Kirsten Grabo

Kirsten Cloutier Grabo began twirling at the age of 4 in her hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. She went on to become a Minnesota State Champion at the age of 5, and regained the title every year until she was 17. A National two-baton champion at the age of 10 (NBTA), she has competed, taught, and judged for both twirling organizations, NBTA and USTA. From 1989 to 1990 Kirsten traveled and performed with Up With People (Cast A), an international group that empowers young adults to make a difference in the world through volunteering, leadership, and the performing arts.

Kirsten is a former University of Arizona twirler and member of the Pride of Arizona from 1991-1994 under the tutelage of Shirlee Bertolini. She graduated in 1995 and received her MBA in 2002. Encouraged by Bertolini, she created the “Tucson Twirlers” studio in 2002 and by 2005 had over 50 students ages 6-17. She coached high school twirlers at Rincon/University, Salpointe, Sahuaro, Sabino, CDO, and Marana. In 2010 she began assisting Shirlee Bertolini with the Twirling Team, and was appointed as head coach upon Bertolini’s retirement at the end of the 2018 season. Kirsten works for the University of Arizona as the Program Coordinator for the Neuroscience GIDP. She married John Grabo and has “two little wildcats,” sons Brady & Beckett.