2023 IBTF World Championship and Nations Cup Team Managers Selected

April 1, 2023 - Today the Canadian Baton Twirling Federation is pleased to announce the Team Mangers for the Canadian Contingent to the IBTF Nations Cup and World Championship competitions in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Steven Kopas and Nancy Lightheart have been selected as the Nations Cup Team Managers. Steven Kopas will also be the Team Manager for the IBTF World Championship.

Both Steven and Nancy have backgrounds making them very well-suited for the Team Manager roles.

  • Steven holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours Kinesiology) degree from the University of Waterloo and is also a member of the Ontario and Canadian Athletic Therapy Associations. Steven has been involved in Baton Twirling since the age of 5, and represented Canada seven times as an athlete at the World Championships. Steven was previously Team Manager for Canada between 2008-2012 and again at the 2016 World Championship, the 2017 International Cup and Grand Prix, the 2019 International Cup and Grand Prix, and the 2022 World Championship.
  • Nancy holds a Bachelor of Physical Education with a specialization in Athletic Therapy from the University of Alberta. Nancy also brings a life-long history of involvement in Baton Twirling. She represented Canada at the World Championships from 1987-1991 and was a member of Canada's gold-medal winning Team in 1991. Previously, Nancy was Team Manager at the 2015 International Cup and Grand Prix, the 2017 International Cup and Grand Prix, the 2018 World Championship, and the 2019 International Cup.

We are very proud to have such wonderful and experienced Team Managers for our contingent this year and we look forward to working with Steven and Nancy to make the competitions great for our athletes, judges, officials, and supporters in Liverpool.

The CBTF Executive acted as the selection committee. The committee was chaired by President (CBTF President).