Lakes High freshman preparing to compete in baton twirling world championship

Troy Kraly was 4 years old when he held his first baton that was given to him by his older sister, Tess.

Now the Lake Villa teen will be twirling and tossing this baton before a worldwide audience.

Winning first place at the 45th annual national baton twirling contest at the University of Notre Dame, the 14-year-old will represent the United States junior men's team at the World Twirling Championship next April in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy.

“It makes me feel happy that all this hard work has paid off,” he said. “I'm accomplishing more of my goals and moving forward.”

Kraly remembers seeing Tess perform at a national competition at age 5. It was then, he said, he became intrigued with the sport and wanted to try it.

“I like how there was intricate movements,” he said. “My sister was able to do something so beautiful underneath the toss, and the team would use all their skills and combine them to make an amazing show.”

For the past 10 years, Kraly has studied with Star Spirit, based out of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and most recently with the Razzle Dazzles Baton Team & Corps in Zion. He performs as a soloist and with a group, where a majority of his teammates are girls. In the 13 to 15 age group, there are six boys and 60 girls.

Being a male in a sport dominated by females does not deter him. He sees it as a challenge.

Training 25 hours each week, Kraly said, each day he discovers new moves, including quadruple spins and illusions to add to his routine.

“Showing people what you can do you can bring a wow factor,” he said. “I try to bump the tricks up and make my routines more solid and more fluent.”

An honors freshman at Lakes High School, Kraly also balances his time performing with the school's color guard and winter guard. And while friends see him perform on the football field during halftime, he is shy to talk about the sport with friends.

“Most of my friends are really supportive about it,” he said.

For the past seven years, Troy has competed at the national level at America's Youth on Parade, known as the world series of baton twirling. Three division winners up to age 15 are chosen to represent the United States in the world championships.

He first earned the chance to represent the United States at the world level in 2012 in Switzerland. In the preliminary world competition, Kraly earned a spot as one of the top six junior boys, and he was the only boy from the United States to compete in the finals. He finished fifth overall.

“I would see people from all over the world twirling with different techniques. It was exciting to recognize their techniques, see how they twirled and see how the world can come together as one and appreciate this sport,” Kraly said.

This past summer, Kraly again earned the opportunity to compete at the national level after winning first place at the regional and state competitions. On the national stage, he was named the men's champion in the 13- to 15-year-old division and has the chance to again represent his country at the world championships.

Teresa Kraly said it means so much to see her son be so successful.

“Troy is a person who sets goals, sets them high and works to achieve them. For him to achieve something at such a high level is amazing,” she said.

As he returns to the world stage, Troy Kraly is preparing routines to compete in solo and rhythmic events. This time, he wants to reach the finals and place in the top two.

“To be able to go to such a high quality competition, it means a lot to me,” he said. “To go out there and do your best is the best way to represent your country. Placing is important, but that is not that big of a deal. Representing is the most important part of this trip.”

The Kraly family is raising funds to send him to Italy. To help, he is selling tickets to attend the Razzle Dazzles spaghetti dinner, which will run from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 25 at N & T's in Zion. Tickets cost $7. He also will be participating in a baton competition Dec. 7 that will raise funds for the Italy trip.

For information about Kraly and his family's fundraising efforts, visit www.sendtroytoworlds.net.