Collegiate Twirler Spotlight - University of Kentucky

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

It is amazing how fast this season is going. Band-Tober is halfway done, and we are only two weeks away from the entry deadline for the Fall Kick-Off Contest (visit the Fall Kick-Off Contest website for more details). In the meantime, we are super excited to be learning more about this out of state Collegiate 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 Collegiate Twirler Spotlight is on a University of Kentucky Sweetheart Majorette, Aralynn!

The University of Kentucky, located in Lexington, Kentucky, is the home of the Wildcats and a wonderful twirling program! The Wildcats currently have two feature twirlers, and a twirling line, called the Sweetheart Majorettes, that includes freshman Texas Twirler Aralynn McHatton!

We asked Aralynn what the process was to be named a Sweetheart Majorette. “It’s a few hours long and you are taught some dance and a twirling routine that you must perform as well as an interview.”

The choice to move out of state can often be a difficult one, but Aralynn immediately loved the Sweetheart Majorette twirling style. “I saw them performing online and wanted to be a part of it. I also wanted a new experience!” 

As a freshman, Aralynn is taking in all of the school traditions and is starting to develop her favorites which include the band section date night and luau, as well as shouting “Blue Yah”. However, the event she was most looking forward to was Homecoming weekend, which is the Game Day she was just able to share with us on the takeover. We just loved that she brought a touch of Texas to Kentucky by making all the other Wildcat Twirlers their very own Homecoming mum! 

Now that we have learned a little more about twirling at Kentucky, let’s learn more about Aralynn!

Aralynn McHatton, Freshman
Competition Level: Advanced
Aralynn has been twirling for 12 years. She is a member of the Twirling Sweet Sensations and is coached by Michele Pangrac. The competition placement she is the proudest of earning was when she was able to qualify for the 2024 Miss Majorette of America pageant. “It was a huge moment for me!” Her favorite competition trick is a skill in her two baton where the baton rolls over her head, and her favorite field trick is a toss cartwheel. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by former College Miss Majorette of America, Emma Carr. “She has been very supportive and kind throughout my journey.” After college, Aralynn hopes to be a behavioral analyst as well as coach twirling.

Fun Facts!

• Favorite Color – Purple 
• Favorite Movie – “Scream” 
• Favorite Book – “Love Hypothesis” 

Must have Game Day Snack/Drink…
“One of our twirler moms bake cookies for us every game day and they are always amazing!”

When she is not twirling, they love to… 
“Paint! I love crafting and making things for myself especially when I get to paint it.”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“Learning how to break something down in order to teach it to somebody. Not everybody learns the same so it’s important to have several methods of teaching to make sure everyone can learn!”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Believe in yourself and twirl like you know you can!” 

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“Have fun, and while it might sometimes be stressful it is always worth it when you perform a great show!” 

Favorite thing about marching season… 
“Homecoming! The week prior is filled with events and the game day is huge!” 

What will she miss most when marching season is over… 
“Game days! Eating lunch and getting ready with all of my friends is always my favorite part!” 

We want to thank Aralynn for sharing a Kentucky Game Day with #TeamTexas, and we hope she has an amazing remainder of her freshman season. Go Wildcats!

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 - Grand Oaks High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Another week of those Friday Night Lights has come and gone, and we are already to the UIL Marching Contest part of the season! We want to wish good luck to all our Texas Twirlers performing with their marching bands over the coming weeks, whether you are playing an instrument, spinning with the guard, or twirling your baton. We know this week’s featured High School twirler will be shining on the field as she continues to represent her school!

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 Grand Oaks High School Feature Twirler!

Grand Oaks High School, located in Spring, Texas, is the home of the Grizzlies! It is also home of the wonderful Grand Oaks High School Feature Twirler, Emma Mathe!

Emma Mathe (pronounced Muh-Tay) is actually the first twirler in Grand Oaks school history, but she is not the only name you may recognize from her area. “Simone Biles actually lives in my community!” So cool!

We asked Emma how she was able to secure the spot at the first GOHS Feature Twirler, and she said it was all about communication. “When I was entering high school, there was not an established program. I spoke with the band and color guard directors, and they agreed to allow me to start the program at Grand Oaks!” Since then, Emma has helped establish a Twirler Day and has supported other twirlers during Jr High night!

As the Grand Oaks Feature Twirler, Emma is a big part of the school events, but she says it is really the people that make GOHS what it is. “We have an incredible staff and a spirited student body. Everyone is always cheering each other on, which has created a spirited and supportive atmosphere.”

With such a spirited community, there has to be some great traditions, but we wanted to know Emma's favorite. “399 is definitely the best tradition at my school. 399 is when we have 399 students show up to a sporting event our principal (Mr. Bush) will do any challenge the students say. Last year he had to do the polar plunge after our state champion volleyball team won a game with 399 students in attendance!”

Twirling allows Emma to spend a lot of time within the band program, and they have their own set of traditions and inside jokes, but nothing beats Hey Band! “At each game, we invite the opposing team's drum majors over and ask them questions. My favorite question is whether they are single. If they say no, the entire band boos them, but if they say yes, we cheer!”

Being Emma’s Senior year, we know she is soaking in every moment. The one she is most excited for is her Senior Homecoming, especially the parade! “I am most looking forward to our homecoming parade. Each sport and club gets to bring their own float to walk around the school throwing candy at all of the rising Grand Oaks students. After the parade is over, we gather on the football field for a community pep rally.  The band performs our school song!”

Now that we have learned more about GOHS, let's learn more about Emma!

Emma Mathe, Senior
Competition Level: Advanced
Emma has been twirling for 12 years. She is a member of the Texas Twirlers and is coached by Sue Young. The competition placement she is the proudest of earning was when she won the 2024 Bayou City Classic Advanced Pageant. “It was my very first advanced win!” Her favorite competition trick is anything in her horizontal section, and her favorite field trick is anything three baton or a toss forward roll. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by former College Miss Majorette of America, Emma Carr. After High School, Emma wants to major in movement sciences and minor in psychology with hopes to become an occupational therapist. Also, “one of my biggest goals is to become a feature twirler at a top college in Texas!”

Fun Facts!

• Favorite Color - Green
• Favorite Movie - “Mama Mia”
• Favorite Book - “Out of my Mind”

Must have Game Day Snack/Drink…
“The Berry Nerd Clusters and Blue Powerade.”

Favorite Quote…
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit yourself to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Shop, hangout with friends, and play pickleball.”
 
Something people might not know about her… 
“I am the vice president of TAFE (Texas Association of Future Educators) at my school.”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“CONFIDENCE!!! Twirling has especially helped me be able to be confident in front of crowds.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“If you drop, smile bigger!”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Go to every single event!!! Your 4 years fly by, so make sure to enjoy everything!”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“One of my funny, but not so funny, moments were last year during a football game, I was performing the halftime show and I was in the middle of a high toss illusion, and I kicked the baton halfway across the field almost hitting a couple band members!! I had to run across the field to grab my baton before the band moved over it! It was definitely not funny at the moment, but now all I can do is laugh at it.”

Favorite thing about marching season…
“My favorite part of marching season is performing the school song and fight song. Our band and football team get incredibly hyped before the game, and hearing them cheer me on is amazing.”

What she will miss most when marching season is over… 
“I will miss all the hard and hot practices with friends, the bus to and from the football games, and most importantly, the actual football game itself!”

We want to thank Emma for sharing their Game Day with us, and we wish her the very best remainder of her senior season. Hope it is full of the best memories. Go Grizzlies!

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 - Claudia Taylor Johnson High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Another great weekend of twirling means we are at the halfway point of the regular football season. Can you believe it? Only a few more weeks with these amazing twirlers representing on their High School fields. We hope all of you are enjoying it while it lasts. We know we will miss it! In the meantime, we have another Feature Interview with some of our awesome Texas Twirlers for your reading enjoyment this lovely Wednesday.

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 HS Feature Twirlers!

Claudia Taylor Johnson High School, also known as CTJ, is located in San Antonio, Texas. It also has a great history of baton twirlers! A fun fact about CTJ is that they have the most twirlers in their school District, and you know we love a supportive school with lots of twirlers! This year, the CTJ Feature Twirlers include Sophie O’Reilly, Madisen Curry, and Joslyn Rodriguez!

We asked them what they had to do to earn their spot, and they told us about their audition process. “We have to perform a 2–3-minute routine in front of our band director with a song and routine of our choice.”

Once selected, they get the opportunity to twirl the CTJ Games, which they say is exciting because, “We always have a full stadium at football games.” In addition to games, they get other fun performance opportunities including pep rallies, and even Fiesta! 

They also have lots of fun traditions. Their two favorites involve a jaguar statue and a ceramic cat! “The football team rubs a golden jaguar before every game for good luck! Also, our band mascot is a blue ceramic cat named Matt, and he is brought onto the field with us during retreat at competitions for good luck.”

Now that we have learned more about CTJ, let’s learn more about the twirlers! 

Sophie O’Reilly, Senior
Competition Level: Advanced
Sophie has been twirling since 2018. She is a member of the Legends Baton Club and is coached by Liane Aramaki. The competition title she is the proudest of was being named the 2024 Miss Majorette of the Southwest. Sophie’s favorite competition trick is spins, and her favorite field tricks are any leap combos. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by former College Miss Majorette of America, Emma Carr. After High School, she hopes to become a college twirler and get a degree in political science and international relations.

Madisen Curry, Senior
Competition Level: Intermediate
Madisen has been twirling for around 9 years now. She is a member of the Heart of Texas Baton Twirling team, and is coached By Maryanne Pozzi. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was when she won the South West Texas Model Pageant at Regionals in 2023. Madisen’s favorite competition trick is either neck rolls or any two baton tricks, and her favorite field trick is mouth rolls, “because they are such a crowd pleaser”. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by former UTSA Feature Twirler, Micheal Lopez. “He taught me that the bad days are the ones that push us towards the most success”. After High School, Madisen hopes to attend Texas State University to Major in Nursing, and eventually become a Labor and Delivery Nurse. “I also want to continue with my Bb Clarinet playing, and become a collegiate Baton twirler.”

Joslyn Rodriguez, Freshman
Competition Level: Intermediate
Joslyn has been twirling for six years. She is a member of the Twirling Sweet Sensations and is coached by Michele Pangrac. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was when she was named the Beginner Pre-Teen Texas Pageant Winner. Joslyn’s favorite competition skills are her rolls, and her favorite field trick is anything with a high toss. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her coach. After High School, Joslyn hopes to get a teaching degree at Texas A&M. 

Fun Facts!

• Favorite Color - Red (Sophie), Yellow (Madisen), Dark Green (Joslyn)
• Favorite Movie or TV Show - “Crazy Rich Asians” (Sophie), “The Summer I Turned Pretty” (Madisen), “10 Things I Hate About You” (Joslyn)
• Favorite Book - “Rebecca” (Sophie), “Any of the ‘Selection’ Series” (Madisen), “Out of my Mind” (Joslyn)

Must have for Game Days…

• Sophie - “A sweat towel.”
• Madisen - “A Dr. Pepper and a granola bar.”
• Joslyn - “WATER!”

Favorite Quote…

• Sophie - “Everything happens for a reason.”
• Madisen - “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not!” - The Lorax
• Joslyn - “YOLO”

When they are not twirling, they love to…

• Sophie - “Cook and shop!”
• Madisen - “Working on my fiesta train and dress, because this upcoming march I will be crowned the 2025 Princess for the San Antonio Lutheran Coronation.”
• Joslyn - “Hang out with family and friends.”

Something people might not know about them is…

• Sophie - “I am a peer assistant at my school for special education students.”
• Madisen - “I tend to either listen to audio books or podcasts instead of listening to music when practicing, working, or driving.”
• Joslyn - “I like Taylor Swift.”

The best non twirling life skill they have learned from twirling is…

• Madisen - “The ability to speak to adults in a respectful and educated way.”
• Joslyn - “Interviewing.”

Best advice from their coach…

• Sophie - “No matter what, keep smiling!”
• Madisen - “Working hard doesn’t end when your practice session does, it ends when the goal is finally met.”
• Joslyn - “Smile!”

Best advice for future High School twirlers…

• Sophie - “Never be afraid to show off!”
• Madisen - “Enjoy every moment, because it will be over before you know it.”
• Joslyn - “Have fun and shine!”

Funniest/Most Fun memory as a twirler…

• Sophie - “Funny inside jokes between me and my teammates.”
• Madisen - “My freshman year when we would all do duet tricks with the weirdest catches to see who could have the most unique one.”
• Joslyn - “The hangouts with my team.”

Favorite thing about marching season…

• Sophie - “Getting to perform in front of a huge crowd!”
• Madisen - “When we went to Grand Nationals my freshman year, I got to see a crowd of thousands of people full of excitement and energy ready to experience our show. It was so exciting and really powered my drive to have the best performance I could.”
• Joslyn - “Getting to show off what I love!”

What are they going to miss the most once marching season is over…

• Sophie - “Twirling alongside my friends.”
• Madisen - “I will miss being with my best friends everyday, and enjoying the jokes, laughs, and memories made from being with each other every day, as well as the funny moments from my directors, and of course Friday Night Lights with Claudia Taylor Johnson High School Marching Band.”
• Joslyn - “Sophie & Madisen!”

We want to thank Sophie, Madisen, and Joslyn for sharing their Game Day with us. It was so fun seeing what it is like to be a CTJ Feature Twirler, and we know they will have a great rest of their season. 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. 

Collegiate Twirler Spotlight - Sam Houston State University 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. 

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 the Sam Houston State University Feature Twirlers!

Sam Houston State University (also known as SHSU), located in Huntsville, Texas, is the home of the Bearkats, and the awesome SHSU Feature Twirlers, Lynsey Threadgill, Jeannie Pruett, and Keira Slone. These twirlers, led by SHSU Twirling Sponsor, Kelly McCormick, shine bright on the field as they represent their Bearkats at Elliot T. Bowers Stadium. 

This past Saturday during their takeover, we got to see one of the SHSU Twirler’s favorite games of the year. “Every year, we twirl at a SHSU game that is held at the NRG stadium! Between that game and our Alumni Day, it is definitely a toss-up for which one we look forward to the most. Both events are unforgettable in their own ways and hold a special place in our hearts.”

In addition to these fantastic Game Day experiences, SHSU is rich with traditions celebrated amongst the entire student body, especially Homecoming! “SHSU’s Homecoming week is filled with events like the Homecoming Parade, tailgating, and the Bearkat football game, celebrating school spirit and alumni.”

As well as school traditions, the twirlers and the band program have many of their own, but none of them beats Alumni Day! “Each year, we host High School Twirler and Alumni Day, where twirlers get the chance to perform at Bowers Stadium in front of thousands. One of our favorite memories is from last year when alumni from the 70s returned to perform their pregame routine. It was amazing to see their skills and how they still know how to dazzle the crowd!”

In order to take part in these traditions, the SHSU Twirlers had to go through a specific audition process. “Each year the returning twirlers audition in person, along with an interview. If our band directors choose to open auditions to new twirlers, the candidates must submit an audition video. For those selected, they are asked to perform an in-person three-minute routine and participate in an interview. Traditionally, Sam prefers to have between 1-3 Feature Twirlers.”

Picking Sam Houston to be their new home away from home was an easy choice for all three twirlers. As Jeannie tells us, “I fell in love with SHSU because of its gorgeous scenery and the warm, welcoming community of Huntsville. I stayed at SHSU because of the strong bonds that have been formed between the twirlers, they are like my sisters, and I can’t imagine performing without them.”

Now that we have learned more about Sam Houston, let’s learn more about the twirlers! 

Lynsey Threadgill, Senior
Lynsey has been twirling since she was seven years old and is currently coached by Lori Perkins. The competition placements she is the proudest of earning was winning AAA Team National Champions at USTA Nationals last year with Dixie Diamonds. Lynsey’s favorite competition and field trick is a toss walkover. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by former Baylor Feature Twirler, Adaline Bebo. After college, Lynsey hopes to make a difference in the world of social services. 

Jeannie Pruett, Junior

Jeannie has been twirling for around 8 years. She is a member of Twirl ATX and is coached by Whitney Coons. The competition she is the proudest of attending was when she got to represent Sam Houston at the 2023 NBTA Nationals. “The experience of competing at such a prestigious event and representing my school was truly unforgettable. It was a moment where all the hard work and dedication paid off, and it stands out as a highlight of my journey.” Her favorite competition routine is definitely her x-strut, but her favorite competition skill is any illusion trick, and her favorite field trick is any two-baton variation. In baton twirling, Jeannie has been most inspired by her coach. “Whitney has been a remarkable influence on me in countless ways. Her immense talent and dedication to twirling are truly inspiring, but it’s her kindness and the life lessons she’s shared that have left the biggest impact. Whitney has taught me so much about professionalism, grace, and perseverance, and her guidance extends far beyond the twirling field. I’m deeply grateful for her mentorship and the positive mark she’s made on my life, which I’ll carry with me always.” After college, she hopes to secure a career in sales and move back to Central Texas. 

Keira Slone, Sophomore
Keira has been twirling for 14 years. Her favorite competition trick is anything with three baton and her favorite field trick is a toss kick illusion. In baton twirling she has been most inspired by forever Miss Texas, Caroline Carothers Reed, and her past high school coach, LeaAnn Brown. After college she hopes to become an agronomist. 

Fun Facts!

• Favorite Color - Pink (Lynsey & Jeannie), Green (Keira)
• Favorite Movie - “The Princess & The Frog” (Lynsey), “The ‘Walking Dead’ or ‘Master Chef’” (Jeannie), “Gilmore Girls” (Keira)
• Favorite Book - “Anything Harry Potter” (Lynsey), “I love so many but at the moment, ‘The Housemaid’ by Freida McFadden” (Jeannie), “The ‘I Am Number Four’ series” (Keira)

Must have Game Day snack/drink…

• Lynsey - “Cheez-Its.”
• Jeannie - “A good ole Celsius paired with a banana chocolate Kind bar.”
• Keira - “Arizona Tea and Cheez-Its.”

Favorite Quote…

• Jeannie - “You’re only as young as you are right now, so enjoy it!”
• Keira - “Prove yourself to yourself not others.”

When they are not twirling, they love to…

• Lynsey - “I love to crochet or spend time with my cats.”
• Jeannie - “Get involved with my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega! I enjoy helping to host philanthropy events and attending sisterhood events with my sisters.”
• Keira - “Go fishing or camping, spend lots of time with nature.”

Something people might not know about them is…

• Lynsey - “I am graduating a semester early.”
• Jeannie - “I have a 2-year-old boxer named Sugar and she’s such a light in my life.”
• Keira - “I want to travel and be a wildlife photographer when I retire.”

The best non twirling life skill they have learned from twirling is…

• Lynsey - “The ability to put on a brave face even when I am not feeling my strongest.”
• Jeannie - “Mastering professionalism and class through activities like modeling interviews for competitions has been invaluable. These experiences have taught me to think quickly and seek out the most unbiased yet genuine perspectives. I’m confident that these skills will greatly enhance my sales career, helping me navigate conversations with clarity and authenticity.”
• Keira - “Communication and presentation.”

Best advice from their coach…

• Lynsey - “It isn’t the hardest tricks that matter, it’s your attitude and the show you put on for the crowd.”
• Jeannie - “When we prioritize having fun while performing, we open ourselves up to a richer, more rewarding experience. We become more resilient, more creative, and more engaged. Our passion shines through when we’re not solely focused on the end result, and that passion is what truly sets us apart.”

Best advice for future College twirlers…

• Lynsey - “I advise that they really work on the practice/homework/life balance.”
• Jeannie - “Remember to take every opportunity and cherish every moment as it comes. Fully commit and push yourself to the limit, so you never look back with regrets”
• Keira - “It’s okay to feel like you are behind as long as you push to catch up and be better.”

Funniest/Most Fun memory as a twirler…

• Lynsey - “Our nationals trip with my team last year to Ohio.”
• Jeannie - “Every night, I come home and show my roommates the new bruises from practice like I’m unveiling my latest art installation. I swear they’ve started to believe I’m training for a role as a stunt double.”
• Keira - “Falling multiple times during practice and performances.”

Favorite thing about marching season…

• Lynsey - “Getting to perform in the football stadium to fun music.”
• Jeannie - “My favorite thing about marching season is definitely the pre-game ritual with the twirlers. We gather together to do each other’s hair and makeup, turning her room into our own little glam squad. Between the hairspray and rhinestones, we crack jokes, make funny TikToks, and create memories that are just as special as the performances themselves. It’s these moments of laughter and camaraderie that make the long practices and late nights all worth it. The bond we share while getting ready together is what truly makes the marching season unforgettable.
• Keira - “Learning new drills and choreography every week!”

What are they going to miss the most once marching season is over…

• Lynsey - “I will miss getting to put on my orange and white costumes and have fun in Bower’s stadium after I graduate.”
• Jeannie - “When marching season wraps up, I know I’ll miss so many things. I’ll miss the pre-game ritual of getting ready with the girls, turning it into a mini celebration of its own. I’ll miss performing under the big stadium lights, where every routine feels like a moment of magic. I’ll miss dancing in the stands, feeling the energy and excitement of the crowd. I’ll even miss our post-game Cane’s runs as a team, where we gather to relive the highs and laugh about the day. And, of course, I’ll miss the rhythm of doing it all again the next week. These moments have made this season cherished.
• Keira - “Getting to perform at Bowers stadium.”

We want to thank Lynsey, Jeannie, and Keira for sharing their Game Day with us. We just love seeing their smiling faces on the field representing Sam, and we wish them a great season. Eat 'em up Kats!

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 - Steele 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 Steele High School Feature Twirlers!

Byron P. Steele High School, located in Cibolo, Texas, is the home of the Knights, and these two awesome senior Feature Twirlers, Micaiah Hubbard & Natalie DeLeon! 

As Seniors, these two have been able to spend their years together in the Black, Silver, and White, representing SHS as both Feature Twirlers and members of the Colorguard. We asked them what the process was to be able to be a Feature Twirler, and they said it all revolved around UIL. “The audition process for both of us was to participate in UIL Region twirling and receive a 1 rating from the judge. Then we could be a twirler the next season.”

A fun fact about Steele is that their mascot was going to be a Penguin, but these twirlers are very happy to be the Knights! As proud Knights, they get to take part in the many wonderful Steele traditions, but they say their favorite by far is the Blackout Pep Rally. “It takes place during homecoming week where everyone goes to our stadium in glowing items. Towards the end of the night the stadium lights turn off and all you can see is everything glowing. We love to bring out our glow batons and wear fun glowing accessories while we perform in front of our school.”

With this being their Senior Season, everything is their last, which has made the season extra special, but also reminds them of what they will miss next year, so they are savoring every moment. They told us the thing they are most looking forward to is the Battle of 3009. “It is a football game where we compete against our rival school. Since both highschools are located on either side of 3009, our entire community comes out to view the game. We both have a lot of fun at this game because we get to see people that we grew up with.”

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

Micaiah Hubbard, Senior
Competition Level: Beginner
Micaiah has been twirling for 4 years. She is a member of the Twirling Sweet Sensations, and is coached by Michele Pangrac. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was winning the 2023 Southwest Regional Basic Skills Pageant. Micaiah’s favorite competition trick is a toss illusion, and her favorite field trick is a toss leap. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her Coach! “Mrs. Michele always pushes me to be my best while remaining one of my greatest supporters.” After high school, she plans to attend college to earn her Bachelor’s in Graphic Design, with the goal of becoming a graphic designer.

Natalie DeLeon, Senior
Competition Level: Intermediate
Natalie has been twirling for 6 years. She is a member of the Twirling Sweet Sensations and is coached by Michele Pangrac. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was when she won the Beginner 13-15 Texas State Pageant. Natalie’s favorite competition series is her Horizontal finger twirls “because I have cute moves/poses.” and her favorite field trick is a thumb toss under the leg catch reverse blind. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by former Miss Texas, Caroline Carothers Reed. After High School, Natalie plans on attending a university in Texas to earn a Bachelor's of Science in Communication Disorders in hopes of becoming a Speech Pathologist.

Fun Facts!

• Favorite Color - Pink (Micaiah), Orange (Natalie)
• Favorite Movie - “A Walk to Remember” (Micaiah), “Slumdog Millionaire” (Natalie)
• Favorite Book - “The ‘Darkest Minds’ Series” (Micaiah), “A Thousand Splendid Suns” (Natalie)

Must have Game Day snack/drink…

• Micaiah - “An ice-cold Coca-Cola.”
• Natalie - “Arnold Palmer and Cheese Puffs.”

Favorite Quote…

• Micaiah - “Don’t let the fear of striking out prevent you from playing the game.”
• Natalie - “Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful” - Annette Funicello

When they are not twirling, they love to…

• Micaiah - “Writing and composing my own music! I also enjoy playing video games with my sister and dad.”
• Natalie - “I love to simply just relax and watch tv, but normally I have a ton of homework before I can do that!”

Something people might not know about them is…

• Micaiah - “I taught myself to play four instruments: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, and violin.”
• Natalie - “I have a golden retriever puppy that just turned one named Bagel.”

The best non twirling life skill they have learned from twirling is…

• Micaiah - “The ability to communicate more effectively with others.”
• Natalie - “Confidence! Especially in things like public speaking.”

Best advice from their coach…

• Micaiah - “Always have fun while twirling. When you're enjoying yourself, it shows on your face and makes your performance shine even brighter!”
• Natalie - “Truly enjoying and loving twirling is something that my coach always tells me, and before I go to compete, we always spot each other and do an air high five from across the gym. The little gesture always puts me in the right headspace so I can just go out and have fun!”

Best advice for future High School twirlers…

• Micaiah - “Have fun and showcase your incredible talents with those awesome tricks, even if you’re feeling nervous. Just go for it!”
• Natalie - “Cherish every high school event and memory because it will all go by very fast!”

Funniest memory as a twirler…

• Micaiah - “When I completely forgot a section of my solo and just marched off the floor. I ended up laughing it off with my coach and family.”
• Natalie - “This year when me and Micaiah were on the sidelines at our game against Reagan there were so many crickets diving and jumping towards us. Whenever a cricket would come close both of us would run away and even sometimes yell. It was scary but hilarious at the same time.”

Favorite thing about marching season…

• Micaiah - “Performing during halftime with all my friends while wearing my glittering twirling costume.”
• Natalie - “My favorite thing about marching season is getting to spend it with my best friends, having a great group makes even the long practices worthwhile.”

What are they going to miss the most once marching season is over…

• Micaiah - “I'll miss the long bus rides with my team and the chance to meet new people from other schools the most.”
• Natalie - “I will miss everything! Since this is my senior year, every major event is considered my “last” which makes a majority of things bittersweet.”

We want to thank Micaiah and Natalie for sharing their Game Day with us, as well as their joy and love for twirling. We want to wish them an amazing rest of their Senior Season! SK All Day!

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

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

College Football is back in our lives full swing, and we could not be more excited for the amazing college twirling that is already happening this season! We are excited to continue featuring these talented athletes, and we hope you will enjoy learning more about them too!

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!

This week’s Collegiate Twirler Spotlight is the University of Texas Feature Twirler!

The University of Texas, located in Austin, Texas, is the home of the Longhorns, and currently the #1 Rated College Football team in the country! It is also the home of a long line of amazing Longhorn Feature Twirlers, including current UT Feature Twirler, Aidyn Mentry!

Attending such a well-known University comes with some fun facts and cool opportunities. As Aidyn tells us, “The University of Texas is the only NCAA division 1 school with burnt orange as one of our colors! The Longhorn Feature Twirler also gets a special solo performance at the end of the 3rd quarter to the song Wabash Cannonball, and now I am able to do it with fire batons!”

In order to earn this prestigious position, we asked Aidyn what the audition process was like. “My audition process was a little different because of COVID but it was still a standard 2 round audition process. Round 1 was an audition video, resume, essay, recommendation letters, and a few other pieces of information. Round 2 was a live audition to 3 music pieces, with one being a full halftime show. After the live audition there was a panel interview.”

Earning the position of Longhorn Feature Twirler is always a dream come true for those that get the honor, and attending UT was an easy one for Aidyn. “It had been my dream school forever because it was the number 1 school in the world for advertising! I knew that I needed to prioritize academics over anything else in my college search, but when I found out that the twirler spot would open at the perfect time for me to audition, it felt like the stars aligned and I knew that it was meant to be!”

Aidyn, who is originally from Virginia, came to Texas from out of state. While that can be a tough decision for many, it was always the right choice for her. “I knew I wanted to branch out and move away from the town I grew up in, so I set a list of things that I wanted in a college out of state. My requirements were: top advertising school, warm, BIG student body, great football, creative atmosphere, lots to do, and felt like home…. Texas was the perfect fit! No place felt like home to me until the first time I visited Austin!”

With getting the opportunity to attend her dream school, there has to be so many things that Aidyn loves about the University, but she says the thing she loves the most is the people! “As silly as it sounds, it’s pretty cool to know that you have a ton in common with someone when you see them throw up our iconic hand sign No matter what walk of life or experiences that someone has had, there is a unity and common love shared between all past and present longhorns that feels so special! I could brag about a million things about my school, but the people are what make it so unique!”

The University of Texas has so many amazing traditions including Lighting the tower, Smokey the Cannon, Big Bertha, and “of course saying Hook ‘Em to every single person that wears burnt orange once you leave campus!” The members of the band program also make some wonderful memories together. Aidyn told us about one of her favorites. “My favorite is top secret until you are an official member of the Longhorn Band, but a close second is the Pizza Tree after our first performance of the year! As you can imagine, 430 people eat a LOT of pizzas. We take over 100 pizza boxes and stack them up 2 stories tall while eating pizza. Then, we sing Christmas carols to the pizza tree until it gets too tall and topples over!”

With this being Aidyn’s Senior Season, we know everything is special to her, but we wanted to know what she is looking forward to the most this Fall, and she said she is counting the days until the Texas A&M game. “I can’t wait for our Texas A&M rivalry to come back after more than 10 years! We will travel to College Station to play the Aggies, and I can’t wait to twirl on Kyle Field and show them what Longhorns are made of!”

Now that we have learned more about the University of Texas, let's learn more about Aidyn!

Aidyn Mentry, Senior
Competition Level: Collegiate
Aidyn has been twirling for 14 years. She is a member of Twirl ATX and is coached by Whitney Coons. The competition placements she is the proudest of earning was being named a 2025 Team USA representative for Artistic Twirl at Nations Cup and winning the 2024 College Miss Majorette of America Modeling and Interview. Her favorite competition tricks are a one-spin triple illusion or reverse right toss flat double slap catch right, and her favorite field tricks are a one-spin illusion walkover catch front aerial or anything three baton. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Laney Puhalla, Jameson Kenerly, and Savannah Miller. After college, Aidyn plans to continue her work in Marketing. “I will hopefully end up in ATX or NYC working in marketing for a major entertainment company, using my knowledge of strategy, psychoanalytic research, and biometric tracking to create branded experiences! I will also continue to coach, design costumes for Sew Stoppers, and work towards my judge's license!”

Fun Facts!

• Favorite Color – Burnt Orange ;)
• Favorite TV Show or Movie – “Hunger Games or anything true crime.”
• Favorite Book – “Everything, Everything”

Must have Game Day Snack/Drink…
“Celsius and apple sauce pouches, 3 of each every single gameday... at a minimum.”

Favorite Quote…
“Pressure makes diamonds!”

When she is not twirling, she loves to…
“Work out, design & rhinestone twirling costumes, bake, listen to new music, and attempt to find the best latte in Austin with my friends!”

Something people might not know about her is… 
“I am partially responsible for the invention of Extra Toasty Cheez-its.”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“Time management! I work 4 jobs and take 16 hours of classes. Without twirling teaching me balance, I would be so stressed, but I love being busy all the time and staying involved in the campus community!”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Nerves just mean that you care and that your body is anxious to show off what you have taught it in practice!”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“Say yes to every opportunity! Every chance that you get to twirl in your community, take a picture with a fellow twirler, enter in a small contest, or talk about twirling to a stranger will help you to become a better twirler and representative of the sport!”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“Lana Del Ray offered to clasp my costume at last year's Red River Rivalry game, I was in shock! Then she asked me for a selfie!”

Favorite thing about marching season… 
“The excitement of "shaking the fringe" and singing and dancing with my friends before every performance.”

What will you miss most when marching season is over… 
“Seeing my best friends every single day! I take for granted all of the little conversations on water breaks and all of the high fives on the way to set, I will miss those so much!”

We want to thank Aidyn for sharing her Game Day with us, and we greatly enjoyed learning more about her in this interview. We wish her and the Longhorns an amazing rest of the season. Hook Em! 

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.