Twirlers reunite for final time at National Football Championship

Two Barnwell natives and best friends reunited for a final time at the College Football Playoff National Championship game last week.

Laura Burckhalter and Riley Ridgeway grew up twirling baton together under the guidance of Scottie Moore. They headed off to twirl at different colleges after graduating from Barnwell High School in 2015 - Burckhalter to Clemson University and Ridgeway to the University of Alabama. Little did they know, the two would meet up each of the next four years as the Clemson Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide sought to be the number one football team.

“We have said before that we joked about maybe seeing each other at a bowl game our freshman year from the preseason predictions, but it was only a joke, so we thought,” said Ridgeway, the daughter of Craig and Jeri Lyn Ridgeway of Barnwell. “We were so shocked and excited after the first year, and just constantly watched the rankings each week the next three seasons in hopes that we stayed one and two so that it could happen again. And it did!”

“I never dreamed we would play each other every year, let alone at the national championship three of those years,” said Burckhalter, the daughter of Marcia and the late James Burckhalter of Barnwell. “Seeing her on the sidelines during our halftime performances took me back to high school and all the practices we spent together.”

The most recent reunion took place on Monday, Jan. 7 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California during the 2018 National Championship Game where the Clemson Tigers won 44-16. The duo previously met up at the 2015 and 2016 national championships, as well as last year at the Sugar Bowl where Alabama defeated Clemson for a spot in the national championship, which the Crimson Tide ultimately won. Each team has won two championships in the last four years.

Ridgeway said she chose Alabama because of the opportunities she knew might be possible due to the football team’s success in the previous few years. She said she never could have imagined she would attend the National Championship all four years. “Performing in games at this stake is indescribable and has been the highlight of my college experience,” Ridgeway said.

Burckhalter said attending the National Championship Game is always a “little surreal” but one she will cherish. “I have trouble wrapping my head around how big of a game it is and that I have the privilege of twirling at it. Singing the alma mater with the team at the end of the game is always so emotional and my favorite part,” she said.

Apart from the experiences associated with attending the national championships, Burckhalter and Ridgeway said twirling in college has made them better people.

“Twirling at Clemson has brought me more friends like Riley that love baton as much as we do. The other twirlers and I spend lots of time together outside of practice, including studying in the library late at night,” said Burckhalter, who learned how to manage time more efficiently by being in Tiger Band. “Finding the time for all of my responsibilities with school, twirling and family is difficult, but I’ve learned to do well.”

“I have learned so many life lessons from twirling at a major university,” said Ridgeway. “I learned how to manage my time while juggling practices everyday, classes, and internships. I have been humbled greatly by being such a small part of such a huge tradition. The University of Alabama is a prestigious university with a lot of history.” She said she cherishes every pep rally, pregame, and halftime performance she had the honor of participating in. “Traveling, exploring new places and making lifelong friendships have been the best things about twirling at Alabama.”

With their last National Championship complete, the two are about to embark on new adventures as they complete their college careers.

Burckhalter, who is majoring in biological sciences with a minor in chemistry, hopes to attend medical school after she graduates from Clemson in May. Ridgeway, who graduated from Alabama in December 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, has accepted a teaching position at Barnwell Elementary School for this school year.

“I cannot thank the community of Barnwell enough for the support they have given Laura and I throughout our lives and especially the last few years. Mrs. Scottie Moore has been the most influential person in our twirling careers and we owe it all to her. Our parents have also been incredible. They have followed us all over the country to watch us live out our dream. We could not ask for more,” said Ridgeway.

Burckhalter is also appreciative to Moore for "pushing me to be the best twirler and student I can be. Thank you for taking me in as one of your own and giving me anything I needed to be successful, especially your time." She also thanks her mother for following her to all Clemson games and brother Russell for cheering her own, even though he is a fan of the University of South Carolina.

Moore said she considers herself lucky to have had Burckhalter and Ridgeway on her team because they worked hard, sacrificed other obligations, always showed up for practice no matter how early or late it was, were dependable and respectful, and didn’t have the teenage attitude that some people their age had. They became more like daughters than students, she said.

“They would watch each other practice and correct mistakes for each other and pushed the other one to go that extra mile. We all traveled together and made it fun. When one was down the other picked her up. It was so refreshing to see this relationship develop between these two,” said Moore.

The two girls went on to become baton teachers for Moore where they were super teachers and role models. They took their jobs seriously and were “firm, but positive, and kind to the children. This made it fun for everyone,” said Moore.

While Moore told them that twirling in college was the “icing on the cake” and would be worth all the work, she never quite imagined the journey the two would have.