Collegiate Twirler Spotlight - Sam Houston State University Feature Twirlers

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Can you believe competition season starts on Friday here in Texas?  We know today's featured twirlers are doing everything they can to get the most out of their football season during these final weeks. We loved following their Game Day experience on the Instastory Takeover on Saturday, and we hope you did too!

This week’s Collegiate Twirler Spotlight is the Sam Houston State University Feature Twirlers!

Sam Houston State University (also known as SHSU), located in Huntsville, Texas, is the home of the Bearkats, and the awesome SHSU Feature Twirlers, Madison Frantzen and Yelayna Rossi! These twirlers, lead by SHSU Twirling Sponsor, Kelly McCormick, shine bright on the field as they represent their Bearkats at Elliot T. Bowers Stadium. 

We asked Madison and Yelayna what brought them to SHSU, and as Yelayna said, it was all about location, location, location! Madison agreed as well. “I chose Sam Houston State University because it is so close to home and all my of family went there!”

The SHSU twirlers had a little different of an experience for their auditions back in Spring 2020. As Madison told us, “For the audition process you have to submit a video of your past twirling performances, a full body photo, resume, and letters of recommendation. Then if you are chosen for the second part of the audition you will do a live audition and interview for our sponsor, Kelley McCormick and the band director! I was extremely nervous when I first audition but it was 100% worth it!” While that sounds like a pretty normal audition process, Yelayna filled us in on why Spring 2020 was different. “Due to COVID, it was a video audition for the first round, and then the second round was a LIVE zoom audition.”

These twirlers have to stay on top of their skills though, because at SHSU it is required that they re-audition every year. With the weird year they had in 2020-2021, it was great to see both of them retain their positions during the Spring 2021 audition process, and we love seeing them on the field this year. 

Now that we have learned more about what brought them to SHSU, let’s learn more about them!

Madison Frantzen
Madison is a Sophomore from The Woodlands, Texas, and is Double Majoring in Composite Science and Education. She has been twirling for 8 years as a Mickey’s Majorette, and is coached by Patti Mickey & Kayli Mickey-Mcintosh. The competition title she is the proudest of earning is when her Mickey’s Majorette team won the Gold Medal at the 2021 AAU Junior Olympic National Competition for Senior Dance Twirl. Her favorite trick is anything three baton or rolls, and in baton twirling she has been most inspired by her former teammate, Izzy Obias. After college she hopes to become a professor at Sam Houston!

Yelayna Rossi
Yelayna is a Sophomore from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is Majoring in Political Science and minoring in Public Administration and Public Policy. At SHSU, in addition to being a Feature Twirler, she is also a sister of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She has been twirling for 15 years with coaches Lisa Dorfman and Kim Hoag. The title she is the proudest of earning was Miss Congeniality at the 2019 Miss 4th of July Pageant. Her favorite competition routine is her two baton, and her favorite field trick is a toss front walkover. In baton twirling she has been most inspired by Paige Rossi. After college she hopes to become a state house representative alongside her mother. 

Fun Facts!
Favorite Color – Pink (Madison), Blue (Yelayna)
Favorite TV Show – “Anything that is reality TV!” (Madison)
Favorite Beverage – Coffee! (Yelayna)

Favorite Quote…
Madison – “It is okay to struggle, but it is not okay to give up!”
Yelayna – “Be strong and courageous, for god is with you wherever you go.”

When they are not twirling, they love to…
Madison – “I am either studying for classes, or I am cooking and spending time with my friends.”
Yelayna – “Workout.”

Something people might not know about them is…
Madison – “I have wanted to be teacher since the 5th grade!”
Yelayna – “I have seven siblings!”

Best memory as a baton twirler…
Madison – “My best memories are from working with my team this past year to accomplish the huge goal of winning a National Title at the Junior Olympics.”
Yelayna – “Either having a no drop on the field, or getting 1st runner up at Twirl Mania!”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler…
Madison – “My funniest moment on the field was when Sophia (my High School Co-Feature Twirler) and I had to do a lift for our band show, and she ended up hitting me in the face during the performance.”
Yelayna – “Running into a flute when on the field or when we had to run a mile.” 

Most memorable advice from their coaches…
Madison – “Just have fun! You have done everything you possibly could to prepare for this moment.”
Yelayna - “Even if your gonna drop, drop it pretty!” - Lisa Dorfman 

#1 Non-Twirling Life Skill they have learned from baton twirling…
Madison – “I have learned how to be confident and trust myself. I always put so much pressure on myself in anything I do in life and twirling showed me that even when I drop, it doesn’t matter because there is family and friends who will always love me and that’s the most important thing in life.”
Yelayna – “To be organized.”

Advice for future baton twirlers…
Madison – “The advice I would give to other twirlers is that your attitude is just as important as the skills you do on the field.”
Yelayna – “Always smile big and have fun!”

Best School Tradition…
Madison – “When we call out “Sam” and “Houston” at the games.”
Yelayna – “The fight song.”

Best Band Tradition…
Madison – “For pregame the band runs on the field yelling and getting excited.”
Yelayna – “The trombone player.”

What advice would they give to a twirler about to go into college auditions… 
Madison – “While you may have advance skills, college twirling is so much more than about difficulty. It is about how you will represent the school and the band program!”
Yelayna – “Have a good attitude no matter what. Personality is key!”

Last year we experience an unprecedented issue with COVID. We asked them how they both prepared for this year. Yelayna told us she just focused on the future. “I stayed motivated because we continued to have practices outside and I was focused on the coming football season!”

Madison, on the other hand, really leaned on her teamates to help her through. "COVID has affected the Sam Houston Twirlers a lot because last year we unfortunately had no games. However, I kept myself motivated by being part of a team in my competition group, Mickey’s Majorettes. I learned that even when you feel like giving up there is a light at the end of the tunnel. There would be times I would not touch a baton for weeks but once I started team, I never wanted to let my teammates down. After pushing through those times, I now get to enjoy games and I could not love game day more!”

We are so glad both of these twirlers found their motivation to bring them back on the field this year. A big thank you to Madison and Yelayna for sharing you Game Day with us, and we wish y'all a great rest of your season. Eat Em Up Kats! 

Each season this blog likes to get to know many of our awesome Texas twirlers a little better by learning about their experiences. We will be meeting many HS twirlers on Fridays throughout the season with the Friday Night Lights Features and discovering more about our Texas Collegians with the Collegiate Twirler Spotlights during the week. We will also be having many of our HS and Collegiate twirlers take over our Social Media Story for their Game Days. Make sure to follow us on Instagram @twirlingiscatchingtx or at facebook.com/twirlingiscatchingtx so you don't miss a thing!