2025 Texas State Pageant Winners - Basic Skills

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Can you believe we are only a few weeks away from the National Baton Twirling Championship - AYOP! We know our Texas Twirlers will do an amazing job in South Bend, and we want to make sure before national's season kicks off that we celebrate our State Pageant Winners and say thank you to our wonderful State Directors, Bethany & Amanda Tolley, and their team.

To celebrate our Texas State Pageant title holders, over the next few weeks, we will be recognizing them here on the blog. Congrats to all of these talented twirlers on their success at State! Go #TeamTexas! 

Today we will be recognizing the 2025 Texas State Basic Skills Pageant Winners!

Senior Basic Skills Pageant Winner 

London Bentley

London is from Odessa, TX, where she is a majorette at Permian High School. She is coached by Naticia Dodson and Pam Brewer from the Odessa Twirl Elite. Her favorite memory from State was being awarded the Texas Novice Basic Skills Title winner. "It was an incredibly meaningful experience for me, representing the culmination of dedication, passion, and countless hours of preparation. Receiving this title is a moment I will always treasure!"

Junior Basic Skills Pageant Winner 

Beatrice Williams

Beatrice is from Oak Ridge North, TX, where she is the Feature Twirler for Oak Ridge High School. She is coached by Sue Young of the Texas Twirlers. Her favorite memory from State was when her name was announced for first place. "I just stood there for a second like, ‘Wait… what?!’ Then I realized I actually won state and my heart was racing. All the practices made this totally worth it. It felt like everything finally paid off and I couldn’t stop smiling the rest of the day."

Preteen Basic Skills Pageant Winner

Cecilee Gaston

Cecilee is from San Antonio, TX. She is coached by Michaele Pangrac with the Twirling Sweet Sensations. Her favorite memory from State was having her first no-drop solo at a competition!

Juvenile Basic Skills Pageant Winner 

Payton Zapalac

Payton is from Wharton, TX. She is coached by Amanda Warncke of the Lacey's Ladybugs School of Twirling. Her favorite memory from State was hearing her name called as the winner of the Basic Skills Pageant.... "My first title!" Later this summer she will be attending the Junior Olympics and is looking forward to trying to medal in the all-around and she if she can win any Jr Olympic gold! 

Little Basic Skills Pageant Winner 

Keelyn Thomas

Keely is from Rowlett, TX. She is coached by Sheila Payne Rigelsky with the Texas Touch of Class. Her favorite memory from state was getting to be with her team and meeting friends from other teams. 

CONGRATS TO ALL OUR STATE BASIC SKILLS PAGEANT WINNERS!

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.