She is also the youngest member of Syndication Baton Club, a team of eight twirlers, ages 13 to 32 years. The team is ranked No. 1 nationally. All eight are also members of the U.S. World Team.

In August, Breanne will compete against the world's top twirlers, ages 13 to 16, from 22 countries at an international competition in Limerick, Ireland. She will compete in her individual freestyle category, and as a member of the Syndication Baton Club based in California. That team is the 2005 World Champions.

The Arnold teen competed in her first twirling contest at age two. Now, she's an expert in making the metal, rubber-tipped baton come alive and leap 40 feet into the air. In one routine, the baton appears to writhe around her neck and shoulders like a silvery snake.

Her mother, Colleen Rowe, is the physical education instructor at Broadneck Elementary School and is a lifetime twirler herself.

"I did my first competition at age 2, too," said Mrs. Rowe, who founded Illusions Batons & Poms, to teach twirling to area youth. She teaches more than 100 children in the Broadneck Elementary gymnasium after school. They come from throughout Maryland."

Mrs. Rowe has been teaching baton twirling for 25 years, since she was 18, and she was her daughter's first coach. She is bursting with pride for her daughter.

Breanne has progressed further with her twirling prowess than her mom did.

Mrs. Rowe and her husband, Bart, a 1984 Naval Academy graduate who works in the information technology department at Baltimore Washington Medical Center, also have three boys.

Brandon, 19, attends Penn State University; and fraternal twins Cameron and Collin, 15, are freshmen at Broadneck High School. None of the boys twirl, though Breanne has been able to coax Brandon into learning a few wrist flips.

She got on the U.S. World Team because she placed third at the U.S. Trials April 4 and 5 in Columbia, Tenn., Mrs. Rowe said. "Her best friend from

Indiana came in a tiny fraction behind her. The friend is going to Ireland as an alternate. Breanne's routine was perfect. She had to do it twice, and each time there were no drops. She got into the top three because she works so hard."

The Syndication team practices regularly in two locations: Sports Plex, the indoor soccer and sports complex in Frederick, and in San Francisco.

The coach, Sandi Rios, lives on the West Coast.

"We practice mostly in Frederick or fly to California for four 10-hour days of rehearsals in a row," said Breanne. "In Ireland, we'll be landing on Aug. 1 and practicing for seven days before the four-day competition begins."

The twirlers to beat are the Japanese. That country is so confident of its ability to walk off with all the gold awards, it is hosting the farewell reception the final night of the competition.

In addition to twirling, Breanne takes numerous dance classes and is a member of the Twin Rivers Dance Company, composed of students from Severn River and Magothy River Middle Schools.

She auditioned for, and has been accepted into next year's Dance Company at Broadneck High School.

"She never stops! She's either dancing or twirling!" said her weary mom. "Twirling is expensive, like any national competition. I do it with her to keep her active and busy."

Breanne's immediate goal is to "place really high against the Japanese and place first, second or third."

Eventually, she hopes to be the featured twirler at the college of her choice, and attend on a twirling scholarship. Schools that invest in their marching bands vie for the top twirlers to add dazzle to their half-time performances.

"When Breanne hits the floor, she's a performer," observed her mom. "Everyone goes 'Whoa!'"

"I like performing," laughed Breanne. "It makes me feel happy. I get to make a lot of friends all over the country."