For Capital High School's Lauren Carnell, twirling is a family affair.
Carnell, a senior at Capital High School, was crowned Miss Kanawha Majorette 2017 at the 71st Gazette-Mail Kanawha County Majorette & Band Festival on Tuesday.
For Carnell, wearing the crown has been a dream she's had for years - especially since watching her older sister, Olivia, win the title in 2014.
"I'm beyond ecstatic. I don't have words. Everyone did beautifully, and I was so excited to see everyone. I'm numb," she said. "I'm so blessed to carry on the tradition of twirling and majorettes in my family."
Carnell said she's grown up watching her sister twirl and had the same hopes of receiving the crown from a young age. After months of hard work and preparation for the festival, receiving the crown Tuesday at Laidley Field was a dream come true for the 17-year-old.
"I grew up watching my sister perform and always thought she did so well," Carnell said. "This has been my dream since I was little."
Her sister, other family members and her coach immediately came down to the field to take photos, hug and congratulate Carnell.
Next year, Carnell plans to attend Marshall University, where she plans to audition for the majorette line and study journalism.
Bands from all eight Kanawha County high schools performed Tuesday. The event culminated months of hard work and preparation for the several-hundred students who performed.
For the first time since 2000, the George Washington High School's Patriot Band took home the title of Festival Grand Champion.
Led by field commander Sam Porter and Band Director Mark Hardman, the Patriot Band performed a field show titled "Beatlemania," paying tribute to The Beatles. The show included popular Beatles' songs, including "Magical Mystery Tour," "Lady Madonna," "Eleanor Rigby," "Blackbird," "Yesterday" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."
The 59-member band received high marks from a panel of judges in six categories.
Other field shows paid tribute to celebrities, including the Riverside High School's "Remembering the King - 40 Years, But Not Forgotten" tribute to Elvis and Capital High School's show titled "Human" paying tribute to music from artists Christina Perri and Jason Mraz.
Others, like the Sissonville High School band's "Mechanical Resonance," Herbert Hoover's The Pride of the Elk River's "There's Just Never Enough Time," and Nitro High School's "I Believe" took creative and visual spins on a variety of songs.
The St. Albans High School Red Dragon Band performed selections from the Broadway musical "Les Miserables" and the South Charleston High School Black Eagle Band performed its show "The Journey: Life, Love and the Pursuit..."
Each school received bronze, silver or gold medals in a variety of categories including feature twirler, marching, percussion and overall effect.
Medals were presented to each band by Becky Jordon, member of the Kanawha County Board of Education.
Special guest The Pride of West Virginia - The Mountaineer Marching Band performed at the conclusion of the night.
Those in attendance cheered, sang along and joined in the "Let's Go Mountaineers" cheer while band played its typical pregame show.
More than a dozen members of the 350-member band who are Kanawha County natives were recognized and "welcomed home" by Bill Nevin, the voice of the WVU Marching Band.
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Here are the complete results from Tuesday's Festival:
Grand champion - George Washington; first runner-up: Capital; second runner-up: Nitro
Miss Kanawha Majorette - Lauren Carnell, Capital; first runner-up: Josie Moore, Herbert Hoover; second runner-up: Gabbie Mullins, Riverside
Feature twirler - Gold: Carrie Long, GW; Josie Moore, Hoover; Gabbie Mullins, Riverside. Silver: Lauren Carnell, Capital; Brittany Chaffin, Sissonville
Auxiliary - Gold: GW. Silver: Capital, Hoover, Nitro, Riverside, Sissonville, South Charleston, St. Albans
Percussion - Gold: GW, Nitro. Silver: Capital, Hoover, Riverside, Sissonville, South Charleston, St. Albans
Field commander - Gold: Nitro, Sissonville. Silver: Capital, George Washington, Hoover, Riverside, South Charleston, St. Albans.
Marching - Gold: GW, Hoover. Silver: Capital, Nitro, Riverside, Sissonville, South Charleston, St. Albans
Playing - Gold: GW. Silver: Capital, Hoover, Nitro, Riverside, Sissonville, South Charleston, St. Albans
General effect - Gold: GW. Silver: Capital, Nitro, Riverside. Bronze: Hoover, Sissonville, South Charleston, St. Albans
Reach Carlee Lammers at Carlee.Lammers@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1230 or follow @CarleeLammers on Twitter.