I am Melodee Michalares-Owens and the director of FTI (Florida Twirling Institute) I was born in Indiana where my parents both taught baton twirling and had the Indiana Twirling Institute. They met at a baton contest! My father Nick Michalares was the winner of the Chicago Musicland Festival which was then the equivalent of “Nationals”. He was one of the original founders of USTA (United States Twirling Association), He taught baton for years throughout southern Indiana and from the age of ten I assisted and twirled individually as well.I have competed in teams and corps for as long as I can remember winning many championships along the way. I later taught classes for Indiana Twirling Institute from the age of 16 and when I moved to Florida began to teach in what eventually became the Florida Twirling Institute. 2006 will be our 35th year !

I am assisted in my teaching by these terrific people!

Nicole Owens ~ my daughter who was 5 before she realized that every little girl in the world didn’t twirl baton because everyone in her world did. Nicole twirled in advanced from the time she was 6, won her first championship at 5 and twirled competitively in individuals and teams for many years. She also was a member of the Dixie Hollins and Boca Ciega Colorguards, the world class winter guard “Shaktai” and marched drum corps with Suncoast Sound. She is a DMA Gold Seal judge.

Sharon (Rhea) King ~ a former FTI twirler and DMA judge. She was a member of the Melodee’s Majorettes champion Parade Corps. Sharon’s Mom Dottie used to be one of our “team Moms” and still helps out with Sharon’s daughter Selena who is now a member.

Katrina (Nichols) Webb ~ a former member of the champion Pinellas Park guard and winter guard. She began twirling and became the DMA State Sp. Beg. Champion and twirled in the FTI teams FTI Ladder and FTI West Side Story, National Champion and outstanding teams of 2002 as well as being Captain of Beg National champion FTI Sachet. Katrina is a TU judge and is becoming a DMA judge. She also teaches the Dixie Hollins Colorguard.

Saundra Smyrski ~ She is Miss DMA Half-time National winner and is the former Beg. and Int. National title winner. Saundra has twirled with FTI since she was 5, She has numerous individual championships and has been in many State and National Champion teams and corps. She is the National Adv. Fall Classics 15+ Strut winner.

Melissa Foote ~ DMA Ga. Reg. Adv. Champion, Captain of Heat Wave and member of many FTI Champion groups. She is a dedicated and hard working member.

Christina Nichols ~ Captain of FTI Somebody to Love, she is the 2-baton Diva and has some of the best “body work” in the whole group.

We also have these fabulous and hard working team Moms for the 06-07 season!

Stephanie Chase
Melinda Foote
Allison Gordon
Leslie Herron
Cathy Hodgeson
Ginger Kaisner
Sharon King
Michelle Robertson
Wanda Russell

The family of Nick Michalares, 81, of Bloomington, Indiana, would like to celebrate his life. Nick died Saturday October 29 2005 at his home. He was born September 28, 1924, to Mike Mihalareas and Asimo (Nee) Simitzes of Poloponessus, Greece.

He and his twin brother John "Yanni" were born and raised in Chicago. Both Nick and John learned English upon entering elementary school.

Nick was a performer and an instructor at 44 different schools throughout southern Indiana.

Nick founded the Indiana Twirling Institute, helped found the U.S. Twirling Association (USTA), and was a businessman who founded M&M Trophy Co.

Nick attended Washington High School in East Chicago, Indiana, where he was a member of the National Honor Society, Class President, and a drum major in the school band. Nick graduated from Indiana University and was an annual homecoming performer as a baton twirler for the alumni band.

Nick served his country by enlisting in the U.S. Navy, where he became a Commissioned Officer. Nick participated in the American Legion Color Guard, twirling his saber in many statewide competitions.

Nick was baptized and raised in the Greek Orthodox Christian Church; he is currently a member of the All Saints Orthodox Christian Church.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce G. Michalares, and their six children, Nicky Michalares, Melodee Michalares-Owens, Kim Apostolos, Deb Mishler and son-in-law Thomas Mishler, Dan Wiley and daughter-in-law Debbie Wiley, Jay Wiley, grandchildren Todd Owens, Nicole Owens, Neil Michalares, Alexander Apostolos, Eric Mishler, Jeremy Gotwals, Kyndall Wiley and Maridith Furlong.