ROSELLE — With a flash of light, the silver baton glided around the nape of 16-year-old Olivia Negris’ neck as she spun in circles on the gymnasium floor.

Negris, a junior at Wheaton Warrenville South High School, is a member of the Silver Knights baton twirling team based in Roselle. The team held a final six-hour practice March 3 at Margaret Mead Junior High School in Elk Grove Village prior to the annual Elmhurst St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Baton twirling has its roots in the long staffs used by college-level drum majors who would spin the staffs during on-field performances to add some extra flair to the show, Negris said. Now, though, the sport is dominated by females. It combines dance, gymnastics and the baton.