Kayla (Fynaardt) Flury
Kayla is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Nursing, and recently began her career as a Registered Nurse on an Acute Cardiology unit at the UVA Medical Center. Kayla was a member of the Royalettes for 11 years, where she twirled competitively and had the honor of representing the University of Virginia as a Feature Twirler with the Cavalier Marching Band. She remains active as a coach for Royalettes both in Richmond and Charlottesville, and especially enjoys coaching twirlers that are just beginning their journey with the sport she has grown an incredible love and passion for. Kayla’s proudest moments throughout her twirling career have been sharing the field in Scott Stadium with her favorite twirling partner, Bree. She married her love, Michael in November 2019.
Ashley Morris
Ashley is a graduate of Old Dominion University with a BSBA including a major in Business Management. Ashley was the first "Crown Jewel" Feature Twirler at ODU! She works full-time at ECPI as a Career Services Advisor. She grew up in the Royalettes and has won many local and regional titles. She is engaged to Van and is busy planning their wedding and spending time with their dog, Goose.
Victoria (Maiden) Proscia
Victoria is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in English and Media Studies, and was dubbed one of the “Sabre Twins” for the Cavalier Marching Band. Victoria was a member of the Royalettes Baton Corps for 19 years. She and her twin sister, Brittany, captured the Grand National Duet Championship title in 2004, 2007 and 2014. In 2014, Victoria and Brittany were awarded the opportunity to become members of Team USA, where they competed in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, bringing home the Silver Medal. Additionally, Victoria has traveled to Trujillo and Lima, Peru as a United States Twirling Ambassador. Her two most proud individual accomplishments were winning 1st runner-up to Senior Miss Majorette of America and winning the Preliminary Talent Award at the Miss Virginia Pageant. She also recently completed her Masters in Healthcare Administration. Victoria enjoys spending time with her husband, Steven, and their daughter, Aria Grace.
Amanda Wilson
Amanda is from Powhatan, Virginia and currently teaches history and government at Powhatan High School. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in History and Social Sciences with a Concentration in Secondary Education from Longwood University in 2010. Amanda was a member of the Royalette Baton Corps from 1998 to 2004 and competed both individually and on teams.
Brittany (Maiden) Kellaway
Brittany earned her Bachelors degree in Sociology at The University of Virginia in 2013, and her Master’s degree in Elementary Education in 2015 from VCU. While twirling at UVA, she and her twin sister Victoria were dubbed the “Sabre Twins” for the Cavalier Marching Band, twirling together throughout their college career. Brittany became the first feature twirler at VCU, twirling at all sports events with the “VCU Peppas” pep band. She twirled for 19 years, capturing numerous local, state, national titles, and in 2015, was honored to qualify and represent the USA in Italy after winning the National duet title with her sister in 2014. In 2016, Brittany took on two jobs - one as a full time teacher in Powhatan county, and the other as the Head Coach for the UVA Marching Band. She also thoroughly enjoys coaching and guiding local Royalette twirlers in both the Richmond and Charlottesville areas. Brittany resides in Amelia Court House with her husband and two daughters, Lexi and Adalyn.
Our Coaching Staff
Makaihla Jones
Makaihla twirled with the Royalettes for many years, and was a student coach in her high school years. She was a feature twirler at Manchester High School, and competed on teams and individually. In her spare time she enjoys rescuing cats.
Spencer Fynaardt
Spencer is a graduate of the University of Virginia School, and recently began her career as a Behavior Support Clinician at Compass Behavioral Solutions. Spencer was a member of the Royalettes for 11 years, where she twirled competitively and had the honor of representing the University of Virginia as a Feature Twirler with the Cavalier Marching Band. She remains active as a coach for Royalettes both in Richmond and Charlottesville.
Diane J. Gunnels, Director and Head Coach
Diane was born in Wilmington, NC and earned her Bachelor of Science from VCU, where she majored in Social Work. Diane is also the founder of the Royalettes. Over the years Diane has worked hard to create a wonderful program for young people. She has had numerous champions under her direction. She resides in Richmond with her husband, Richard, and has 2 dogs and 3 cats. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.
Lydia Thompson
Lydia grew up in the Royalettes and competed individually and in teams. She loves coaching the little ones, and has such a special bond with them. She also makes the best cupcakes and is a baker at local grocery store!
Lindsay (Salyers) Marwitz
Lindsay is a 2011 graduate of Virginia Tech, where she graduated with honors, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. She also has her teaching endorsement from Old Dominion University and currently teaches at Pocahontas Elementary School in Powhatan, Virginia. Lindsay has been involved in baton twirling since she was 6 years old, winning many state, regional, and national titles as a twirler with the Royalettes. While she loves coaching all areas of baton twirling, 2-baton and 3-baton are her favorite routines to create. She lives in Moseley, Va with her husband Josh and their two boys, Hayden and Graham. They are expecting a baby boy in April of 2023!
Megan Ludwig
Megan recently graduated Cum Laude with a degree in psychology from James Madison University. She will be working on her Masters Degree at The University of Virginia. Megan was a member of the Royalettes where she twirled competitively. She is excited to coach the Charlottesville Royalettes!
Tara Stacey
Tara started twirling with the Royalettes at the age of seven and continued competing throughout her childhood. She twirled for her high school as a Manchester Majorette and upon graduation, began coaching while earning her masters degree in Elementary Education at VCU. She now teaches at Goochland Elementary School and resides in Goochland, VA with her husband, Jordan, and their daughter, Ellason.
Rhonda Groves
Rhonda was born in the Tidewater area of Virginia and started twirling while in the 2nd grade. Her first coach, Bunny Humphries, was a student of Shelvy Manning. While living in Tidewater, she twirled with Bunny’s Twirlettes, and then the Tidewater Twirlettes, and was in the “Toppers” division of the Corps, where she competed individually and with her team. She continued twirling throughout high school and was a feature twirler at Monacan High School, in Richmond, VA. She is also a registered NBTA Judge. In her spare time, she enjoys being with family, her grandson, TJ, and friends.