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KANSAN.COM/SPORTS |THURSDAY, SEPT. 15,2016
Up Close and Personal: Baton Twirler Nicole Johnson
Sophomore baton twirler Nicole Johnson performs at halftime of the football game on Sept. 10.
Missy Minear/KANSAN
CLAUDIA CLOSE @claudia_close
Hog calling might not be the most well-known Kansas tradition, but for sophomore baton twirler Nicole Johnson, it's number one.
On game day, the Marching Jayhawks enter Memorial Stadium as the familiar tune of "I'm a Jayhawk" echoes through the tunnels. They pause to prepare themselves for the chaos — or hog calling — that's about to ensue.
As they stand in a circle with arms linked, the band sings "It's Hog Calling Time In Nebraska." One member of the sousaphone section goes to the middle and shouts words of encouragement and excitement.
"The first time it happened, I was a freshman and it was so overwhelming," Johnson said. "Now, it just makes me really happy. The entire band is together and getting so pumped up and ready for [the game], and it's so cool."
Johnson, a sophomore
from Toronto, Canada, is double majoring in math and engineering physics. She has been twirling since she was a child. Her grandmother was her first teacher.
"My grandma owned a dance studio, and she taught baton," Johnson said. "My parents put me in ballet, baton and gymnastics, and that was super normal for me to be in baton because my grandma coached it."
When she came to Kansas, Johnson learned that
It automatically gives you a close knit group of friends."
Nicole Johnson sophomore baton twirler
the baton twirler for the Marching Jayhawks was graduating and thought that joining the band would be a good idea. So she joined the marching band, partly for the baton twirling, partly for her social life.
"It automatically gives you a close knit group of friends," Johnson said. "I came to Kansas knowing no one, so that was really important to me."
Johnson's favorite part of baton twirling is the creativity she gets to put into her routines.
"If you compared what I do to a different baton twirler at a different school, it would be so different," Johnson said. "I just love that there's so many options and so much you can
do."
Each game, Johnson decides whether to twirl three batons at the same time or turn twice and flip while she throws one baton in the air.
Johnson is looking forward to the next three years on the field. She will also continue to work toward her dream of becoming a math professor.
Johnson will use her unique routines to make her mark in the Marching Jayhawks, making sure to continue "hog calling" along the way.
Volleyball puts No.4 ranking to the test this weekend
▶ MATT HOFFMANN
@MattHoffmannJDK
Coach Rav Bechard cheers on the team in the final game of the match.
Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard didn't ask for his team to be ranked No. 4 in the nation.In fact, he surmises his team is somewhere outside the top 10 and that's where he'll continue to vote them in the coaches poll, at least until this year's team earns that No.4 spot.
"We have to look beyond our [9-0] record, we're doing a poor job closing out sets," Bechard said on Wednesday.
Bechard and the Jayhawks have one last chance to improve before conference play with the Staey Clark Classic tournament this weekend against Southeast Louisiana, Xavier and No. 14 Purdue, who is hosting the tournament.
Kansas faces both Xavier and Purdue on Friday, and Southeast Louisiana on Saturday.
When you're No. 4 in the nation — if you want to be or not — you get everybody's best shot and better be ready for it according to Bechard.
"We've spent a lot of time at 21 all, 22 all, and it's about what kind of decisions we are making," Bechard said.
"We saw a spirited effort
from [Tennessee] Chattanooga, Northern Iowa and we have to be ready when that happens," Bechard said.
Bechard ran into a couple of Southeast Louisiana assistant coaches in the offseason on the recruiting trail and the way he describes it, the Lions are excited for their shot at what is now a big-name, high-profile program.
"We aren't going to cruise through this weekend and I doubt we'll go through the Big 12 without losing a match," Bechard said.
Speaking of the Big 12 Kansas opens Big 12 play next Wednesday against Oklahoma and at No.2 Texas on Sept.24.Both are tough tests at the front end of the Big 12 regular season.
File Photo/KANSAN
Bechard hopes the match against Purdue on Friday will provide a solid measuring stick with another top 15 match against Texas on the horizon.
"We'll take some pretty heavy body blows this weekend and see how we bounce back," Beehard said.
Even with tainted optimism flowing from coach Bechard, Kansas is on a 24-match unbeaten streak in the regular season
against nonconference opponents.
"This is a great opportunity to see Xavier and Purdue and transition into
Oklahoma and Texas," Bechard said. "It's a good weekend we just need to play well and see what happens."
Kansas is likely to stay at No.4 until voters are given a reason to move them, which Bechard hopes won't come this weekend.
"I think until somebody beats us they'll probably keep us there," he said.
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