CORONA -- Students at Terra Cotta Middle School in Lake Elsinore probably don't realize the little girl walking around campus dressed in pink and wearing a big smile is a world champion.

Rebecca Lantz, an 11-year-old sixth-grader, will defend her title at the World Baton Twirling Championship in Ghent, Belgium, in April.

Rebecca won the gold medal for rhythmic twirl and silver medal in twirl in the juvenile division at the last world championships in the Netherlands in 2006.

She is the only American to qualify in all four events -- one baton, two baton, strut and rhythmic -- in the 2009 competition.

Rebecca was crowned 2006 Miss Juvenile Majorette of America. This year, she has won titles at the state, regional and national level, most recently capturing the California State Baton Twirling Championship for the fourth consecutive year.

Rebecca came to twirling almost by accident. When she didn't show a liking for the piano, which her mother, Janelle, played as a child, the family went looking for something else.

The 3 1/2-year-old Rebecca joined her best friend in cheerleading, but found she liked twirling better. It wasn't long before Debbie Salem, a member of the National Baton Twirling Association Hall of Fame, was giving her private lessons and it took Rebecca just two years to reach the advanced level.

"I saw desire, determination. It was just a spark that was unbelievable," Salem said of Rebecca.

Salem also said Rebecca has a great work ethic.

"A lot is because of the time they put in it, the dedication," Salem said. "She never misses a chance to practice. She's a real worker."

Rebecca says she practices two hours a day, and that's along with homework and dance and ballet classes.

This year, she joined the marching band at her middle school.

As Rebecca has advanced in competitions, so has the expense to the family. Not only is there a cost to pay for coaching and travel, but she needs more expensive equipment and costumes.

Janelle Lantz said Rebecca's first performance costume was a hand-me-down from a friend who ripped up one of her old twirling outfits and redesigned it to fit the girl.

"After she won state (for the first time), her coach said 'You have to get her a real outfit. We have something here,'" Janelle Lantz said.

Now costumes can cost $500, and up to $300 more with decorative stones.

There is also the cost of batons. Rebecca carries seven, three for competitions, three for practice and one to lend to anyone who needs one. She will also give batons to youngsters who express an interest in trying one out.

Competition has taken the Lantz family across the United States, from Arizona to Florida and Maryland and Ohio. Rebecca qualified for the world championships by winning a competition at University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.

"I like to travel a lot, because you meet new people," Rebecca said. "Your competitors become your friends."

She said her best memory is of performing in a large arena in Holland, signing autographs and receiving a standing ovation after a routine.

Her success hasn't come without complications. Rebecca has suffered injuries, including three chipped teeth.

Of course, there have been rewards. Janelle Lantz said her daughter wins about 80 trophies a year and their Corona home is filled with pictures, costumes and other signs of Rebecca's success.

Rebecca and her mom said they would like to see baton twirling grow across the nation. To that end, Rebecca tried out for the television show "America's Got Talent" in 2007.

"The reason for 'America's Got Talent' was to actually show twirling again," Janelle Lantz said. "Bring it back to America."

Rebecca was shown on the air and in a commercial, but did not advance past the initial audition.

Now, Janelle worries about her daughter burning out.

"People think it's easy because she's at the top," Janelle Lantz said. "Once you hit the top, you have to stay at the top."

Rebecca, who hopes to earn a college scholarship for twirling, sees no reason to stop.

"I want to be a baton teacher when I grow up," she said.

Rebecca is one of five Californians who have qualified for the world championships. To raise funds for the travel, the twirlers will hold a twirl-athon starting at 8 a.m. Saturday in Los Angeles.

For information, e-mail Janelle Lantz at zjanellez@yahoo.com.

Contact staff writer Craig Shultz at (951) 676-4315, Ext, 2625, or cshultz@californian.com.