Collegiate Twirler Spotlight - Abilene Christian University

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

That time of the year is here, and we are at our FINAL Collegiate Twirler Spotlight of the season! Don’t worry, we will still have takeovers as we go through Playoff and Bowl Season, but this will be our last Spotlight Interview. We have so enjoyed getting to know the many High School and College Twirlers we have been able to feature this field season, and we can’t wait to follow everyone as we focus on competitions!

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 Abilene Christian University Feature Twirler!

Abilene Christian University, located in Abilene, Texas, is the home of the Wildcats, and today’s Collegiate Twirler Spotlight, Feature Twirler Briley Harrell!

As Briley is only the third twirler at ACU in several decades, the audition process was virtual. “You send in different videos of you performing and a twirling resume.”

We wanted to know what brought Briley to ACU, and she told us it was the atmosphere. “I fell in love with the family-like atmosphere here at ACU. From the moment I stepped on campus, I could feel the sense of community. It’s a place where people truly care about one another, where professors know your name, and where friendships last a lifetime. The encouragement and connection I’ve experienced here are part of what makes ACU so special to me.” 

The campus is a big part of what she loves about attending ACU. “I absolutely love our campus; it is so beautiful and safe! The friendly community, strong school spirit, and opportunities to get involved both on and off the field make it an amazing place to be.” She also loves the butterflies! “A fun fact about ACU is that during the month of October our campus is covered in Monarch butterflies!”

With such a great campus spirit, we wanted to know what Briley felt was the best ACU tradition, and she said it would have to be Sing Song! “It’s a high-energy show where students team up to perform creative, themed musical acts. It's full of singing, costumes, and friendly competition that brings the whole ACU community together. Even if you're not participating, it's so fun to watch! I also love candlelight devotional and freshman follies!” Briley also shared that she loves the band’s tradition of singing ‘Lord Bless You and Keep You’ after every game!

Finally, we asked what she is looking forward to the most this season and Briley said it was the Homecoming Parade! 

Now that we have learned about twirling at ACU, let’s learn more about Briley!

Briley Harrell, Junior

Briley has been twirling for 8 years. She is a member of the Babes with Batons where she is coached by Marlene Torres. Her favorite competition trick is front neck rolls, and her favorite field trick is a toss leap with any kind of fun catch! In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her twirling coach Marlene! “She has taught me so much, both in twirling and outside of it.” After College she plans on going into nursing and hopefully one day become a CRNA.

Favorite Color – Yellow
Favorite TV Show or Movie – Steel Magnolias
Favorite Book – Where the Crawdads Sing

Must have Game Day Snack/Drink… 
“Definitely chick-fil-la nuggets.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto… 
1 John 4:19: "We love because he first loved us". 

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Hang out with friends and make trips home to see family.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I know how to drive a tractor!”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…  
“Confidence and time management, twirling has taught me how to balance school, performing, and life.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“We don’t get to do this tomorrow.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“Don’t compare yourself to others, be confident, and have fun!”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“Falling down during X-strut in front of the judge.”

Favorite thing about marching season… 
“Getting to perform in front of large crowds!”

What she will miss most when marching season is over… 
“The energy of game day and the excitement that comes along with performances.”

We want to thank Briley for sharing her Game Day with us. We really enjoyed learning more about Abilene Christian, and we want to send Briley best wishes for the rest of her season! Scratch ‘Em Cats!

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 Texas, San Antonio

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 team of twirlers! We loved following their Game Day experience on the Instastory Takeover a few weeks ago, 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 Texas, San Antonio Twirlers!

The University of Texas - San Antonio, also known as UTSA, is located in San Antonio, TX, and is the home of the "Spirit of San Antonio" - the Roadrunner Marching Band. The SOSA Auxiliary, coordinated by sponsor Mary Ann Srulowitz Pozzi, sparkles and shines in the Alamodome as they twirl and support their Roadrunners. This year the UTSA Twirlers include Feature Twirlers Elisabeth Kubena & Gabi Rosito, and three Line Twirlers - Kyra Bevill, KayLynn Rieger, and Zoe Dou! 

We asked what these Roadrunners had to do to earn their spots, and they told us about their audition process. “We send in a video containing all of the trick and skill requirements, plus fight song, and then we are selected for an in person try out and interview.”

There are many reasons these twirlers chose to call UTSA home, from it being close to their hometowns to having the great opportunity to twirl, many of them especially love that they get to call the Alamodome homebase on game days. “That 72 degree covered stadium is a big bonus!”

While most of Game Day is on site at the Alamodome, there are plenty of great traditions on the main campus. As Kyra tells us, “My favorite thing about my school is the fountain where we dip a rowdy in for good luck on finals.”

Finally we asked what they are looking forward to the most this year, and while they each had their own, they all agreed that spending time together and working as a team is the best part!

Now that we have learned about twirling at UTSA, let’s learn more about the twirlers!

Elisabeth Kubena, Sophomore
Feature Twirler & Student Staff
Elisabeth has been twirling for 10 years. She is a member of the Heart of Texas Twirlers where she is coached by Mary Ann Pozzi and Sara Rudin with additional coaching by Heather Holland and Sherri Carter. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was when she was named the 2025 Teenage Miss Majorette of Texas. Her favorite competition trick is a front angel roll, and her favorite field trick is a horizontal toss knee slide. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her 12 year old self. “She wanted to quit after every practice but kept going anyway and still managed to find the joy in twirling all by herself.” After UTSA, Elisabeth plans to apply to law school. 

Favorite Color – Pink
Favorite TV Show or Movie – The Princess Diaries
Favorite Book – The Perfect Divorce - “I love anything dark mystery!”

Must have Game Day Snack/Drink… 
“Fruit snacks are a must for the very short breaks in between appearances.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto… 
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” -Princess Diaries

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“If I'm not twirling, I'm most likely practicing my flute since I'm a music major. But I love organizing things.”

Gabi Rosito, Freshman 
Feature Twirler
Gabi Rosito has been twirling for 9 years. She is a member of Heart of Texas Twirlers where she is coached by Mary Ann with additional coaching from Micheal Lopez. The twirling title she is the proudest of winning was when she was named the 2024 USTA Central Region Junior Freestyle Winner. Her favorite competition trick is a toss round off back handspring, and her favorite field trick is four baton. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by other collegiate twirlers. After UTSA she hopes to start her own business. 

Favorite Color – Purple
Favorite TV Show or Movie – The Goonies

Must have Game Day Snack/Drink… 
“Red Bull and Taco Bell.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto… 
“Stay true to yourself.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Eat Taco Bell.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I have a stuffed animal trash can that goes to competitions with me.”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…  
“Making commitments.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Close your hand on the baton.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“Practice all the time.”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“McDonalds at midnight.”

Favorite thing about marching season… 
“Performing in the dome.”

What she will miss most when marching season is over… 
“Seeing the twirlers so often.”

Kyra Bevill, Junior
Student Staff
Kyra has been twirling for eight years and is coached by Kristen Tate and Mary Ann Pozzi. The competition placement she is the proudest of was being the runner up at NBTA Southwest Regionals in 2024. Her favorite competition trick is an Illusion one-spin, and her favorite field trick is a toss roll down to the ground. In baton twirling she is most inspired when she gets to show little girls and boys how much this sport means to her and how much fun it is twirling for college! At UTSA she is working to get her bachelor's degree in nursing and one day become a Nurse. “Then I plan to get my master's degree and become a nurse practitioner.”

Favorite Color – Purple
Favorite TV Show or Movie – Modern Family 
Favorite Book – The “Across the Universe” series

Must have Game Day Snack/Drink… 
“Welch's Fruit Snacks.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto… 
“My favorite quote is the Golden Rule: "Treat others how you want to be treated" and that's what I live by.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Hang out with friends, bake, and when I have free time, I like to crochet.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I have been diagnosed and living with scoliosis since I was super young, but I have never had corrective surgery.”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…  
“How to do hair. Baton twirling has definitely taught me the skills of how to do hair, and I apply those skills outside of twirling.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“To visualize doing a trick and catching it, then trying the trick. It helps me to trust myself and see myself doing the trick and also helps me believe in myself.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“Learn time management. It is the most important thing when doing any sort of marching band to learn how to manage your time efficiently with college work and social life. Twirling for college takes up a lot of your time so it is important to learn how to get ahead on schoolwork and not fall behind in anything.”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“My first year, we traveled to Frisco TX for our bowl game, and after our band banquet at the hotel me and a fellow twirler explored the dark empty parts of the hotel, and it was so scary!”

Favorite thing about marching season… 
“My favorite thing about marching season is winning football games and the hype of the band during games.”

What she will miss most when marching season is over… 
“I will definitely miss all of the inside jokes and shenanigans of the twirling team during the season.

KayLynn Rieger, Junior 
KayLynn has been twirling for 18 years and is coached at UTSA by Mary Ann Pozzi. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was being named an AAU ALL AROUND CHAMPION and winning the Southwest Regional Senior Show Twirl. Her favorite competition trick is a two spin catch back hand into an illusion, and her favorite field trick is a cartwheel. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her teammates. After UTSA she hopes to become a sports nutritionist.

Favorite Color – Ballerina Pink
Favorite TV Show or Movie – The Notebook

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

Favorite Quote or Life Motto… 
“A winner is a dream that never gives up.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I like to cook and bake.”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…  
“Speaking.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Practice like you never won, perform like you’ve never lost.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“Reach for the goal!”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“Forgetting half of a halftime with the whole team and we all looked at each other and started laughing.”

Favorite thing about marching season… 
“Friday night practices.”

What she will miss most when marching season is over… 
“Seeing everyone all the time.”

Zoe Dou, Freshman 
Zoe has been twirling for six years. She is a member of the Heart of Texas Twirlers where she is coached by Mary Ann Pozzi. The competition placement she is the proudest of was when she won the modeling in the 2025 Beginner Senior State Pageant. Her favorite competition trick is a Toss illusion, and her favorite field trick is anything with a leap. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by former UTSA Twirlers. After UTSA she plans to get a master’s degree in policy. 

Favorite Color – Green
Favorite TV Show or Movie – FRIENDS 

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

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Hang out with my family and friends.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I’m a second-generation roadrunner.”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…  
“Teamwork.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Keep it in.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“Learn to love to perform and have fun while twirling.”

Favorite thing about marching season… 
“Getting to meet new people.”

What she will miss most when marching season is over… 
“Gameday energy.”


We want to thank the UTSA twirlers for sharing their experiences with us, and we want to wish them an amazing rest of their season in their beautiful 72-degree Alamodome. Birds 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. 

Friday Night Lights Feature - Pittsburg High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Wow! Can you believe we have already completed the last weekend of regular season high school football and are a week into playoffs? The past couple months went by so fast, and we are sad to say this is the final Friday Night Lights Feature of the season! Don’t worry, we will still have more takeovers through playoffs, but for our last High School interview of the season we get to meet a great group of twirlers!

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 for their Game Days! Make sure to follow us on Insta @twirlingiscatchingtx or at facebook.com/twirlingiscatchingtx so you don't miss a thing!

Our last Friday Night Lights Feature of the season is the Pittsburg High School Twirlers!

Pittsburg High School, located in Pittsburg, Texas, is the home of the Pirates as well as the original Cavender’s and Carol Shelby (think Shelby Mustangs!), but most importantly, it is also the home of a wonderful legacy of twirlers! The 2025-26 Pittsburg Twirlers include Audrey Brown (Feature and Line Captain), Camryn Cato, Lilly Abernathy, Michelle Noriega, Violeta Castillo, Laila Dorman, Rose Gonzalez, Adalynn Linseisen, and Aaliyah Cochran!

We wanted to know what the best part of twirling for PHS was, and they all agreed it is Game Day! “The Game day spirit from all the students and fans is electric!” This can be seen in one of their favorite traditions. “Fans line up to welcome the team onto the field and school song with the football team, cheerleaders, and twirlers together on the field to end each game.”

One interesting thing about the Pittsburg HS Band is that they compete in the Military style. This fall they once again earned their spot in the State Military Band Marching Contest prelims, where they got to march at Baylor Stadium! Way to go Pittsburg Band & Twirlers!

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

Audrey Brown, Senior
Feature Twirler & Line Captain
Audrey has been twirling for 13 years. She is primarily coached by Joel Claudio but she also takes from Jeri Coke at Twirl Revolutions for team. The competition title and placement she is the proudest of earning was when she won the 2025 Senior Intermediate Southwest Regional Pageant and was able to earn 5th overall in the Senior Intermediate pageant at AYOP. Her favorite field trick is a double illusion or 3 spin catch in a layout, and her favorite field trick is also a double illusion or toss leap walkover. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her coach, Joel. “He pushes me harder each day and inspires me to work harder than I thought I could.” After High School she hopes to twirl in college and major in Public Health.

Favorite color: Green
Favorite TV show/movie: Grey’s Anatomy and Gilmore Girls

Must-have Game Day snack/drink…
“Hi-chews, turkey bites, and Alani.”

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

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Watch tv and hang out with friends.”

Something people may not know about her… 
“I want to be a pediatric nurse on a surgical floor.”

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…
“Interview/people skills, and how to take criticism.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Don’t be a turtle.”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Push harder everyday and do what makes you happy.”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“My bff Avery and I yelling ‘Get on YouTube’ in the studio (get on your toes).”

Her favorite thing about marching season… 
“Naps on the bus to football games and getting food with Adalynn before practice.”

What will she miss the most when football season ends… 
“The underclassmen.”

Camryn Cato, Senior
Camryn has been twirling for 14 years. For school she is coached at PHS by LeaAnn Brown and for individuals she is a member at JJ Texas Star Studio owned by Janice Jackson Seamands. Her favorite competition trick is a 3-baton stack, and her favorite field trick is a vertical illusion. In baton twirling she has been most motivated by her mom. “She was a majorette in HS and gave her the inspiration to try twirling.” After High School she hopes to attend Texas A&M and major in Public Health.

Favorite color: Purple
Favorite TV show/movie: The Notebook or Vampire Diaries
Favorite book: The Summer I Turned Pretty

Must-have Game Day snack/drink…
“Slim Jims and Blue Powerade.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“Never be afraid to try something new, life gets boring when you stay within the limits of what you already know.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Play my clarinet and play pickleball.”

Something people may not know about her… 
“I write really good essays.”

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…
“Sometimes you won’t have your best day but you aim for better next time.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Don’t stress and do you, that’s all that matters.” - Ms. Janice

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Enjoy every moment and believe you can do anything.”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Falling during warmups at a contest and everyone staring at me.”

Her favorite thing about marching season… 
“Getting to lead the band as the drum major.”

What will she miss the most when football season ends… 
“Cheering on my friends and being under those Friday Night Lights.”

Lilly Abernathy, Senior
Lily has been twirling for 12 years and is coached at PHS by LeaAnn Brown. Her favorite competition trick is a 3 baton stack, and her favorite field trick is a toss illusion. In baton twirling she has been most inspired by Joel Claudio. After High School she hopes to attend Auburn and major in kinesiology.

Favorite color: Anything pastel.
Favorite TV show/movie: Gilmore Girls

Must-have Game Day snack/drink…
“Smoothie bowl.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“Philippians 4:13.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Sleep and spend time with family/friends.”

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…
“Self-confidence.”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Falling!”

Her favorite thing about marching season… 
“The feeling of accomplishment after a performance.”

What will she miss the most when football season ends… 
“Being with my friends.”

Michelle Noriega, Senior
Michell has been twirling for 6 years and is coached at PHS by LeaAnn Brown. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was when she won first place in her three baton. Her favorite competition trick is anything with 3 batons, and her favorite field trick is 3 baton juggles. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Sydney Smith. After High School she hopes to attend college and major in Pre-Vet.

Favorite color: Pink
Favorite TV show/movie: Grey’s Anatomy
Favorite book: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

Must-have Game Day snack/drink…
“Alani, Twix, and pizza.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“Follow Jesus.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Scroll Tik Tok.”

Something people may not know about her… 
“I was a cheerleader freshman year.”

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

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Make sure to practice.”

Her favorite thing about marching season… 
“Football games.”

Laila Dorman, Sophomore
Laila has been twirling for 3 years and is coached at PHS by LeaAnn Brown. Her favorite competition trick is 3 baton juggles, and her favorite field trick is a ground roll. In baton twirling she has been most inspired by the seniors on her team. After High School, she hopes to attend Texas A&M to study psychology.
 

Favorite color: Pink 
Favorite TV show/movie: 10 Things I Hate About You

Must-have Game Day snack/drink…
“Chips Ahoy cookies.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“Your value doesn’t change because of someone’s inability to see your worth.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Sleep.”

Something people may not know about her… 
“I love Rapunzel.”

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

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“When it gets too hard, take a break and try again.”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Push through the hard parts so you can get to the fun parts.”

What will she miss the most when football season ends… 
“The seniors.”

Violeta Castillo, Sophomore
Violeta has been twirling for 4 years and is coached at PHS by LeaAnn Brown. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was when she won Miss Majorettes at SFA camp. Her favorite competition trick is a 3 turn and her favorite field trick is a blind catch. In baton twirling she has been most inspired by Joel Claudio. After High School, she hopes to attend UT and major in marine study or neuroscience. 

Favorite color: Sage Green
Favorite TV show/movie: Spongebob Squarepants
Favorite book: The Outsiders

Must-have Game Day snack/drink…
“Lemonade or Gatorade.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“My goal is to not fit in.” – Daniel Caesar

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Play my flute and practice boxing.”

Something people may not know about her… 
“I do taekwondo.”

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…
“Good hand/eye coordination.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“If your scalp doesn’t bleed, you didn’t put your bobby pins in right.”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Mr. Jesmore doing pushups on the track.”

Her favorite thing about marching season… 
“Traveling with my team and Friday night games.”

What will she miss the most when football season ends… 
“The memories made throughout the season that bring us closer.”

Rose Gonzales, Freshman
Rose has been twirling for 3 years and is coached at PHS by LeaAnn Brown. 

Aaliyah Cochran, Freshman
Aailyah has been twirling for 3 years and is coached at PHS by LeAnn Brown. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was when their JH team took first place in our final competition last year. Her favorite competition trick is a ground roll, and her favorite field trick is a two turn. In baton twirling she has been most inspired by Claire Hunter. After High School she hopes to earn a degree in graphic design and work from home.

Favorite color: Pink
Favorite TV show/movie: The Summer I Turned Pretty
Favorite book: Five Survive

Must-have Game Day snack/drink…
“Pringles and Dr. Pepper.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“Act like what you do makes a difference, it does.” – William James

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Write.”

Something people may not know about her… 
“I love to write.”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Nothing comes out of not practicing.”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Making TikTok videos at SFA camp.”

Her favorite thing about marching season… 
“Marching in front of the home crowd.”

What will she miss the most when football season ends… 
“Sense of Pirate Pride.”

Adalynn Linseisen, Freshman
Adalynn has been twirling for 3 years and is coached at PHS by LeaAnn Brown. Her favorite competition trick is a horizontal three turn, and her favorite field trick is a toss sit. In baton twirling she has been most inspired by her teammates, Audrey Brown and Lilly Abernathy. After High School she hopes to go to college and twirl. 

Favorite color: Pink
Favorite TV show/movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas
Favorite book: A Dog’s Purpose

Must-have Game Day snack/drink…
“Airhead extremes.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“Even with the smallest mistake, the world will keep turning and the days will keep going.”

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

Something people may not know about her… 
“I have 5 dogs.”

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…
“Trust other people.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Keep working hard to become better.”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Not everything will be perfect the first time you try it, keep working hard.”

Her favorite thing about marching season… 
“Learning new skills.”

What will she miss the most when football season ends… 
“Meeting new bands.”

We want to thank the Pittsburg twirlers for sharing their Game Day with us. We love seeing such a big twirling group that is working so well together. We wish them luck during the rest of their season as PHS continues on in the High School football playoffs next week! Go Pirates!

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 - Klein Collins High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

October has come and gone, and November is here in full swing, which means we have come to the end of regular season High School football! How sad is that? We still have a few more opportunities left to see these twirlers doing what they do best, so what better way to wrap up this weekend than with a feature about this awesome twirler!

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 Klein Collins High School Feature Twirler!

Klein Collins High School, located in Klein, Texas (north of Houston), is the home of the Tigers, and this week’s Friday Night Lights Featured Twirler, Katherine Heier!

An interesting fact about Klein Collins is that while they do not have twirling positions with the band, Katherine has been fortunate to be able to twirl on the sidelines from time to time with the support of her Dance Team Directors! As an officer on her dance team, Katherine pulls double duty on game days and loves the opportunity! Plus, the KCHS dance team is fantastic! “My Dance team won first place in the Intermediate Pom division at UDA Nationals in Orlando, Florida!”

We asked Katherine what her favorite thing about Klein Collins is, and she said it is the sense of community. “Everyone supports each other, and there’s always something exciting happening!”

This sense of community feeds into some amazing traditions. Katherine’s is the mini pep rally on game days. “It’s the perfect way to boost energy, celebrate our teams, and get everyone hyped for the night ahead!” Another favorite tradition is their  annual Football Buddy Party. “Each dancer is paired with a football player for the season, and we kick things off with games, gift exchanges, and lots of laughs. Throughout the year, we get to cheer them on at games and build strong friendships between the teams.”

Finally, we wanted to know what Katherine was looking forward to the most this fall, and she said she was most excited for the homecoming game that she got to share with us. “I was most looking forward to the homecoming game because it was also senior night and Halloween, which makes it extra special and exciting!”

Now that we have heard more about twirling at Klein Collins, let’s learn more about Katherine!

Katherine Heier, Senior
Katherine has been twirling for 10 years. She is coached by Caroline Carothers Reed but has been adopted by the Twirling Sweet Sensations these past two years while Caroline moved to Washington State. The competition placement she is the proudest of earning was when she placed 11th in the Advanced Open Age 15 Solo at nationals. Her favorite competition skill is her turn section in her X-Strut.  “It’s my favorite trick because it challenges me and lets me shine during competitions.” Her favorite field trick is either a toss switch arabesque or a toss cartwheel. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her coach, and former Miss Texas, Caroline. “Her dedication, skill, and encouragement push me to improve and perform my best.” After high school, she plans to study pre-physical therapy while continuing to twirl in college.

Favorite color: Pink
Favorite TV show/movie: The Summer I Turned Pretty and Dance Moms.
Favorite book: “The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han

Must-have Game Day snack/drink…
“Every game day, I make sure to have my must-have snack and drink: chicken minis and Dutch Bros. It’s a fun tradition that gets me energized for the game.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“‘Everything will work out exactly how it is supposed to be.’ It serves as a constant reminder to embrace perseverance, stay positive through difficulties, and trust in the journey.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Volunteer and hang out with friends.”

Something people may not know about her… 
“I coach the local Little League cheer and dance team in my area.”

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…
“Time management — balancing practices, performances, school, and other activities has taught me how to prioritize and stay organized.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“It's not about how long you practice; it's about the quality of your practice.”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Enjoy every moment, even the hard practices, because the memories and friendships you make are worth it.”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“In my 5th-grade talent show when I slipped during an illusion and fell.”

Her favorite thing about marching season… 
“When the student section throws confetti in the third quarter — it’s such a fun, lively tradition that gets everyone hyped up for the rest of the game!”

What will she miss the most when football season ends… 
“The games themselves — the excitement, energy, and school spirit make every game unforgettable.”

We want to thank Katherine for sharing her Game Day with us. It was so fun to see how she has made twirling and dance team work together, and we wish her a great remainder of her 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.

Collegiate Twirler Spotlight - University of Arkansas

 Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Welcome to November! The weather is (kind of) starting to cool down (maybe?), and football season is starting to wrap up. These awesome Texas twirlers have done an amazing job this fall, and we love watching them wow the crowds. We especially enjoyed their Instastory Takeover at the end of October, and we are excited to learn more about this amazing team! 

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 Arkansas Texas Twirlers!

The University of Arkansas is the home of the Razorbacks, and some serious school spirit! It is impossible to attend a Razorback Game Day and not get caught up in the atmosphere. A big part of building that spirit is the University of Arkansas Twirlers! Led by Coach Cecely Clinkscales, the Razorback Twirlers bring smiles, sparkles, and awesome skills to the field each week. The Arkansas Twirling Line is also a huge draw for Texas Twirlers, and this year the 2025-2026 team includes SIX Texas girls! Today we are excited to share our Collegiate Twirler Spotlight with Jaycee Berryhill, Sydney Smith, Lily Avedikian, Kenna Stutsman, Evey LaBay, and Hannah Hester!

A fun fact about the Arkansas Twirling Line is that this year they have the biggest line in Razorback Marching Band History with 14 twirlers! In order to audition for one of these spots, they participate in a four part audition princess that includes a timed one-mile run, downfield routine, group routine, and a solo prepared routine!

We asked these Texas girls what made them choose Arkansas. Jaycee tells us the campus felt like home. “I chose UofA because I loved how beautiful the campus is, how sweet the people are, and of course, how amazing the twirling program is!” Evey knew from the beginning it was the best choice for her. “Arkansas has been my dream school since I was little! I never had a second thought!” Going out of state for college can always be a big decision, but it is one none of them regretted. Hannah said she just loved the town of Fayetteville. “There is so much to do here, and Fayetteville is so beautiful!” 

There are so many things to love about being a Razorback, but the traditions are what really bring them all together. “We love all the amazing traditions that Arkansas has, and how beautiful the campus is. Also, the atmosphere is all around. We just love the Hogs!”

We had to know what the best tradition is at Arkansas, and we were not surprised with the answer. “Calling the Hogs of course!” Did we even need to ask? While yelling WOO PIG is definitely the best tradition at UofA, there are many other chants that are fun as well. “With the band, when we end practice or before halftime we say “Go Hogs! Beat ____!” and we say whoever we play that week! It always gets everyone hyped up!” 

Finally we asked what they are most looking forward to this year, and they said “Night Games in DWWRS!”

Now that we have learned about twirling at Arkansas, let’s learn more about the Twirlers!

Sydney Smith, Senior: Captain
Sydney has been twirling since she was 11, so about 10 years. She is coached by Cecely Clinkscales. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was when the Razorback Twirlers were named the 2025 Collegiate National Halftime Winners! Her favorite competition trick and her favorite field trick is a three spin. In baton twirling she has been most inspired by the Razorback Twirlers that came before her. “Their legacy pushes me to be my best!” After College she plans to attend nursing school and then continue on to get her Aesthetic Injector License. “I hope to get my nurse practitioner license at some point as well!”

Hometown – Pittsburg, Texas

Major – Public Health

Favorite Color – Pink
Favorite TV Show or Movie – Let It Shine
Favorite Book – “I’ve read too many books to choose!”

Must have Game Day Snack/Drink… 
“I always have to have my Alani and gummy clusters.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto… 
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me…” Psalms 28:7

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“I love to read, stone things (you can never have too many things that sparkle), and enjoy time with the people I love!”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I like the taste of pickles, but I don’t like pickle juice!”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…  
“I have solidified my ability to be dependable for my friends, family, and teammates through twirling. Being a dependable person is very important in EVERY aspect of life, and twirling has helped me refine that skill!”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Eventually your twirling career will come to an end, but the skills this sport equips you with will last a lifetime!”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“Work hard, chase your dreams, and more importantly, HAVE FUN! Enjoy every hot practice, rainy game, and 5:00 am call time because before you know it, it’ll all be over! Make the most of the time you’ve got!”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“I’ve shared too many laughs with my teammates to pick just one! Honestly, I’ve spent as much time laughing as I have twirling in my career!”

Favorite thing about marching season… 
“The football games of course! I love the atmosphere of the stadium, especially during pregame!”

What she will miss most when marching season is over… 
“When marching season is over, I will miss my college twirling career the most. I graduate in December so the end of the football season marks the end of my twirling career at the University of Arkansas. I have loved getting to spend the last 10 years participating in this sport. Twirling has brought me my closest friends and countless opportunities that I would have never had without it. I am beyond thankful to have spent the last decade of my life involved and the last four years twirling at UARK! WPS!!”

Lily Avedikian, Senior: Co-Captain
Lily has been twirling for 9 years and is a student of Janice Jackson Seamands. The competition title she is the proudest of was when she won the pageant at her first NBTA competition in 8th grade! “I won the title of Miss Spring Fling. I was so proud of my hard work!” Her favorite competition skills are all three baton tricks, and her favorite field trick is an illusion. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by former Razorback Feature Twirler, Savannah Miller. “I looked up to Savannah as a kid and then ended up twirling at the same school as she did!” After College, she plans to attend Graduate School to continue her education in Speech-Language Pathology!

Hometown – Hallsville, Texas

Major – Communication Science and Disorders

Favorite Color – Blue
Favorite TV Show or Movie – Gilmore Girls

Must have Game Day Snack/Drink… 
“Definitely the hot dog we get at halftime!”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto… 
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Play in the HogWild basketball pep band!”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…  
“Balance. The biggest life skill I have learned has been balancing twirling on top of having a job, being in band, and being successful in school.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Hard work can take you far!”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“Don’t doubt yourself! It’s all a mindset! You can do things you never thought you could if you have the right mindset!”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“Knocking my three front teeth out at practice has to be the most memorable memory.”

Favorite thing about marching season… 
“I love getting to practice outside before it gets cold and of course the football games! WPS!”

What she will miss most when marching season is over… 
“I am going to miss it all! I’m graduating this year, so this is my last marching season! I will miss the time laughing at practice with my friends!”

Jaycee Berryhill, Senior
Jaycee has been twirling for 12 years and is coached by Cecely Clinkscales and Paige Keitt. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was when the Razorback Twirlers won the Large Collegiate Show Twirl Team at AYOP! “We worked so hard to achieve this goal, and I wouldn't trade it for the world!” Her favorite competition trick is a three spin catch blind, and her favorite field trick is anything with two batons. In baton twirling she has been most inspired by her roommate, and Arkansas Feature Twirler, Analise Powell! “She amazes me every day with her strength, resilience, and kindness to others!” After College she plans to become an English Teacher in Arkansas! “While I'm doing that, I’ll also be working on getting my Masters in Library Sciences.”

Hometown – Troup, Texas

Major – English Education

Favorite Color – Lavender or light blue!
Favorite TV Show or Movie – FRIENDS
Favorite Book – Pride and Prejudice

Must have Game Day Snack/Drink… 
“Halftime Hot Dog!”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto… 
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Read, watch movies, hang out with friends, and listen to my records.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I am a member of the band service sorority, Tau Beta Sigma.”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…  
“Definitely hard work and perseverance! I have achieved so many of my goals because of this!”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Go out on the field with your head held high, and come off the field the same way, no matter how your performance went.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“These are experiences that you will remember for the rest of your life! Don’t take anything for granted and soak it all in!”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“Definitely making TikTok's with Coach Cecely at Nationals. We were cracking up!”

Favorite thing about marching season… 
“Getting to be on the field with my best friends and performing for my family every home game.”

What she will miss most when marching season is over… 
“I will miss all of my sweet friends that I have made through the Razorback Marching Band and Tau Beta Sigma! I love y’all!”

Kenna Stutsman, Senior
Kenna has been twirling for 13 years. Her favorite competition trick is a spin illusion, and her favorite field trick is a toss cartwheel.  In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her Nina. “She is the reason I began twirling because she was also a twirler!” After College she plans to attend graduate school in Speech-Language Pathology then continue that career path. 

Hometown – Gladewater, Texas

Major – Communication Sciences and Disorders

Favorite Color – Pink!
Favorite TV Show or Movie – Gilmore Girls
Favorite Book – Reminders of Him

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

Favorite Quote or Life Motto… 
“Comparison is the thief of joy!”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Spend time with family and go shopping!”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I have impeccable music taste.”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…  
“Dedication.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Know that you are not only representing yourself, but all twirlers and the University of Arkansas!”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“Never give up on your dreams. You can achieve anything you set your mind to with hard work.”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“Playing in the rain on Beale St during our bowl game in Memphis and getting SOAKED!”

Favorite thing about marching season… 
“Getting to go to every home game and being able to cheer on the Hogs!”

What she will miss most when marching season is over… 
“Getting to participate in games from a different perspective rather than just being a student.”

Evey LaBay, Freshman
Evey has been twirling for 10 years. She is coached by Cecely Clinkscales and Janice Jackson Seamands. Her favorite competition trick is a 2 spin catch blind and her favorite field trick is anything with 3 batons. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her team. “We all inspire each other to be the best version of ourselves!” After college she wants to work in healthcare. 

Hometown – Hallsville, Texas

Major – Nursing

Favorite Color – Blue
Favorite TV Show or Movie – Dancing with the Stars
Favorite Book – Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Must have Game Day Snack/Drink… 
“Alani and protein bars.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto… 
“What a privilege it is to be tired from work you once begged the universe for.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Go to the library! Our university library is so peaceful and great for relaxing!”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I was born in Fayetteville!”

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

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“To not be so hard on yourself!”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“Even if it seems impossible, it is not if you work hard enough and really want it!”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“Nationals with the Razorback Twirlers! This was my first nationals, and we stayed together in an Airbnb, and it was so memorable!”

Favorite thing about marching season… 
“Hearing the band bring songs to life and play them so well!”

What she will miss most when marching season is over… 
“Being at the football games!”

Hannah Hester, Freshman
Hannah has been twirling for 10 years. She is coached by Cecely Clinkscales. Her favorite field trick is a toss cartwheel. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her teammates. “I feel so lucky to have teammates to look up to!” After College she hopes to major in nursing to become a labor and delivery nurse!”

Hometown – Beckville, Texas

Major – Nursing

Favorite Color – Pink!
Favorite TV Show or Movie – Gilmore Girls
Favorite Book – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Must have Game Day Snack/Drink… 
“Cheese-Its and Granola Bars!”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto… 
“My life motto is ‘Get involved!’. I owe my greatest experiences to putting myself out there and being involved in as many things as I can!”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Hang out with friends! Finding your people is such an important part of the college experience!”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I am very superstitious!”

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

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

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“Work hard and the results will be undeniable.”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“Our big/little reveal night!”

Favorite thing about marching season… 
“Being able to perform in Donald W Reynolds Stadium! It is such an exciting and surreal experience!”

What she will miss most when marching season is over… 
“Having the best seat in the house! Sitting with the band during the games is so much fun!”


We want to thank our Texas Razorbacks for sharing their Game Day with us. We really enjoyed learning more about the University of Arkansas and are excited to follow the rest of their season! Woo Pig! 

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 - CT Johnson High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Happy last few days of October! How are we already here? The football season is winding down, and the competition season is about to start. Just a few more twirlers left to feature, including this wonderful duo!

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 Claudia Taylor Johnson High School Feature Twirlers!

Claudia Taylor “Lady Bird” Johnson High School, also known as CTJ, is located in San Antonio, TX, and is the home of Jaguars. CTJ is very well known Nationally in the marching band world, as they are multiple time BOA Grand National Finalists with their edgy and modern marching productions. CTJ also has a history of pretty great baton twirlers, some of which have even been included in their marching productions. You have to love a school that is Nationally competitive AND appreciates their baton twirlers! This year’s CTJ Feature Twirlers are Kinsey Simeon and Joslyn Rodriguez!

A fun fact about twirling at CTJ is that every CTJ Twirler is a feature! They get to twirl on the sidelines as well as on the field at halftimes and during pep rallies! In order to earn their position, they attended a live interview with their band director. 

We asked the twirler what their favorite thing is about attending CTJ and they said that “there is so much community between students!” This leads to amazing Pep Rallies and other great traditions, such as the Band’s March-A-Thon. “It is not only the biggest fundraiser for our program, we also end it by getting sprayed by the firefighters!”

Finally, we asked what they were looking forward to the most this season, and they said it had to be “Just everything about Football Season!”

Now that we have heard more about twirling at CTJ, let’s learn more about the twirlers!

Kinsey Simeon, Senior
Kinsey has been twirling for 9 years. She is a member of Twirl ATX, where she is coached by Ashley Wood with additional support from Whitney Coons and Jassandra Sadler, as well being coached by Patricia Montgomery from Alamo City Strutters. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was when she won her regional pageant in 2020. Her favorite competition trick is a 4 spin, and her favorite field trick is a toss front walkover. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by University of Arkansas Feature Twirler, Analise Powell. After High School she plans to go to college and major in forensic science.

Favorite color: Olive Green
Favorite TV show/movie: Silence of the Lambs
Favorite book: Catcher in the Rye

Must-have Game Day snack/drink: “Dr. Pepper all the way!”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“It's always okay to stop and smell the roses.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“I love painting and gardening!”

Something people may not know about her… 
“I name all of my house plants.”

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…
“Hand eye coordination. It's really important when I'm playing guitar hero.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Never give up!”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Don’t let the crowd scare you, they only have your best interest in mind.”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Having ongoing beef with the mascot…” (who is her twin brother!)

Her favorite thing about marching season… 
“Full retreat after marching competitions.”

What will she miss the most when football season ends… 
“Marching band memes on the internet.”

Joslyn Rodriguez, Sophomore
Joslyn has been twirling for 7 years. She is a member of the Twirling Sweet Sensations where she is coached by Michele Pangrac. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was when she won the Beginner Preteen Texas State Pageant and X-Strut! Her favorite competition tricks are rolls and her favorite field tricks are anything with 2 batons. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her coach. After High Schools, she plans to go to college and become a dermatologist 

Favorite color: Green
Favorite TV show/movie: Mama Mia
Favorite book: The Princess Bride

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

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…

“YOLO!”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Ready my bible.”

Something people may not know about her… 
“I had a bunny named Fuzzy.”

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…
“Interviewing skills for talking to others.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Leave no doubt!”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Have fun and always smile!”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Doing a trio routine with my best friends.”

Her favorite thing about marching season…
“Seeing everyone’s hard work and dedication.” 

What will she miss the most when football season ends… 
“My friends!”

We want to thank Kinsey and Joslyn for sharing their Game Day with us! We wish Kinsey a wonderful remainder of her Senior football season, and Joslyn a great year. Go Jags!

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.