For tonight’s edition of our Friday Night Lights Feature, we are traveling a little east of San Antonio to Gonzales, Texas, to meet the four lovely twirlers from Gonzales High School: Feature Twirler Paige Glass, and Line Twirlers Lilliana Ramirez, Samantha Kuntschik, & Alicia Ramirez.
The Gonzales Feature Twirler and Twirling Line, directed by Janice Glass, are an exciting part of the Apache band program. In order to become and Apache twirler, students must be a member of the band and sign up to try out. For try outs, “they must then attend a mandatory meeting where expectations and tryout info are discussed. On the day of tryouts the twirler is expected to perform a three minute routine of their choosing and a panel of judges makes the final decision”.
These girls get to have a lot of FUN together! In fact, their favorite advice they have received from their coach has been “Alrighty girls! Let’s go out there and have fun!” They named twirling in the third movement as the most fun part of their marching band show, and said they have a ton of fun when they get to twirl fire each year at the senior night football game.
A group that has this much fun must have some great traditions and inside jokes! According to the girls “Mambo” and “Just Keep Swimming” are two of the biggest ones they get to enjoy together. Don’t know what they mean, but we are sure they will bring band fond memories in the future. Speaking of the future, when they leave Gonzales High School they all say they will miss being a part of the Apache Band half time performances the most.
Don’t get the wrong idea though. The GHS Twirlers have their fun, but they also take our sport very seriously. They said the main life skill they have learned from baton twirling is time management. They also want to make sure future High School twirlers know that “One more time really means twenty more times”. Isn’t that the truth?
Now that we have learned a little about the Gonzales High School Twirlers and their experiences as part of the Apache Band, let’s meet each of the girls individually…
Paige has been twirling for seven years with Coaches Sheri Carter and Pat Montgomery. She said she is the most proud of winning the title of the 2014 Jr. Twirl Mania 3-baton Champion. Her favorite competition trick is her entire roll section, her favorite field trick is her back neck rolls, and her favorite twirling moment is when she gets to perform at halftime. When Paige graduates she plans to attend college to become a dermatologist.
Lilliana has been twirling for six years with Coach Janice Glass. Her favorite field trick is juggling. She says her favorite individual twirling moment was the first time she got to perform with her sister in a half time show. After high school, Lilliana plans to go to college and become a respiratory therapist.
Samantha has been twirling for four years with Coach Pat Montgomery. She says she is most proud of winning her Open Solo at the Southwest Regional Championships. Her favorite competition trick is her rolls, and her favorite field trick is their group layback. One of her favorite twirling memories is when she went to the winter twirling camp and made a friend named Sophie. After high school, Samantha hopes to twirl in college.
Alicia has been twirling for three years with Coach Janice Glass. Her favorite part of the marching band show is the third movement. Her favorite individual twirling moment was “hearing everyone get amazed when we all twirler fire”. After high school Alicia plans to go to college and become a psychologist.
Fun Facts!
Favorite Food: Matamores puffy quesadillas (Paige)
Favorite Drink: Coffee & Diet Coke (Paige)
Favorite Color: Red (Lilliana), Blue (Samantha), Purple (Alicia)
Favorite Music: Rap (Samantha), Any (Alicia)
Favorite TV Show: American Horror Story (Samantha)
Favorite Movie: The Breakfast Club (Alicia)
Twirlers they are most inspired by…
*Paige = Michael Lopez & Stephanie Lampman
*Lilliana & Alicia = Jesslyn Lamprecht
*Samantha = Destiny Pierpont
When they are not twirling they love to…
*Paige = Sleep
*Lilliana = Spend time with family and friends
*Samantha = Watch Netflix
*Alicia = Solve puzzles such as Rubix cubes, piece puzzles, etc
Something you might not know about them is…
*Paige = “I have a Morkie named Beau who thinks he is my child”
*Lilliana = “I also play softball (catcher)”
*Samantha = “I am a namesake of my Uncle Sam”
*Alicia = “I wear my favorite bracelet only on my left wrist”
Favorite Quotes:
*Paige = “She turned her can’ts into cans, and her dreams into plans”
*Lilliana = “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass it’s about learning to dance in the rain.
*Samantha = “Life is like riding a bicycle. Keep your balance to keep moving”.
*Alicia = “Do not go where the path may lead instead go where there is no path and leave a trail for someone to follow”
We had so much FUN (didn’t see that coming did you) getting to know these four Apache twirlers, we are all worn out (just like them in this hilarious picture below). We wish them a great rest of the football season, and hope the tradition of fun at Gonzales HS continues (and we mean that times twenty!).
We hope you have enjoyed another edition of our Friday Night Lights Feature. Have a favorite High School or Collegiate Twirler that you would like to see interviewed? Please contact us at texastwirlcontact@gmail.com with their name and email address so that we can reach out to them!
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