “We were just mesmerized by the twirlers out on the field,” Anna Mitchell said. After years of practice, Anna Mitchell, 15, is well on her way to that dream. She and her independent competition baton twirling team, Twirl Forte, have qualified for next year’s International Cup competition in France.