Hello Texas Twirl Fans!
Can you believe there are only a couple more regular season college games left? We know all our #TeamTexas collegiate twirlers are doing everything they can to get the most out of their football season during these final weeks, especially this twirling duo! We loved following their Game Day experience on the Instastory Takeover last weekend, and we hope you enjoy learning more about them in today’s interview!
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 High School twirlers throughout the season with the Friday Night Lights Features and discovering more about our Texas Collegians with the Collegiate Twirler Spotlights. We will also be having many of our High School 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!
Our next Collegiate Twirler Spotlight is on the University of Houston Feature Twirlers!
The University of Houston, located in Houston, Texas, is the home of the Cougars. Rocking the Scarlet Red and White, and cheered on by their mascots, Shasta & Sasha, the Coogs know how to bring the spirit to game day, which includes their two wonderful twirlers. The 2026-27 University of Houston Feature Twirlers are Paige Carruthers and Keira George!
Led by UH Twirling Coach, Kayli Mickey-McIntosh, the UH twirlers get some amazing opportunities! “A cool fact about our position is that everything needed in order to perform is paid for (costumes, batons, tights, shoes, etc). We also get to ride a giant helmet for every touchdown!” Wow! This level of support is what Paige the UH! “I chose UH because I saw a post on Instagram about all the things the twirlers do and what they receive as feature twirlers.”
We wanted to know what they had to do to earn these positions, and they told us about their audition process. “It starts with a video submission followed by an invite-only, in person audition consisting of solo performance, performing the fight song with the current twirlers, and live interview view with judges.”
In addition to twirling at football games, the twirlers are also a big part of the Game Day experience for Basketball! This was a big factor for Kiera. “I was drawn to UH because of the success of the basketball program!” Paige felt the same, and says that basketball is one of her favorite things about attending UH. “The atmosphere created in the Fertitta Center is amazing, and our players are coached by incredible staff.”
Between Football and Basketball game days, these twirlers have a ton of school spirit, which is easy when you love your school and the people in it. According to Kiera, “My favorite thing about my school has to be the student diversity. I have been introduced to so many new cultures and people groups since attending UH.” This opportunity to meet new people and have new experiences is what brought Florida girl Paige to Texas. “I have lived in the same area for my entire life up to high school, so going to a new place to learn has been a great experience.”
With all of this spirit, they have to have great traditions, and both twirlers agree that they have some of the best! Kiera told us that her favorite tradition at UH is getting hype to Womp Womp, and Paige loves performing pregame. “It gets the crowd ready for the game and it hypes up the band to cheer on the team.”
Even the band gets in on cheers! Paige has fun with the other band members showing their UH love. “If someone in the band asks “(your name), do you love the Cougars?” you have to yell “I love the Cougars” as loud as possible, because obviously we love the COOGS!” For Kiera, the best traditions within the band program are the songs the low brass plays after rehearsal and games. “We either get to dance or scream at the top of our lungs!”
Finally, we wanted to know what they are most looking forward to this season. Keira told us it is their upcoming show. “I am most looking forward to performing our entire Bruno Mars Show! We are doing part of it during the homecoming game.” Paige enjoys the theme days, but especially the Black Out game. “The field gets painted and the band, spirit, and football team wears all black which looks really cool under the stadium lights!”
Now that we have learned about twirling at UH, let’s learn more about the twirlers!
Paige Carruthers
Paige is a third year Math Education Major from Oviedo, Florida. She has been twirling for 14 years. The competition award that she is the proudest of earning was the 2025 Joel Ferrell Award at the AAU Junior Olympics. Her favorite twirling tricks include low flips and walkovers, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Savannah Miller. After college she hopes to teach math and assist in choreographing for twirling.
Finally, we wanted to know what they are most looking forward to this season. Keira told us it is their upcoming show. “I am most looking forward to performing our entire Bruno Mars Show! We are doing part of it during the homecoming game.” Paige enjoys the theme days, but especially the Black Out game. “The field gets painted and the band, spirit, and football team wears all black which looks really cool under the stadium lights!”
Now that we have learned about twirling at UH, let’s learn more about the twirlers!
Paige is a third year Math Education Major from Oviedo, Florida. She has been twirling for 14 years. The competition award that she is the proudest of earning was the 2025 Joel Ferrell Award at the AAU Junior Olympics. Her favorite twirling tricks include low flips and walkovers, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Savannah Miller. After college she hopes to teach math and assist in choreographing for twirling.
Fun Facts!
Favorite Color – Red
Favorite Movie – The Pirates of the Caribbean series
Must have Game Day Drink - Powerade
Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“Your mistakes are what makes your brain learn.”
“Your mistakes are what makes your brain learn.”
When she is not twirling, she loves to…
“Do crafting, scrapbooking, or crocheting.”
“Do crafting, scrapbooking, or crocheting.”
Something people might not know about her…
“I am starting to learn how to sew, so I can hopefully make twirling costumes.”
“I am starting to learn how to sew, so I can hopefully make twirling costumes.”
The most memorable advice from her coach…
“Don’t get mad about how many times you drop. How many times did you toss in the whole routine? One drop out of countless tosses now seems irrelevant to get mad over.”
“Don’t get mad about how many times you drop. How many times did you toss in the whole routine? One drop out of countless tosses now seems irrelevant to get mad over.”
Advice to future Collegiate twirlers…
“Just have fun. College is supposed to be an exploration of what you want to become, and twirling gives you an outlet to have fun and be included in campus life.”
“Just have fun. College is supposed to be an exploration of what you want to become, and twirling gives you an outlet to have fun and be included in campus life.”
Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“I always wear the same hair clips to practice to keep my hair out of my face. On Halloween, my coaches back home dressed up as all of us and for me they wore the same hair clips I had.”
“I always wear the same hair clips to practice to keep my hair out of my face. On Halloween, my coaches back home dressed up as all of us and for me they wore the same hair clips I had.”
What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“I will miss the atmosphere that the band creates when the football season ends. We twirl on the sidelines right in front of them, so when they play during the game, it makes us excited to rile up the student section that’s next to them.”
Keira George
Keira is a second year Integrated Studies major from Tatum, Texas. She has been twirling for 15 years, and is a member of the Mickey’s Majorettes where she is coached by Patti Mickey and Kayli Mickey-McIntosh. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was the 2025 NBTA Texas State Innovation Award. Her favorite twirling tricks include anything with 3 batons, walkovers, and fun receptions, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her coaches Patti and Kayli. After college, she hopes to enter a career centered on people, health/wellbeing, and the body/brain.
“I will miss the atmosphere that the band creates when the football season ends. We twirl on the sidelines right in front of them, so when they play during the game, it makes us excited to rile up the student section that’s next to them.”
Keira is a second year Integrated Studies major from Tatum, Texas. She has been twirling for 15 years, and is a member of the Mickey’s Majorettes where she is coached by Patti Mickey and Kayli Mickey-McIntosh. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was the 2025 NBTA Texas State Innovation Award. Her favorite twirling tricks include anything with 3 batons, walkovers, and fun receptions, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her coaches Patti and Kayli. After college, she hopes to enter a career centered on people, health/wellbeing, and the body/brain.
Fun Facts!
Favorite Color – Rainbow
Favorite Podcast – Saved Not Soft hosted by Emmy Moore-Brookins.
Must have Game Day Snack – Any fruit!
Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
When she is not twirling, she loves to…
“Read, journal, and eat ice cream.”
“Read, journal, and eat ice cream.”
Something people might not know about her…
“I recently started practicing snare drum for the first time since graduating high school!”
“I recently started practicing snare drum for the first time since graduating high school!”
The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“Perseverance.”
“Perseverance.”
The most memorable advice from her coach…
“Coach Kayli always reminds her girls to trust their training. When it’s time to perform, be confident! You can do this!”
“Coach Kayli always reminds her girls to trust their training. When it’s time to perform, be confident! You can do this!”
Advice to future Collegiate twirlers…
“A feature twirler isn’t a perfect twirler! Do your best, have fun, and put on a show!”
“A feature twirler isn’t a perfect twirler! Do your best, have fun, and put on a show!”
Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“My funniest memory as a baton twirler is any of the many times I’ve fallen trying some new body work.”
“My funniest memory as a baton twirler is any of the many times I’ve fallen trying some new body work.”
What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“Even though we still have basketball games, I will miss the rehearsals we have with the band during football season!”
We want to thank Paige and Keira for sharing their Game Day with them, and we wish them and the Cougars a great rest of their football season, and an amazing basketball season! Whose House? Coogs House!
“Even though we still have basketball games, I will miss the rehearsals we have with the band during football season!”
We want to thank Paige and Keira for sharing their Game Day with them, and we wish them and the Cougars a great rest of their football season, and an amazing basketball season! Whose House? Coogs House!
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.
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