Friday Night Lights Feature - Harlan High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Welcome to Band-Tober! Every twirler that is a part of their marching band understands that Band-Tober means band, band, and more band all month long! It is an exhausting month, but we all know we love it, especially when it means more and more twirling on those fields!

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 Friday Night Lights Feature is the Harlan High School Twirlers!

Harlan High School, located in San Antonio, Texas, is the home of the Hawks, and today’s Friday Night Light Features - HHS Feature Twirler, Faith Zaverl, and Twirler in Training, Lily Varghese!

A fun fact about these two twirlers is that Faith is the first ever Feature Twirler at Harlan High School, and Lily is the first twirler in training! Since Faith was the first twirler in school history, there was not an audition process. Then, Lily chose to be trained and mentored for a year to be the Feature her sophomore year when Faith graduates. 

In addition to being welcoming to twirling, they both love their school! “Our favorite thing about our school is the culture of greatness.” This culture leads to some amazing school spirit, including what they consider the best display of that spirit. “The best tradition at our school is playing the Alma Mater and Fight Song after every game!”

They also have some great traditions within their band. One of the funniest is an inside joke they all share. “During the ‘Hey Song’ after yelling ‘Go Hawks Go’ we will yell ‘Rooms to Go’ instead!”

Finally, we asked them what they are looking forward to the most this season, and they said their Hero’s Game. “We get to perform with both schools on the field!”

Now that we have heard more about twirling at HHS, let’s learn more about Faith & Lily!

Faith Zaverl, Senior
Faith has been twirling since first grade. She is a member of the Heart of Texas Twirlers where she is coached by Mary Ann Pozzi. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was when she won the 2025 Senior Beginner Texas Pageant. “I am really proud of the amount of work I put in leading up to that competition!” Her favorite competition trick is a one spin illusion, and her favorite field trick is a toss cartwheel. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by all of the Collegiate Twirlers. “They have so much discipline and talent!” After High School she plans to go to college for sports psychology.

Favorite color: Blue
Favorite TV show/movie: The Summer I Turned Pretty
Favorite book: Better Than the Movies

Must-have Game Day snack/drink: 
“I need to have an energy drink and some pretzels.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto: 
“I get to do this!”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“I love hanging out with my friends and new people.”

Something people may not know about her… 
“I take college classes while in high school and I will graduate from high school with and associates degree.”

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…
“Self-confidence! Competing and performing solo has taught me to believe in myself even when you are nervous.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Practice will always show up on the floor, it is just a matter of how much you put in.”

Advice to future high school twirlers…
“Remember you are doing this to have fun and the people watching don’t see the mistakes, they see how you shine on the field.”

Her funniest memory as a twirler…
“All of the delusional conversations after practices and competitions.”

Her favorite thing about football season… 
“The energy! It is purely adrenaline from doing what you love.”

What will she miss the most when football season ends… 
“I will miss walking on the field and having the rest of the world melt around me.”

Lily Varghese, Freshman
Lily has been twirling for six months, and she is coached by Mary Ann Pozzi. Her favorite competition trick is a 2 Baton Catch and her favorite field trick is a Finger Twirl Spin. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her co-feature, Faith Zaverl. After High School, she plans on going to college.

Favorite color: Blue
Favorite TV show/movie: Cobra Kai
Favorite book: We Were Liars

Must-have Game Day snack/drink: 
“Apples and water.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto: 
Jeremiah 29:11

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Read or hang out with my best friend.”

Something people may not know about her… 
“I love pineapple!”

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…
“Resilience.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
 “It doesn’t matter what others think as long as you’re having fun.”

Advice to future high school twirlers…
“It will be hard, but it is worth it!”

Her funniest memory as a twirler…
“Hitting Faith in the face with a baton (sorry)!”

Her favorite thing about football season… 
“Getting to be part of something amazing!”

What will she miss the most when football season ends… 
“Having the time of my life at games!”

We want to thank Faith and Lily for sharing their Game Day with us, and we wish them a wonderful remainder of their football season. Go Haws!

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. 

Collegiate Twirler Spotlight - University of Colorado Boulder Feature Twirlers

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

As we cross into October, which already puts us almost halfway through football season, we are excited to feature our next collegiate twirlers. We hope you enjoyed following their Instastory Takeover on Saturday, and we know you will enjoy learning more about these awesome twirlers today.

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 Colorado Boulder Feature Twirlers!

The University of Colorado Boulder campus is located in the beautiful town of Boulder, Colorado, and is the home of the Buffalos! It is also the home of today’s Collegiate Twirler Spotlight, Feature Twirlers Izzy Pell and Ryleigh Richards!

A fun fact about the Buff Twirlers is that they get a lot of independence within the program. “The Feature Twirlers at CU decide their own choreography, drill during halftime performances, and design their own costumes!”

What a fun opportunity for them to really get creative within the sport! In order to earn these positions, we asked about the audition process. “The audition process is 3 steps: 1. Send in your compilation video with a twirling resume and professional headshot/twirling photo. 2. We then invite you to audition in person. 3. In person auditions include a 3-4 minute routine showcasing 1-3+ baton skills plus your own routine to the CU fight song and an interview from our judging panel.”

Both twirlers came to CU from out of state - Izzy being a Texas girl and Ryleigh coming from Massachusetts - so we had to know why they chose Colorado. Izzy told us that the campus was an easy sell! “I chose CU because the campus is beautiful! Being surrounded by nature brings me such a sense of peace, especially on a stressful day! Everyone I met while touring was incredibly welcoming, and I immediately felt at home. I also loved the idea of getting to twirl alongside a fellow Feature Twirler! Ryleigh and I have become best friends, making game days even more fun!” For Ryleigh, it was about starting a new adventure. “I chose to attend my school because I have always wanted to live somewhere new and I loved the campus and bio program!” 

The choice to move from Texas to Colorado was an important one for Izzy, but one she feels great about. “I am originally from Dallas, Texas, but chose to go out of state because of Boulder's gorgeous environment. Being able to wake up to the mountains every day, take hikes and see wildlife, and not walk outside in 100-degree weather is amazing!” For Ryleigh, this was a time in which she could explore and experience new things. “I have always wanted to move back to Massachusetts when I am older, so I felt like this was my one shot to experience living somewhere new!” 

Besides the beautiful scenery, the school has really brought the college experience to life for these twirlers. As Ryleigh told us, “I absolutely love the view, but what I am enjoying most is meeting so many new people every day!” Izzy agreed and said the incredible fan base and community involvement has to be her favorite thing about attending CU! “One thing unique about the Golden Buffalo Marching Band is we don’t just perform on game days, but we also get to be part of Stampede the night before every home game. This is a special performance of halftime and stand tunes on Pearl Street, which everyone in the community attends, to support CU and get excited for the game. The energy from the fans is exhilarating to perform to and there are always so many little future buffs, fascinated with twirling that we get to talk to!”

CU also has its share of amazing traditions within the University. While their live Buffalo, Ralphie, leading the team out of the tunnel every pregame and halftime definitely tops the list of great traditions, they also really enjoy the band traditions as they march into the stadium. “When we march to the stadium, the drumline plays their cadence “Flatirons” and every section has their own lyrics they sing to the cadence as we march into Game Day.”

Finally, we wanted to know what they are looking forward to the most this season, and they are both really hopeful that CU will make a bowl game! We are sending some serious Sko Buffs vibes that their hope comes true! 

Now that we have heard about twirling in Colorado, let’s learn more about the Twirlers!

Izzy Pell, Freshman
Izzy is from Dallas, Texas, and has been twirling for 11 years. She is a member of the Texas Touch of Class where she is coached by Sheila Payne Rigelsky. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was when she won Miss Majorete of the Southwest. Her favorite competition tricks are rolls and her favorite field trick is a kick illusion. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Penn State Blue Sapphire, Mackenzie Bronk. After College, Izzy hopes to work for a major news outlet as a journalist! 




Favorite Color – Purple 
Favorite TV Show or Movie – New Girl 
Favorite Book – The Fault in our Stars

Must have Game Day Snack/Drink…
“A granola bar and Red Bull.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“Always remember: You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Hang out with friends or bake.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I am a huge country music fan.”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“Confidence!”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Perform and have fun!”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“All of the hard work is worth it and although it can be a stressful process you will end up where you are meant to be.”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“Doing duet exchanges with my high school drumline and seeing how far we apart could get before dropping it.”

Favorite thing about marching season… 
“Meeting so many new people!”

What she will miss most when marching season is over… 
“Getting to perform and share the sport I love with my school every weekend!”

Ryleigh Richard, Freshman
Ryleigh is from Groton, Massachusetts, and has been twirling for 15 years. She is coached by Nancy Locke. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was when she won Miss Majorette of the Northeast. Her favorite competition tricks are rolls, and her favorite field trick is a walkover. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by the Penn State Blue Sapphire, Mackenzie Bronk. After College, Ryleigh plans to go to dental school. 

Favorite Color – Green 

Favorite TV Show or Movie – Friends 
Favorite Book – The Great Alone

Must have Game Day Snack/Drink…
“Goldfish.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“Be yourself!”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Read!”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I have three brothers!”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“You can achieve anything with hard work!”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Just have fun!”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“You’ll end up where you are meant to be.”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“Teaching my brothers how to do a one spin.”

Favorite thing about marching season… 
“Hanging out with all of my new friends!”

What she will miss most when marching season is over… 
“Seeing Izzy and Kaitlyn!”

Thanks to Izzy and Ryleigh for sharing their Game Day with us. We really enjoyed learning more about the University of Colorado Boulder and seeing these two amazing twirlers entertain at the collegiate level. We wish them a great remainder of their season. Sko Buffs!

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. 

Friday Night Lights Feature - Gunter High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

September is coming to an end, but the field twirlers are still shining bright!

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 Friday Night Lights Feature is the Gunter High School Feature Twirler!

Gunter Park High School, located in Gunter, Texas, is located about an hour north of Dallas, almost to the Oklahoma border. Gunter is the home of the FIVE TIME State Football Champion Tigers, and today’s Featured Twirler, Analeia Aleman!

One great thing about a small town is that they find a way to feature talent when they see it. “I did not audition to twirl; however, I began twirling for our school community when I was in 6th grade. This transitioned into a high school feature spot.”

Living in a town like Gunter has led to great experiences for Analeia “My favorite thing about our school is that it is small. Everyone knows everyone and all the coaches are flexible with participation in all activities. It’s like one big family!”

Being a close-nit community, they have to have some great traditions! We asked Analeia about her favorite, and she said it was definitely Homecoming week! “We have a community tailgate party and pep rally where everyone in our small town shows up. We also have a Homecoming parade. I love twirling in the parade down our main street.”

Homecoming is also the event she is most looking forward to this fall. “I love getting to twirl three times; the parade, tailgate, and the football game!”

Now that we have heard more about twirling at GHS, let’s learn more about Analeia!

Analeia Aleman, Junior
Analeia has been twirling for 12 years. She is coached by Christina Aleman (her mom), Catherine Lattimore, and Kathy Forsythe. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was the IBTF Nations Cup Junior A 3-Baton Gold Medal. Her favorite competition trick is a full-hand flat double illusion catch on the back, and her favorite field trick is a high toss Illusion front walkover. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her mother, who was also a baton twirler, as well as many collegiate twirlers. “My favorite is Mackenzie Bronk. I look up to her and hope to twirl like her in college.” After High School, she hopes to go to the University of Oklahoma or Ole Miss to twirl and study pre-med or animal science.

Favorite color: “Light pink and powder blue”
Favorite TV show/movie: “Outer Banks” and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”
Favorite book: “Old Yeller”

Must-have Game Day snack/drink: 
“Game days are long, so my go to is a Redbull and a rice cake.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto: 
“Philippines 4:16 “You can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Cheer, workout, and rhinestone everything!’

Something people may not know about her… 
“I am also a varsity cheerleader and run track at my school. I also love to workout. I go to the gym everyday.”

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…
“Big dreams take hard work. I’ve learned to get up early, stay up late, and put in the hours.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
““Never give up”. You might have hard days but those days should be when you push yourself the most. Those are the days that make champions.”

Advice to future high school twirlers…
“Don’t be nervous to go out and twirl. People are watching in amazement at your skills. Have fun and share your talent.”

Her funniest memory as a twirler…
“While I do not remember this, my mom likes to tell me about the first time I ever modeled in a dress. I was three years old and as I walked up to the judge for my interview, I tripped on the rug under the chair. I fell, got back up, and proceeded to sit down and have my interview. Thankfully, there is no video!”

Her favorite thing about football season… 
“Twirling in front of my friends, family, and community and pushing myself each week to be a stronger performer.”

What will she miss the most when football season ends… 
“Spending countless hours with friends during practice and games.”

We want to thank Analeia for sharing her Game Day with us, and we wish her an amazing Homecoming week and a fantastic remainder of her football season. Go Tigers!

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. 

Friday Night Lights Feature - TW College Park High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

The sights and sounds of football (and band) season are all around us, and we just love seeing the twirlers sparkle and shine each week. We also loved following this week’s Friday Night Lights Feature as she took over the Instastory, and we are excited to learn more about her! 

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 Friday Night Lights Feature is the TW College Park High School Feature Twirler!

The Woodlands College Park High School, located in The Woodlands, Texas, can be found a little north of Houston, and is a sight familiar to many NBTA twirlers in Texas! It is also the home of today’s Feature Twirler, Jacie Conway!

A fun thing about twirling at TWCPHS is that Jacie is part of a great legacy of awesome Mickey’s Majorettes that have twirled there before her. “My previous duet partner Sophia Dinubilo, my twirler sponsor Madison (Frantzen) Macurdy, and my coach Kayli Mickey-McIntosh were also Feature Twirlers at College Park!”
  
We asked Jacie what she had to do to join this legacy, and she told us about the audition process. “For the audition I had to do a routine to the song of my choice and the routine had to have 1,2 and 3 batons and meet a list of requirements.” Then, as her first performance as the Cavalier Feature Twirler, Jacie was able to perform in the Montgomery County 4th of July Parade, where her duet partner and outgoing TWCP Feature Twirler, Sophia, “passed the baton” down to Jacie and walked by her side during the event. What a memorable tradition!

Jacie feels very lucky to have the support she does at TWCP. “My favorite thing about CP is that I am very fortunate to have awesome band and color guard directors that put me in the band show. I know not every band program allows a twirler to be in the show and I am so grateful that they always include me because it is truly one of my favorite things I have done as a twirler.”

During the fall Jacie has so many things to look forward to! While the pep rallies at every home game are always a highlight, she is just as excited each time she gets to perform with the band. “I am looking forward to being in the CP band show and competing with the band! It has made all the hard work I have put into twirling worth it!”

Now that we have heard more about twirling at TWCPHS, let’s learn more about Jacie!

Jacie Conway, Junior
Jacie has been twirling since she was two and started competitively twirling when she was five. She is a member of the Mickey's Majorettes, where she is coached by Kayli Mickey-McIntosh and Patti Mickey, with support from her TWCPHS twirling sponsor, Madison Macurdy. The competition placement she is the proudest of earning was when her and her duet partner placed 4th at the 2023 Nations Cup in Liverpool, England. “My duet partner, Sophia Dinubilo, was my duet partner for 7 years so it was a very meaningful placement after the many years of hard work together!” Her favorite competition trick is an illusion walkover and her favorite field trick is a double walkover. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by “All of the older twirlers that I have watched growing up and are now twirling at colleges.” After High School Jacie plans to get a degree in nursing and hopefully continue twirling in college.

Favorite color: Pink
Favorite TV show/movie: “The Summer I Turned Pretty”
Favorite book: “Hunger Games”

Must-have Game Day snack/drink: 
“Starbucks Strawberry Refresher before the game.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto: 
“Everything happens for a reason.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Over the summer I discovered I like to play golf even though I'm not good!”

Something people may not know about her… 
“I am a student in the Academy of Science and Technology, a magnet program at The Woodlands College Park High School that emphasizes the study of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).”

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…

“Interviewing and communication! Hands down, all the years of practicing interviews has helped me exponentially in life in general and is what helped me get into the Academy.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Hard work will eventually pay off even when you don’t see results immediately.”

Advice to future high school twirlers…
“Make friends with people in the band because it makes the experience so much more fun as you spend a lot of time with your band friends after school for practices and competitions.”

Her funniest memory as a twirler…
“I have a ton of funny twirling memories but the best were with Sophia Dinubilo, as we traveled a lot together for competitions with duet so we spent tons of time together with many laughs and were really close.”

Her favorite thing about marching season… 
“Performing in the College Park Marching Band show alongside the best friends I’ve made through the band. Performing in the marching show has not only allowed me to share unforgettable moments with them, but it has also given me the chance to showcase the hard work, dedication, and teamwork that we put in together. I especially value the privilege of being able to perform as a feature twirler in the show, since I know many schools don’t offer that opportunity.”

What will she miss the most when marching season ends… 
“Going into the stands after the halftime show and visiting my friends in different sections of the band. I love joining in on the fun stand chants and dances with my band friends. I will also miss performing in the marching show itself.”

We want to thank Jacie for sharing her Game Day with us, and we wish her an amazing rest of her field and marching competition season! Go Cavaliers!

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. 

Friday Night Lights Feature - Pflugerville High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

What a great weekend of Texas twirlers on both the high school and collegiate fields. We just love seeing those smiling faces where they belong. So much joy and so many sparkles! We also loved following this week’s Friday Night Lights Feature as she took over the Instastory, and we are excited to learn more about her! 

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 Friday Night Lights Feature is the Pflugerville High School Feature Twirler!

Pflugerville High School, located in Pflugerville, Texas, can be found a little north of Austin. It is the home of all things spelled with a Pf, and of course today’s Feature Twirler, Holly Herber!

As Holly tells us, the P is a big deal in Pflugerville! “We put a P in front of every word in our town! ex. pfun, pfood, pfriends. We even call our stadium the Pfield!”

Besides the P, we asked Holly what her favorite thing at PHS is, and she said it has to be the love the school has for their fine arts. “Everyone is super supportive of the band program!”

PHS is rich with traditions, which makes Holly’s time at PHS even more fun! “One of my favorite things was when our old football announcer used to always say "First and ten panthers!!!" every time we got a first down!” She also always looks forward to the last day of band camp. “We always have a water balloon fight on the last day of summer band!”

Now that we have heard more about twirling at PHS, let’s learn more about Holly!

Holly Herber, Senior
Holly has been twirling for 15 years. She is a member of the Ambition Baton Club, and is coached by Lynn Dell Harrell, Lori Perkins, Alicia Olivier, and Velvet Broussard. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was when her team became the USTA AAA National Dance Twirl Team Champions! Her favorite competition trick is an illusion walkover, and her favorite field trick is a leap walkover. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her Ambition teammates, and Baylor Feature Twirlers, Maggie Chrudimsky and Alexa Leitzel. After High School she hopes to go to college to major in animal science, “and hopefully twirl for my school!”

Favorite color: Yellow
Favorite TV show/movie: Cars
Favorite book: “If you give a mouse a cookie”

Must-have Game Day snack/drink: 
“Red Gatorade.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto: 
“Do one thing at a time, do it well, and move on!”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Raise and show livestock!”

Something people may not know about her… 
“I have been to 10 countries!”

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…
“Working as a team!”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“The most important part of twirling is having fun!”

Advice to future high school twirlers…
“Just have fun!”

Her funniest memory as a twirler…
“I was sweaty at a game once and during my performance my baton flew out of my hand!”

Her favorite thing about marching season… 
“Competing at the Alamodome!”

The things she is looking forward to the most this fall…
“All the college twirler-for-a-days!”

What will she miss the most when marching season ends… 
“Stand dances!”

We want to thank Holly for sharing her Game Day with us, and we are so excited for all the fun that her Senior Year is about to bring! Have a great Senior Season Holly and Go Panthers!

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. 

Collegiate Twirler Spotlight - NC State University Feature Twirler

 Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

We just love that College Football is back in full swing. The past few weekends have included many great moments, including some awesome field twirling. We loved getting to follow along with a #TeamTexas Twirler turned Wolfpack Feature Twirler as her and her co-features took over our Instastory on Saturday, and now we are excited to have them as this week’s Collegiate Twirler Spotlight.

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 NC State University Feature Twirler, Amber Sorenson!

NC State University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is the home of Wolfpack, and a great lineage of Feature Twirlers. Led by coach Bethany Shreiner with assistance from Courtney White, the current 2025-26 Pack Twirlers include freshman Alyvia Sohyda, Marla Edgecomb, Ashlyn Corey, and the subject of today’s Spotlight, #TeamTexas twirler and Pack Twirler Captain, Amber Sorenson!

In order to earn her spot as a Pack Twirler, these twirlers had to follow the audition process, and then will re-audition each year. “We have an in-person audition that consists of a timed mile run, a group routine, an individual routine, and an interview.”

As a Texas girl, it is always a big decision to go out of state for college, but for Amber it was an easy choice. “I went out of state to North Carolina because I wanted to experience something new and discover my identity outside of my comfort zone. From the moment I first visited NC State, I felt at home. I attended their Twirler Day during my senior year of high school, and the warm, welcoming atmosphere made me certain this was where I belonged. The culture of the university was incredible and its baton twirling program was a bonus!”

One of the “coolest” things about the Pack Twirlers is their love for bringing fire to the field. “We twirl fire at every home football game and pep rally!” Another interesting fact about the NC State Twirlers is the twirler Tailgate! The Twirler parents organize a tailgate each game for the twirlers, their family and friends, and alumni to come together. Complete with food and themes, it is a fun Game Day addition special to the Pack Twirlers. 

In addition to twirling fire, Amber says there is so much to love about NC State. “I love the Wolfpack spirit! Everyone is so kind and supportive. Professors, faculty, and staff are always willing to help and encourage students to succeed.”
That Wolfpack Spirit is apparent in their campus traditions. “One of the best traditions at NC State is the lighting of the Memorial Belltower in red to celebrate victories and achievements. It’s such a powerful symbol of school pride, and it always brings the Wolfpack community together.”

Finally, we wanted to know what Amber is looking forward to the most this season, and she said it has to be the NC State vs. UNC football game! “UNC is our biggest rival, and we’ve beaten them six years in a row! This year it’s a home game, so I’m excited to defend our reign on our own field!”

Now that we have heard about twirling at NC State, let’s learn more about Amber!

Amber Sorenson, Junior
Amber has been twirling for 16 years. She is a member of Twirl ATX, where she is coached by Ashley Wood, as well as being a member of the Forte Dance Twirl Artistic Group Team, where she is coached by Colleen Middleton and Courtney White. The competition placement she is the proudest of was placing in the Top 5 at the IBTF World Championships in Liverpool (2023) and Turin (2025) with her Forte Dance Twirl team in the Artistic Group event. Her favorite competition trick is a tiktok double illusion (one open illusion and one cross over illusion), and her favorite field trick is a Leap Walkover with a fire baton! In baton twirling she has been most inspired by her former NC State Co-Features: Claudia Swauger, Robbie Leske, and Kira Greer. After college, Amber hopes to attend Medical School to become an orthopedic surgeon. 

Fun Facts!
• Favorite Color – “Pink!”
• Favorite TV Show – “Grey’s Anatomy”
• Favorite Book – “7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”

Must have Game Day Snack/Drink… 
“Lemon Perfect”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“You only live once!”

When she is not twirling, she loves to…
“Play intramural sports.”

Something people might not know about her…
“I love to travel! In the past two years I have been to England, Ireland, Guatemala, Guam, Amsterdam, Paris, Peru, Fiji, and Italy!”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“The ability to command a room with confidence.”

The most memorable advice from her coach(es)… 
“Never say no to an opportunity!”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“My biggest piece of advice is to take in every moment as a college twirler. Every appearance, every performance is an opportunity to live out your childhood dream. So, take in every moment and don't take anything for granted."

Funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“While being an ambassador to Peru for the 73 Annual Festival of Spring, as I was twirling in the five-mile parade, little kids were running through my performance and walking right beside me as I twirled. It was very strange, but very fun to twirl for them.”

Favorite thing about marching season… 
“My favorite thing about marching season is getting to twirl fire in Carter-Finley for the student section. They LOVE fire and go absolutely crazy for it every game.”

What will she miss most when marching season is over… 
“I will miss all of the early morning and late night practices with my team and amazing coaches. I will miss everything about it! I love every second of marching season.”

Thanks to Amber and the Pack Twirlers for sharing their Game Day with us. We really enjoyed learning more about NC State and seeing these awesome twirlers do what they do best. Congrats Amber, and we wish you a wonderful remainder of your season. Go Pack!

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. 

Friday Night Lights Feature - Richardson High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

It was another wonderful week with those Friday Night Lights, and a great way to kick off September! 

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 Friday Night Lights Feature is the Richardson High School Feature Twirler!

Richardson High School, located in Richardson, Texas, can be found a little north of Dallas. It is the home of the Eagles, and the first RHS Feature Twirler in over 25 years, Ashlyn Cohen! 

We asked how Ashlyn was able to bring twirling back to RHS, and she told us she had the right band director to make it happen. “Since there hadn't been a twirler in a long time before myself, I contacted my band director in spring of my 8th grade year. I later submitted a video recording of my baton twirling skills. We worked with my band director that summer to find a way to integrate me into the program. I am very thankful to have such an amazing band staff who has provided so much support over the last four years.”

Throughout her four years Ashlyn has developed a lot of spirit, not just for her school, but for her entire District! “Richardson ISD ranks among the most diverse school districts in the country. Our school district has a motto, which is "Diversity strengthens us". I love seeing and being a part of many different students with all different backgrounds uniting to be a part of so many different groups, performing ensembles, clubs, etc."

Being the Feature Twirler, Ashlyn gets a front row seat to Game Days and many of the big RHS traditions, so we had to ask what her favorites were. “My school has a huge homecoming parade every year! The City of Richardson blocks off Belt Line Road, one of the busiest streets in the city, for the event! Almost every club, sport and group from our High School, Junior High Schools and Elementary Schools participate! I've participated in the parade every year since I was in Kindergarten and attended every year before then (even when I was only 10 months old). I can't believe this year will mark my last parade of many, but I am so excited for one last homecoming celebration!”

With this being Ashlyn’s Senior Season, she finally gets to do all of the senior traditions, including their Senior band chant. “At every game we do a dismissal game led by the drum majors. Following that dismissal there is a chant that only seniors say. It feels like yesterday I was a freshman watching the seniors doing their chant but I am so excited to get to participate in that this year!” 

As Ashlyn’s time as RHS comes to an end, we wanted to know what she was looking forward to the most this Fall, and she said it is absolutely the October 31st game. “It's not only Halloween, but also senior night and I'll be signing the national anthem as a duet alongside one of my good friends. We have never had a Halloween game while I have been a student at RHS so I am very excited to experience this!”

Now that we have heard more about twirling at RHS, let’s learn more about Ashlyn!

Ashlyn Cohen, Senior
Ashlyn has been twirling for 8 years, and she is currently coached by Aidyn Mentry. The win she is the proudest of was when her band won the US Bands Southwestern Championship in 2023. “I was in the UIL show that year and had featured parts. It was an honor to have been a part of the show and group. I made so many memories, and I'll never forget the feeling of hearing our band being called first place that year!” Her favorite trick is anything with two-baton, “specifically, I love big little tosses with spins or other tricks underneath!” In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her coach, former University of Texas Feature Twirler Aidyn Mentry. “She is very accomplished in the sport and never fails to amaze the crowd when she performs. She always helps build my confidence and reminds me that anything is possible if you put the work in. We never end a lesson without a laugh (mostly after a baton hits a tree or mailbox). I couldn't be more grateful to have her as my coach!” After High School she plans to attend college to double major in vocal music education and psychology. “Twirling in college is definitely on my radar but I plan to prioritize my education first, then see if the school I end up in has a twirling line/ position.” 

Fun Facts!

• Favorite color: Pink
• Favorite TV show/movie: Dolphin Tale 2
• Favorite book: The Outsiders

Must-have Game Day snack/drink: 
“Starbucks Vanilla Latte with cinnamon steamed and an extra shot of espresso - just a couple hours before kickoff!” 

Favorite Quote or Life Motto: 
“There is a quote that I read almost every day as it is right above the entrance of the fine arts of my school. It reads "To make a difference, you have to do something different.” -Stephen Marbury”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“I love to sing and play flute and piano. I teach music lessons 4 days a week to over 20 elementary and middle school students. I love my job and it very fulfilling!” 

Something people may not know about her… 
“I love to rock climb! It is so refreshing to have an outlet to solve problems on a wall and build strength at the same time. I enjoy going to my local rock-climbing gym multiple times a week and I find it helps build a lot of strength that helps great amounts for twirling.” 

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…
“I've learned countless skills through twirling, specifically being a high school twirler in band. Being in band has taught me so much about time management and teamwork. I was honored to have been in my school's UIL Marching Band show my sophomore and junior year of high school. Those two marching shoes were the most developmental experiences I have yet to have within my entire life. I learned what it's like to work with a group while also being held accountable for my own actions as the only twirler. I made so many memories that I will hold forever but also grew so much as both a performer and a person. I learned that good things come from so much work, but the hard work is always worth it.” 

Advice to future high school twirlers…
“Take it all in and enjoy every moment. It really does fly by so fast. Take in every performance like it's your last and never take your position for granted. Remember that twirling on the field isn't just about your skill or your ability, but about enjoying yourself and allowing others to enjoy your performance. Smile like your life depends on it and never stop being grateful for your opportunity.” 

Her funniest memory as a twirler…
“My junior year I was performing with the band for a new staff member performance. I was front and center when I tossed for a 1 turn and somehow completely fell out of my spin and ended up on the concrete  rolling over my baton. When I tried to get up I was a little winded from the fall and fell again! I got up again and kept performing. Later that afternoon a couple of freshmen came up to me to tell me that they "had no idea twirlers had tricks where they rolled on the ground". It wasn't my most glamorous moment, but it makes me laugh every time I think about it!”

Her favorite thing about marching season… 
“I love spending time with my friends! Though I am in band for concert season as well, marching season is so fun when everyone comes together to work hard and do what we love most. I also love interacting with kids or anyone who approaches me at games or other events. I enjoy teaching figure 8's and tosses to anyone who wants to learn!” 

What will she miss the most when marching season ends… 
“I would have to say spending so much time with all of my favorite people as well as the feeling of school spirit and excitement. I have two older sisters and grew up attending almost every high school football game since I was a baby. I can't imagine fall Friday nights without RHS football games, but I am so excited to see what is to come on Fall and Winter Saturdays in college!” 

We want to thank Ashlyn for sharing her Friday with us (even if it was late and rainy!) and we want to wish her an amazing rest of her Senior Year! Way to go Ashlyn, and Talons Up!

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.