Twirling is Catching - Texas Edition: March 2019

Saturday, March 30, 2019

2019 Fall Twirler Announcements - University of Texas

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

It is that exciting time of year where twirlers are auditioning for twirling spots for the Fall. This blog hopes to help spread the excitement by announcing the selections for the lovely twirlers we will see on the field very soon. If you have an announcement for new twirler selections for 2019-20, please email texastwirlcontact@gmail.com so that we can help spread the word!

Also, make sure to check out the revised 2019 Texas Collegiate Twirler Guide - Update #1. There are many auditions coming up, and we cant wait to see who will be representing these schools in the Fall.

Today we are excited to announce the long anticipated selection of the 2019-20 University of Texas Feature Twirler! The University of Texas (UT), located in the live music capital of Texas, is the home of a very prestigious twirling position. The UT Feature Twirler is a highlight of the "Showband of the Southwest". This position has been held by some outstanding twirlers, and the newest addition to the roster fits right in!

For this upcoming Fall, the University of Texas Feature Twirler will be Caroline Carothers!

Caroline is a household name in the Texas baton twirling community. On top of being a many time State, Regional, and National title holder, Caroline was the 2016 Miss Texas, a Top 7 finalist at Miss America, and has spent the past several years as a Baylor Golden Girl Feature Twirler.

Following a dream she has had since she was young, Caroline, who is graduating from Baylor this Spring, is coming to the University of Texas to pursue her Masters in Educational Policy and Planning. She says she is "so grateful for my four years at Baylor and the honor of twirling for the Golden Wave Band, and I will cherish those memories forever" but she is thrilled to be fulfilling a lifelong dream as the new UT Feature Twirler.

We just know this will be an amazing pairing between an wonderful twirling institution and a fantastic representative of our State and our Sport. We want to wish Caroline the biggest congratulations possible, and we can't wait to see her rocking the Burnt Orange at Darrel K Royal Stadium this fall. Hook Em Horns!

Friday, March 29, 2019

Contest Calendar Series - 2019 South Texas Aux. Championships

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Can you believe it will be April on Monday? Wow! We hope everyone has recovered from Regionals and is ready to jump in to the second half of the season. We are only a couple months away from State, but we still have a couple of contests in the meantime, and one of the deadlines is here, so your time to get the registration forms in the mail is now!

Today's Contest Calendar Series will be discussing the 2019 South Texas Auxiliary Championships.

*DEADLINE SATURDAY* IT'S NOT TOO LATE!!! Please note that the deadline for this competition is SATURDAY, March 30th. You must have your entries postmarked by this date. Click here to download the entry form. For more information, please contact the directors at tgmelinda@sbcglobal.net.

Who? What? When? Where? Why?
Who: Contest Directors Major Margaret Mann, Tori Mays, Heather Hayden, and Melinda White
What: 2019 South Texas Auxiliary Championships
When: Saturday, April 13, 2019. Contest begins at 8:00 am.
Where: Winston Churchill High School, 12049 Blanco Rd, San Antonio, Texas 78216
Why: The Directors of this contest pride themselves on hosting a fun-filled fiesta themed twirling competition with fiesta decorations and awesome fiesta awards (who doesn't want a fiesta flower crown?). Hosted in the middle of San Antonio's fiesta season, they hope the contestants and their families can enjoy a tradition that is near and dear to their hearts.

CONTEST HASHTAG: #fiestacuptwirl2019
For this event we strongly encourage our Texas twirlers to utilize the hashtag #fiestacuptwirl2019 when posting photos of this competition on social media. Make sure to tag the Twirling is Catching TX Blog on Facebook or Instagram (@twirlingiscatchingtx) and we may share your photo!

Highlighted Event: At this competition they offer a "Fiesta Cup"! This special event consists of the top 2 twirlers in each age division (Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels) competing in a twirl-off! The Advanced Fiesta Cup is a perpetual (traveling) award which will feature each winner's named engraved on the plate.

Unique Feature: With this contest falling at the same time as some area high school auditions, this competition offers a UIL/School Audition event for those contestants that would like feedback and a competitive run of their audition routine.

Any Last Comments: The Contest Directors would like to thank everyone for all for the support, and they look forward to seeing everyone soon!

Want to attend this event? Please download the South Texas Auxiliary Championship Entry Form, or contact the Contest Directors at tgmelinda@sbcglobal.net.

Also, don't forget to check out http://www.texastwirl.com/contests.html for information and entry forms for many upcoming contests and camps in and around the State of Texas. There are many great contests heading our way, and we don't want anyone to miss out!

We hope you have enjoyed this edition of the Contest Calendar Series. We are always looking for great stories about Texas twirlers. Do you have an idea or some information we could use to help highlight our sport? Contact us at texastwirlcontact@gmail.com and we would love to hear more about it.

Monday, March 25, 2019

Update #1 2019 Texas Collegiate Twirler Audition Guide

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Welcome to the third year we are offering this very special feature for the Twirling is Catching Blog! We know senior year is a very exciting time for many twirlers, but it is also a little nerve wracking as twirlers try to decide which University to select. While this is already a hard decision, when you have a dream of twirling on the collegiate level, it adds an addition level of pressure for picking the right place. There are also many current college students that may be deciding between auditioning at their school or other schools. So many choices! Our goal with this feature is to present as much audition information for Texas universities in one place as possible to at least make the process of knowing how to audition easier for our Collegiate twirler hopefuls.

If you have any information to update any of these listings, or have information for a University not listed, please email texastwirlcontact@gmail.com. We will be posting a follow-up posts to this one as new information and updates become available.

We also hope to be able to announce many of the Twirler selections for these Universities as the decisions are made, so make sure to stay tuned! You can always follow us here, but to make sure you are notified every time there is a new post, we also have a Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/twirlingiscatchingtx, and can be found on Instagram @twirlingiscatchingtx.

2019 Texas Collegiate Twirler Audition Quick Guide:
Updated 3/25/19

Electronic Audition Submission Deadlines
*December 1st - University of Texas, Austin
*February 2nd - Baylor University
*March 10th - Tyler Junior College
*March 13th - University of TX, Permian Basin
*Late February - Texas Christian University
*March 15th - University of Houston
*April 1st - Texas Tech University LINE
*April 20th - Texas State University

Set Live Audition Dates
*February 23rd - Southern Methodist University
*March 16th - University of Texas, Austin
*March 22nd - Tyler Junior College
*March 23rd - University of TX, Permian Basin
*March 30th - Sam Houston State University
*April 6th - Stephen F Austin Twirl-O-Jacks
*April 13th - Texas Tech University Line Auditions
*April 27th - Lamar University Cardinalettes
*April 27th - Texas State University
*April 28th - University of Texas, San Antonio
*May 18th - Kilgore College

No Audition Info Available At This Time:
*Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
*Angelo State University
*Incarnate Word

Not Holding 2019 Auditions:
*Texas Tech University Feature Position
*SFA University Feature Position

Already completed 2019 Auditions:
*Southern Methodist University
*University of Texas, Austin
*Tyler Junior College
*University of TX, Permian Basin

2019 Texas Collegiate Twirler Audition Details:

HUNTSVILLE: Sam Houston State University
*2019 SHSU Twirler Audition Info
*Live Auditions may be held March 30th
    - Submit materials to bxg012@shsu.edu or
     to kelleymccormick5@gmail.com
          1. Twirling/School Resume
          2. 2 letters of recommendation
          3. Photograph in twirling costume

LUBBOCK: Texas Tech University
*Live Audition for Twirling Line - April 13th
*2019 Audition Info for Line Positions
*Twirling Line Audition Information:
     - Electronic submissions due by April 1st
     - Submit materials to btolley@sbcglobal.net
          1. Resume & HS/College Transcripts
          2. Letters of Recommendation
          3. Why you want to twirl at Tech
          4. A Picture

NACOGDOCHES: Stephen F Austin
*No Feature Twirler Auditions for 2019
*Twirl-O-Jack Live Auditions April 6th
*Contact candicecurbow@hotmail.com
*More detailed info available soon
*March 2nd - TOJ Prep Class Info

SAN MARCOS: Texas State University

*Live Auditions will be held April 27th

*Audition Materials are due by April 20th

*2019 Bobcat Twirler Audition Information

- Submit materials to krg60@txstate.edu

1. Completed Application

2. 2 letters of recommendation

3. Full length photo included

3. Video <10 minutes of live twirling

BEAUMONT: Lamar University
*Live Auditions will be on April 27th
*Contact dinabordelon@gmail.com to
sign up or for more information

SAN ANTONIO: University of TX San Antonio
*Live auditions will be held April 28th
*2019 USTA Twirler Audition Information
*For more info contact randi.miles@utsa.edu

KILGORE: Kilgore College
*Live Auditions will be on May 18th
*2019 Audition Info for Twirling Line & Feature
*The twirler audition information must be
submitted on the website prior to auditions.
*Contact jordanijenkins16@gmail.com for info

-----------------------------------------------------------

Information for schools that have already

completed auditions for Fall 2019.

DALLAS: Southern Methodist University
*Live auditions February 23rd

*~~2016 Audition Info for Reference~~

~~HOUSTON: University of Houston~~

~~*Electronic Materials are due by March 15~~

*2019 Audition Info for U of H Feature Twirlers

*Submit materials to coach@uhtwirlers.com

AUSTIN: University of Texas, Austin
*Call Back Live Auditions - March 16th
*Send audition materials to lhbinfo@utexas.edu
*Materials must be submitted by December 1st
*2019 Audition Info for the UT Twirler

~~HOUSTON: University of Houston~~

~~*Electronic Materials are due by March 15~~

*2019 Audition Info for U of H Feature Twirlers

*Submit materials to coach@uhtwirlers.com

~~TYLER: Tyler Junior College~~

~~*Live Auditions will be on March 22nd~~

*2019 Audition Information for Feature Twirler

*Must submit the Info Form & Band Director

~~*Audition info must be submitted by March 10th~~

~~FORT WORTH: Texas Christian University~~

*No live audition will be held

*Interested students must:

~~- Already be accepted to TCU~~

~~- Send complete twirling resume~~

~~- Send CD highlighting twirling ability~~

*Send materials to b.youngblood@tcu.edu

~~*Submit info by end of February~~

*Email b.youngblood@tcu.edu for more info

~~*Decisions usually made by Mid March~~

WACO: Baylor University
*Audition videos for 2019 due on February 2nd
*Email all materials to lynndell@heilp.com
*2018 Audition Info for Requirement Reference

~~ODESSA: University of Texas Permian Basin~~

~~*Call Back Live Audition - March 23rd~~

*Offering a $1,000 scholarship for Fall 2019!!!

*Email via Drop Box to harris_c@utpb.edu

~~*Materials must be submitted by March 13th~~

*Audition Info for Falcon Twirler positions

Thursday, March 14, 2019

The Final Countdown... 2019 Southwest Regionals

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

It is now Thursday, March 14th, which means the 2019 Southwest Regional Championship is officially the day after tomorrow! We know twirlers all over the Region have been basically living in the gym, practicing with all their heart, and preparing their best for this weekend. We wish everyone the best of luck and just remember, no matter what happens, smile and enjoy the celebration of our sport and our Region coming together. Don't forget to follow www.facebook.com/Twirlingiscatchingtx for fun updates and results throughout the weekend.

To help everyone with their final packing and mental preparations, we have a few updates from our Contest Director, Vicki Ray, for what is sure to be fantastic event. If you have any questions about the event before Saturday, please contact Vicki at vickiray911@charter.net. See you all in Fort Worth!

Program & T-Shirt Pick Up
Program & T-Shirt pick up with bee 6:00-8:00 pm at V.R. Eaton High School in the lobby outside the gym. Those that have prepaid for the two hours of gym time will receive their bracelets allowing them on the floor at the pick-up table.

Modeling Ratings Saturday Morning
Ratings will open at 7:00am on Saturday morning for modeling only. This will give those contestants that have paid to do a modeling ratings a chance to model before the competition. Make sure if you are entered in modeling ratings that you takes advantage of this!

Available Concession Options
The Eaton Dance Team has gone all out on their concessions! Many yummy options are available, so please make sure to support them! Options include: Chick-Fil-A Breakfast Biscuits (Saturday), Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwiches (Saturday), Domino's Pizza (Sunday), Wooley's Frozen Custard, Nothing Bundt Cakes, plus four different food trucks and other snack options.

Vendors On Site
There will be several vendors in the hallways outside the gym lobby, so when you have some down time, go check them out! Vendors Include:

Gorgeous Twirling Costumes (with Patty Glymph)
Ka Amara Jewlery (with Amanda Merritt)
Young Living Essential Oils (with Amy Bryan)
Other vendors including a photographer and make-up items

Schedule: Saturday, March 16th

7:00 am

Contest Facility Opens & Modeling Ratings lane opens

8:00 am

Miss Southwest Model
Miss Majorette of the Southwest & Interviews
Basic Skills Model
Best Appearing
Best Costume
Miss Majorette Strut
Basic Skills Strut
Miss Majorette Solo
Basic Skills Solo
(All of the events above Start with the letter K)
Presentation
Duets, Trios
Show Twirl, Rhythmic Twirl, Collegiate Twirl, Collegiate Downfield
Group Events
Group Awards Presentation

Schedule: Sunday March 17th

7:00 am

Contest Facility Open

8:00 am

Ratings Lane opens
Basic/ Military Strut
Open X-Strut
Regional X-Strut championships
Advanced Regional X-Strut Finals
Open Solos
Advanced Regional Solo Finals
Regional solo championships
2-baton, 3-baton, Flag
Awards Presentation

***This is a Tentative Schedule and is not a guaranteed timetable. We will not stop the contest if it is running ahead of schedule. Contestants are responsible for being in the lane 2 sets BEFORE their set number to compete.

Map to Contest Site Entrance

V.R. Eaton High School is a very large High School, so to ensure you don't get lost, we have included a map. The entrance to the gym is on the opposite side of the school from the main entrance. Park in the lots near the baseball diamond and the Gymnasium is the large building to the left of the Student Union in that big courtyard.

Sunday, March 10, 2019

2019 Fall Twirler Announcements - University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas, located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, is the home of the Razorbacks, and has a rich tradition of baton twirling. Arkansas not only has feature twirlers, but also a very talented twirling line that shines on the field at Reynolds stadium along with the Razorback marching band.

This coming fall the position of Co-Captain will be held by Texas twirler, Kendal Baker! Kendal is returning for her second year on the Arkansas Twirling Line and is honored to be named Co-Captain. Kendal will be a sophomore next year and is a business major. She says she "can't wait for a great season full of laughter and batons".

Joining the line new this year is The Woodlands native, Lindsay Richards. This Marketing Major is a member of the Mickey's Majorettes and coached by Patti Mickey. Lindsay says that being a collegiate twirler has always been a dream of hers and she is "so excited for all the experiences to come".

Kendal & Lindsay will be joined on the field the other four members of the Majorette line including Captain Ashley Wicks, Whitney Williams, Kaylin Costello, and Hanna Carter as well as returning Feature Twirlers, Savannah Miller and Isabella Udouj. You can follow the Arkansas Twirlers on their Facebook page located at https://www.facebook.com/UARKMajorettes/. They do a wonderful Twirler for a Day program in the Fall where younger twirlers get a taste of what it is like to be a Razorback twirler and perform on the field alongside these amazing young ladies, so keep an eye out for information on that program.

We know this fantastic group of twirlers will be an amazing team. We are all so happy for Kendal and Lindsay, and we can't wait to cheer them on this year. Woo Pig Sooie!

We hope you have enjoyed this blog post. We are always looking for great new stories about Texas twirlers. Do you have an idea or some information we could use to help highlight our sport? Contact us at texastwirlcontact@gmail.com and we would love to hear more about it.

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

2019 Fall Twirler Announcements - University of Missouri

The University of Missouri, also known as "Mizzou", located in Columbia, MO, is the home of the Tigers and the "Marching Mizzou". Mizzou has a history of some amazing Feature Twirlers, and Josie is honored to be a part of the legacy. After her audition she said that she just knew Mizzou was the perfect place to be her new home away from home!

Josie is currently a student at Round Rock High School, where she is also a Feature Twirler, and was a baton twirling Ambassador to Peru this past September, as well as Senior State & Regional royalty.

She is from the Austin/Round Rock area, where she is a Team Captain for Twirl ATX and coached primarily by Whitney King Coons with additional support from Ashley Wood and Kristen Tate.

At Mizzou, Josie will become a part of a great twirling family! She will join current Feature Twirlers Simone Esters (former Junior MMOA) and Carlee Fenton (Top 10 Collegiate National Solo Finalist) on Faurot Field as they rock the Black & Gold for huge game day audiences. Josie will also be following in the footsteps of one of her biggest role models, outgoing Mizzou Feature Twirler, and Texas girl, Lindsey McCormick. We know Josie will feel right at home cheering on the Tigers with these beautiful twirlers supporting her.

We all want to wish a huge congrats to Josie as she begins her new adventure at Mizzou! Go Tigers!

Friday, March 1, 2019

2019 Fall Twirler Announcements - Southern Methodist University

Today we have our first post for the new season! We are excited to announce the selection of the 2019-20 Southern Methodist University Feature Twirler. SMU, located high on the hilltop in Dallas, TX, is the home of the "The Doll", who is a centerpiece to the Mustang Marching Band. The Doll is a prestigious position that has been held by some amazing Texas Twirlers since its creation.

For this upcoming Fall, the position of "The Doll" will be held by the 2017 & 2018 Miss Majorette of the Southwest, Rachel Hutchinson!

Prior to College, Rachel was a Feature Twirler at The Woodlands High School, and a baton twirling Ambassador to Peru. Rachel, who is from The Woodlands, is a Mickey's Majorettes coached by Patti Mickey.

In the Fall of 2018 Rachel twirled at SMU in the role of the Freshman Twirler where she learned the ways of the "Best Dressed Band in the Land". She says it is a dream to be able to step on the field this coming season in the role of "The Doll" and the can't wait to represent SMU with sparkle and pride.

Congrats to Rachel on what we know will be an amazing season at Gerald J. Ford Stadium!

2019 Texas Collegiate Twirler Audition Guide

2019 Texas Collegiate Twirler Audition Quick Guide:

Electronic Audition Submission Deadlines
*December 1st - University of Texas, Austin
*February 2nd - Baylor University
*March 10th - Tyler Junior College
*March 13th - University of TX, Permian Basin
*Late February - Texas Christian University
*March 15th - University of Houston
*April 1st - Texas Tech University LINE

Set Live Audition Dates
*February 23rd - Southern Methodist University
*March 16th - University of Texas, Austin
*March 22nd - Tyler Junior College
*March 23rd - University of TX, Permian Basin
*March 30th - Sam Houston State University
*April 6th - Stephen F Austin Twirl-O-Jacks
*April 13th - Texas Tech University Line Auditions
*April 27th - Lamar University Cardinalettes
*April 28th - University of Texas, San Antonio
*May 18th - Kilgore College

No Audition Info Available At This Time:
*Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
*Angelo State University
*Texas State University
*Incarnate Word

Not Holding 2019 Auditions:
*Texas Tech University Feature Position
*SFA University Feature Position

Already completed 2019 Auditions:
*Southern Methodist University

2019 Texas Collegiate Twirler Audition Details:

DALLAS: Southern Methodist University
*Live auditions February 23rd
*~~2016 Audition Info for Reference~~

AUSTIN: University of Texas, Austin
*Call Back Live Auditions - March 16th
*Send audition materials to lhbinfo@utexas.edu
*Materials must be submitted by December 1st
*2019 Audition Info for the UT Twirler

WACO: Baylor University
*Audition videos for 2019 due on February 2nd
*Email all materials to lynndell@heilp.com
*2018 Audition Info for Requirement Reference

ODESSA: University of Texas Permian Basin
*Call Back Live Audition - March 23rd
*Offering a $1,000 scholarship for Fall 2019!!!
*Email via Drop Box to harris_c@utpb.edu
*Materials must be submitted by March 13th
*Audition Info for Falcon Twirler positions

HUNTSVILLE: Sam Houston State University
*2018 SHSU Twirler Audition Info for Reference
*Live Auditions may be held March 30th (tentative)
    - Submit materials to bxg012@shsu.edu or
     to kelleymccormick5@gmail.com
          1. Twirling/School Resume
          2. 2 letters of recommendation
          3. Photograph in twirling costume

LUBBOCK: Texas Tech University
*Live Audition for Twirling Line - April 13th
*2019 Audition Info for Line Positions
*Twirling Line Audition Information:
     - Electronic submissions due by April 1st
     - Submit materials to btolley@sbcglobal.net
          1. Resume & HS/College Transcripts
          2. Letters of Recommendation
          3. Why you want to twirl at Tech
          4. A Picture

HOUSTON: University of Houston
*Electronic Materials are due by March 15
*2019 Audition Info for U of H Feature Twirlers
*Submit materials to coach@uhtwirlers.com

TYLER: Tyler Junior College
*Live Auditions will be on March 22nd
*2019 Audition Information for Feature Twirler
*Must submit the Info Form & Band Director
*Audition info must be submitted by March 10th

NACOGDOCHES: Stephen F Austin
*No Feature Twirler Auditions for 2019
*Twirl-O-Jack Live Auditions April 6th
*Contact candicecurbow@hotmail.com
*More detailed info available soon
*March 2nd - TOJ Prep Class Info

FORT WORTH: Texas Christian University
*No live audition will be held
*Interested students must:
      - Already be accepted to TCU
      - Send complete twirling resume
      - Send CD highlighting twirling ability
*Send materials to b.youngblood@tcu.edu
*Submit info by end of February
*Email b.youngblood@tcu.edu for more info
*Decisions usually made by Mid March

BEAUMONT: Lamar University
*Live Auditions will be on April 27th
*Contact dinabordelon@gmail.com to
         sign up or for more information

SAN ANTONIO: University of TX San Antonio
*Live auditions will be held April 28th
*2019 USTA Twirler Audition Information
*For more info contact randi.miles@utsa.edu

KILGORE: Kilgore College
*Live Auditions will be on May 18th
*2019 Audition Info for Twirling Line & Feature
*The twirler audition information must be
   submitted on the website prior to auditions.
*Contact jordanijenkins16@gmail.com for info

-----------------------------------------------------------
No Current Audition Information Available
However, some details from previous year
auditions may be available for reference.

SAN ANGELO: Angelo State University
*Live Auditions will be on TBA
*For more info contact jonathan.alvis@angelo.edu
*2017 Audition Info for San Angelo Line & Feature

SAN MARCOS: Texas State University
*Live Auditions will be held TBA
*Audition Materials are due by TBA
*2017 Bobcat Twirler Audition Information
     - Submit materials to krg60@txstate.edu
          1. Completed Application
          2. 2 letters of recommendation
          3. Full length photo included
          3. Video <10 minutes of live twirling

CORPUS: Texas A&M – Corpus Christi
*No Current Audition Info Available

SAN ANTONIO: Univ. of the Incarnate Word
*No Current Auditions Info Available
*Cardinal Band website for reference