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hen we thought about whom we’d like to interview for this story, first on our list was Pam Maierhofer, the mother of Penn State’s beloved Blue Sapphire, or feature baton twirler, Pamela Jo “P.J.” Maierhofer. Armed with questions about Maierhofer’s childhood, work ethic and practice schedule, we were surprised when she had a question for us. “People really don’t know who she is, do they?” For the past five years, P.J. Maierhofer has managed to capture the attention of 107,000 football fans, throwing her baton as high as her smile is wide. We’ve spent so much time watching her, but her mother was trying to tell us that there’s a person behind the glittery white costume and red lipstick. In fact, just a few weeks from now, Maierhofer will twirl as the Blue Sapphire in her final halftime show, and even she will have to take a look at who she is without any batons in hand.
P.J. at the Lion Shrine with her trophy after winning Miss Collegiate Majorette of America
Off the field, Maierhofer’s bright personality and cheerful outlook on life have attracted a close group of friends who think of her as just “Peej” rather than “the Blue Sapphire.” Anna Marie DiPietro, a senior majoring in nursing, and Christa Harmotto, a 2009 graduate who is now a member of the U.S. National Women’s Volleyball Team, became close friends with Maierhofer over Monday night dinners at their favorite State College restaurant, Faccia Luna. DiPietro met Maierhofer through mutual friends and said she initially thought Maierhofer would be “snotty” because of her star-status on campus. “P.J. at one point told me that she never thought we’d be friends either,” DiPietro said, laughing as she looked to Maierhofer during her cover shoot. (Maierhofer wanted DiPietro there the entire day.) “We had these preconceived notions of each other – the blue band member and the sorority girl.” Their friendship grew to a level of honesty that has caused DiPietro to turn only to Maierhofer on bad days, seeking out what she calls “P.J. advice.” “Most people just say what you want to hear,” said DiPietro. “But she gets me out of my cynical mentality and puts a positive spin on things. She’s the only one who’ll say to me, ‘Maybe you were wrong.’” Using one night in particular, DiPietro explained why she was so wrong about Maierhofer when they first met. “P.J.’s boyfriend was up for the weekend – and she hardly ever gets to go out – but they had planned on going out that night,” she said. “I was upset about some boy, and they took 54
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me out to dinner, sat for an hour talking to me in the car, went out and then one episode into whatever TV show I was watching at home, she came home with coffee and a muffin for me. She’s always in my corner.” While DiPietro and Harmotto are like sisters to Maierhofer, it isn’t necessary to be in her inner circle to get a sense of who “Peej” is. “Everyone recognizes her – she is the face of Penn State – but she treats everyone the same,” said Harmotto of her best friend. “She gives them a welcoming hello and a big smile, whether she knows them or just met them. Just say hello to her one day walking through town, and you’ll know what I mean.” While everyone recognizes Maierhofer as the Blue Sapphire, others know her through involvement in THON and Homecoming events. Maierhofer served as an entertainment captain for THON 2009, leading a team of about 20 students to plan the pep rally, which, because it boasts appearances from the football team and other student athletes, is one of the most popular and highly anticipated events throughout the 46-hour dance marathon. Maierhofer, who majors in public relations, said she enjoyed the experience so much that she organized this year’s Homecoming pep rally as a special events captain. “Generally, [the Blue Sapphire] is supposed to be focused on herself, and that wasn’t really me,” said Maierhofer. “When I got here, I was ready to turn the style of Blue Sapphire into more of a student leader.” It’s not just students who see Maierhofer as a role model for Penn State. Even University President Graham Spanier has noticed Maierhofer’s willingness to go above and beyond her role as the university’s feature baton twirler. “P.J. is not only one of the most athletic and talented baton twirlers of all time; she is an incredible ambassador for Penn State,” said Spanier. “She is very involved in student organizations and looks for ways to promote the university.” Although Maierhofer has discovered new things she loves at PSU, it’s baton twirling that is closest to her heart. In fact, it’s in her blood. Maierhofer is the daughter of Pam Maierhofer, who owns and operates the ShowTwirlers baton studio in Altoona, Pa. It was at this studio that Maierhofer and her sister, Jamie Mattas-Starr, first learned to twirl. When Maierhofer was 10 years old, she went to see her mother’s student perform as a member of Touch of Blue, Penn State’s majorette squad, and saw the Blue Sapphire perform for the first time. “After the game, they let us come out on the field,” she said. “I remember running around with my arms wide open, saying to my mom, ‘I’m gonna be her someday.’” During summer breaks and on Sundays during the school year, Maierhofer returns to her mother’s studio to train groups of elementary school and high school baton twirlers – and it is now Maierhofer who is the Blue Sapphire they all look up to. “She tells me to have a Blue Sapphire in training! kind, warm smile and to focus