Leilani Chyo has spent many fall afternoons at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, watching her brother take the field with the Michigan Marching Band.
Chyo, a senior and twirler at Hartland High School, dreamed of joining her brother someday. This fall, that dream will come true.
Chyo, 18, auditioned for the college’s marching band in February, performing her routine to the song “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes. She also participated in an interview.
The next day, she was informed via email of her acceptance by director John Pasquale.
“Although I was really scared, I felt very prepared,” she told The Daily, adding she’d rehearsed the routine five times a day for two weeks.
Chyo started baton twirling in eighth grade. For someone who’d already mastered leaps and turns in gymnastics and learned twirling tricks from her sister, the sport came easily.
“At that point, I completely fell in love,” she said.
Her brother, Tony — who graduated from HHS in 2023 — is a trumpet section rank leader in the Michigan Marching Band. Chyo has volunteered with the band’s tailgate and watched his performance at games.
“I knew I wanted to be a twirler in the marching band,” she said.
Chyo was the only candidate selected for the twirler position for 2026-27. She’ll join sophomore Morgan Smith as the band’s two twirlers at the Big House.
Meanwhile, at HHS, Chyo is a section leader in the Marching Band — led by Brad Laibly. She helped coordinate a team of ten twirlers for the Marching Eagles.
“While her talent as a twirler is undeniable, what truly sets Leilani apart is her academic excellence and her natural ability to lead with kindness, clarity and poise,” Laibly told The Daily. “The University of Michigan Marching Band is gaining not only a remarkable performer, but an exceptional student and human being.”
Chyo is also the reigning World Twirling Association’s High School Twirler of the Year.
“Winning that (honor) was a dream come true,” she said. “I remember watching high schoolers compete in previous years and it was always something I was interested in doing.”
Chyo plans to study chemistry at the University of Michigan.
— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on X @SalsaEvan.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Leilani Chyo of Hartland becomes newest twirler at the Big House
Reporting by Evan Sasiela, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
