Friday Night Lights Feature - Needville 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 twirlers will be shining on the field as they continue to represent their 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 Needville High School Twirlers!

Needville High School, located in Needville, Texas, is the home of the Bluejays and the first consolidated district in the southwest Houston suburbs. “The Needville High School district started in 1946 by merging ten small local schools, including Guy, Big Creek, and Long Point.” It is also the home of a wonderful legacy of baton twirlers! This year, the 2026-27 Needville High School Twirlers include Emma Sablatura (Captain), Estrella Mejia, Nayeli Perales, Kinsley Aldrich, Makayla Baranowski, and Aubree Walker!

Led by coach Patti Jan, we wanted to know what the NHS Twirlers had to do to earn their position on the Line. “The High School line candidates are taught a routine to be performed together. This helps to see how fast you can pick up and memorize a routine, plus if you can count and hear the music to stay together as a team. We are also judged on fundamentals and an individual routine.”

Once on the Line, the Needville Twirlers are a big part of the NHS Band program. “Our twirlers are actually a part of the UIL halftime show! Additionally, we perform at pep rallies, sidelines at football games, and UIL Marching contests. Also, we have all twirled together outside of school.”

Being such a visible part of Game Days, we wanted to know what their favorite thing about being at NHS is, and they all agree it is the School Spirit! While they love wearing the blue and white for any occasion, they did tell us that their favorite tradition is getting to ring the “Victory Bell” when they win a football game.

Between the long days at practice together with the band, they have all become a second family for each other. So much so that they even call their band director, Mr. Finley, “Papa Finley”!

Finally, we wanted to know what these twirlers were most excited for this season, and they said they cannot wait for the Area and State Marching Contests!

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

Emma Sablatura, Senior & Captain
Emma is an Intermediate twirler that has been twirling for 13 years. She is a member of KTPS and is coached by Tracey Sweeny, Patti Jan, and Hope DeLeon, with additional coaching from Lori Perkins. Her favorite twirling trick is any under the leg catch, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by former University of Texas Feature Twirler, Aidyn Mentry. After High School, she hopes to attend Texas A&M for nursing.

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Blue
Favorite TV Show, Movie, or Book – You, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink – Cheez-its’ and Dr. Pepper

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“Be the Light!”

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

Something people might not know about her… 
“I am left handed.”

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

The most memorable advice from her coach…  
“Don’t stress and have fun!”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Collect all the memories you can!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“Being silly with the other twirlers before the games.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“Having the sister-like bond between the girls and all the halftime performances.”

Nayeli Perales, Senior
Nayeli is a Beginner level twirler that has been twirling for 9 years. She is a member of KTPS and is coached by Tracey Sweeny, Patti Jan, and Hope DeLeon. Her favorite twirling trick is a Toss Illusion, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by former Baylor University Golden Girl, Adaline Bebo. After High School, she hopes to go to college to become an Ultrasound Tech.

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Purple
Favorite TV Show – Gilmore Girls
Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink – Lays

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to…
“Take time to relax and get things done.”

Something people might not know about her…
“I love to draw and am pretty good at it.”

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

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“You are able to do anything you set your mind to.”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Enjoy your time!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Just all of us together having a good time and joking around with each other.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“The adrenaline.”

Estrella Mejia, Junior
Estrella is an Intermediate twirler that has been twirling for 8 years. She is a member of KTPS and is coached by Tracey Sweeny, Patti Jan, and HopeDeLeon. Her favorite twirling trick is a Toss Illusion, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by former Baylor University Golden Girl, Adaline Bebo. After High School, she hopes to be successful in Real Estate.

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Purple
Favorite Movie, and/or Podcast – Fast & Furious, Bryce Crawford Podcast
Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink – Goldfish

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

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

Something people might not know about her.. 
“I have a great sense of humor.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“You can control the good and the bad.”

The most memorable advice from her coach…  
“To do anything to catch the baton.”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Enjoy every second because it goes by fast.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“When I popped 2 people at camp the same day (my 2 captains).”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“All the memories, tears, and sweat!”

Kinsley Aldrich, Sophomore
Kinsley is an intermediate level twirler that has been twirling for 10 years. She is a member of KTPS and is coached by Tracey Sweeny and Patti Jan, with additional coaching from Emily Hathorn and Lori Perkins. The competition title she is the proudest of earning with the Middle School Classic Winner at the Spotlight Twirling Festival. Her favorite twirling trick is a Toss Cartwheel, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by former Baylor University Golden Girl, Adaline Bebo. After High School, she hopes to become a Nurse Practitioner. 

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Blue
Favorite TV Show – Gilmore Girls
Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink – Blue Gatorade and Airhead Strips

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken.”

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

Something people might not know about her… 
“I am a powerlifter.”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“Being able to get along with others.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Do the thumb toss correctly or you are going to the wall.”

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

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“My mom catching the blood from my best friend's nose after getting hit by the baton.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“I will miss performing the show and having fun with the twirlers on the sidelines.”

Aubree Walker, Freshman
Aubrey is a Beginner level twirler that has been twirling for 12 years. She is a member of KTPS and is coached by Tracey Sweeny, Patti Jan, and HopeDeLeon. Her favorite twirling trick is a Toss Cartwheel. After High School, she hopes to become a nurse. 













Favorites!
Favorite Color – Pink
Favorite TV Show – Young Sheldon
Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink – Dr. Pepper

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“Never Give Up!”

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

Something people might not know about her… 
“I don’t like to read.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“Hard Work.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Give 100% Always!”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Never give up and always have a smile on your face…even if you mess up.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Going on the bus to Santa Fe.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“Being with my team.”

Makayla Baranowski, Freshman
Makayla is an Intermediate twirler that has been twirling for 12 years. She is a member of KTPS and is coached by Tracey Sweeny, Patti Jan, and HopeDeLeon. The competition event she is the proudest of winning was the MA Nationals Show Twirl. Her favorite twirling trick is a Toss Front Walkover, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by former Baylor University Golden Girl, Adaline Bebo. After High School, she hopes to twirl in College.

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Turquoise
Favorite TV Show, Movie, Book, and/or Podcast – Heartland, Walk, Ride, Rodeo
Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink – Drizzalicious

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“It doesn’t matter what others are doing, it matters what you are doing.”

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

Something people might not know about her… 
“I rodeo.”

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

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

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Trust the process.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Having to get my arm belted around my body to quit tossing so high and wrong.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“My teammates!”



We want to thank the Needville High School Twirlers for sharing their Game Day with us, and we wish them and the Bluejay Marching Band an amazing and successful season! #Codeblue!

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. 

Texas Twirlers Abroad - Analeia in Peru!

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Today we have a very special interview for you. As most that attend AYOP are aware, there is a unique opportunity every September offered to only a small handful of some of the nation’s most entertaining twirlers. Each of these twirlers are hand selected based on their performance abilities and advanced twirling skills and are then invited to be a part of that year's class of Baton Twirling Ambassadors. Once selected, they have the chance to travel for up to two weeks to Trujillo, Peru, to participate in a once in a lifetime opportunity full of appearances and performances.

For the Fall 2026 class that traveled to Peru to participate in the 74th International Festival of the Spring (la Primavera), one of our very own Texas Twirlers was selected – Analeia Aleman!

Analeia is a name that is well known in Texas twirling! Senior Analeia Aleman is the Feature Twirler at Gunter High School and is coached by Catherine Lattirmoe and Christina Aleman. In addition to being the 2026 Miss Majorette of Texas and multi time member of Team USA, she is also a 2x UIL Texas State Outstanding Performer, 2021 World Two Baton Bronze Medalist, and 2025 IBTF Nation’s Cup Junior A Three Baton Gold Medalist! 

We wanted to take a moment and ask Analeia about her experiences and allow her to share some of the moments that meant the most to her as she traveled in Peru.

This trip to Peru is filled with so many amazing experiences! Will you share with us some of the things you were able to do? “In Peru, I was able to twirl at nursing homes and for sick, forgotten, or abused children. I took part in Governor speeches, watched the crowning of the Festival Queen, visited local areas of interest, and was able to watch and learn about their dancing, culture, and traditions to celebrate spring.”

What a jam-packed week! Out of all of those experiences, which one was the best? “My favorite event I participated in was the parade on the last day. It was so much fun. There were so many people lining the streets and cheering us on. I was able to see so many different people and a wide variety of cultural performances. There were even a few times young kids would run out to us during the parade so they could give us a hug.” 

During the week you got to spend time with nine other amazing twirlers. What part of that experience meant the most to you? “There are so many memories I will take from this opportunity. I met so many wonderful girls and now have more twirling friends from around the country. We spent so much time together; we were able to get to know one another on a level beyond a baton competition. I will also have memories of all the people I met while in Peru. I visited many places where the children were not living in great conditions. Being able to twirl for them and see them smile, is something I will never forget.”

Going to another country always has its unknowns. What part of the experience was not what you expected? “I knew I was going to a place where the people were not as fortunate as we are in the United States, but to see the reality of how some of the kids live and how little they have was more than I expected to witness.” 

Being away in another country can definitely make you miss home. What did you miss the most while you were gone? “I missed so many things about home, including my family, but missing a home football game and hanging with my friends afterwards had to be the most difficult.”

While many of the appearances were about entertainment and celebrating Peru, there had to be some funny moments along the way. What was your funniest experience? “While in Peru, we did quite a bit of walking. Many times, in the evening, this walking took place in nice dresses and heels. One time, Addie, Alyssa, and I were walking and almost tripped and fell in some potholes. We were supposed to be graceful because people were always watching us and taking pictures. Hopefully, no one took pictures that night!”

Many twirlers say this is a once in a lifetime experience that they will never forget. Hopefully we get to see more of our Texas twirlers participate in the future. What advice would you give another twirler preparing for the same trip? “I would tell anyone preparing for this trip to bring enough outfits! We could only bring one suitcase, so I tried to be efficient with my packing, but I could have used a few more. With so many formal events, you need to be prepared.  Another tip is to be prepared not to get much sleep. From the moment we arrived in Peru, we were on the go. Each day we were up early and out until late hours. When we did get back to the hotel late each night, there was homework to do and preparation for the next day. I did not get much sleep the entire time I was gone.”

Finally, a trip like this would not be possible without wonderful people making it all happen. Can you tell us about those that made this trip possible? “I want to thank Kathy Harris for attending with us as our Chaperone. She made sure we were well taken care of. I also want to thank the guards who were with us the entire time to make sure we were safe and we had everything we needed. And I want to thank the Lions Club for affording us this opportunity and providing us a life changing experience.”

A huge congrats goes out to Analeia from #teamtexas on being selected for this opportunity, and we want to thank her for representing us so beautifully. We appreciate her taking time to share her Peru journey with us and we cannot wait to see what the rest of her senior year brings!

We hope everyone enjoyed the interview and we look forward to seeing who is selected for the 2027 class of Ambassadors attending the 75th International Festival of the Spring next fall!

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 - Oklahoma State Feature Twirlers

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

It is amazing how fast this season is going. Band-Tober is halfway done, and we are a little over a month away from the first twirling competition of the season! In the meantime, we are super excited to be learning more about these two twirling Pokes!

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 Oklahoma State University Feature Twirlers!

Oklahoma State University, located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, is the home of the Cowboys, and “America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration!” This event, which started in 1913 and now attracts over 70,000 people annually, includes more than 40,000 alumni. Joining in those festivities are the Oklahoma State University Feature Twirlers, Jaidyn Poole and Callan Hall!

A fun fact about Jaidyn and Callan is that they got to start a new legacy of twirling at OSU. “When we came to OSU in 2024 there had not been twirlers for 2 years! We got to bring back twirling for Oklahoma State!” 

According to OSU Twirling Coach, Aly Akers-Meadors, they had to go through an extensive audition process. “Here at OSU, we take online applications, including an audition video. We then invite a handful of twirlers back for in person rounds where there is an interview process as well as three different prepared routines to be performed.” 

Both of these twirlers came to OSU from out of state. Jaidyn being from Texas, and Callan being from Kansas, they had big decisions to make about if OSU was the right choice for them, and they are both so happy to call Stillwater their home away from home. Jaidyn tells us, “I chose OSU because the campus drew me in and my major of fashion merchandising was offered here. The overall environment also felt very inviting. I always knew going to school out of state was an option for me, however I was ultimately looking for a place that felt like home no matter the distance.” 

Callan was also attracted to OSU due to her major and the school environment. “I toured the school and loved it for my major, as well as coming to watch a football game, and the atmosphere was truly amazing. I love that I get to experience college from another state, but I’m also close enough to be a part of my younger brother's lives and support them as well as getting to see my family.”

Jaidyn agrees that the atmosphere at OSU is amazing, and one of her favorite things about being a Poke! “My favorite thing about OSU is our school spirit and the people here. I truly have never been surrounded by more kind and inspiring people!”

Having such great school spirit always means the best traditions! As Jaidyn tells us, “Homecoming at OSU is the best tradition for sure. They call it America's Greatest Homecoming for a reason!” They also have lots of fun traditions within their band program. “With our band, a tradition after each practice is that we sing the Alma mater together!” Callan also tells us that the band likes to get interactive with their twirlers. “We like to have the Drum Majors, and some band members and staff try different twirling tricks throughout the year. It is so funny!”

Finally, we asked what they are most looking forward to, and both of them were hoping for a great football season, which is definitely in the works in Stillwater! As the #18 ranked team in the country this week, the Cowboys are working to give these two twirlers a fun ride. Jaidyn told us she was most looking forward to the first home game against Oregon, and we all know now that the Cowboys vs Ducks game was definitely one for the books! They are both hoping this might lead to a bowl game later this year. As Callan tells us, “I would really love it if we could get to go to a bowl game, because we haven’t gotten to experience that yet.”

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

Jaidyn Poole
Jaidyn is a Junior Fashion Merchandising Major from Katy, Texas. She is an advanced level competitor that has been twirling for 12 years. Jaidyn is a member of the Mickeys Majorettes twirling team where she is coached by Patti and Kayli Mickey. The competition placements she is the proudest of was being named the 2023 Miss Majorette of the Southwest, and winning the bronze medal at the 2025 World Championships in Turin, Italy for Senior X-Strut. Her favorite twirling tricks are any tosses with a front walkover or back neck rolls. In baton twirling she has been most inspired by forever Miss Texas and former UT & Baylor Feature Twirler, Caroline Carothers Reid. After college she hopes to become a buyer for a corporate fashion brand and continue teaching baton.

Favorites!
Favorite color - Pink
Favorite movie - Mama Mia

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“An Alani!”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“When football season starts to get hard I always remind myself that I can live out the dreams I once prayed for.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to…
“Take heated workout classes, dance, and go to dinner with my friends.”

Something people might not know about her…
 “I have 4 dogs.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“What hard work truly means and the importance of giving back to the younger generation of twirlers.” 

The most memorable advice from her coach...
“My coaches always encouraged me to turn my nerves into excitement and I think about that every time I perform.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers…
“Trust the process and know that you will end up exactly where you are meant to.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler...
“Trying to get on the Simba cam with Callan at the games.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“I will miss twirling with Callan in the atmosphere of Boone Pickens stadium once football season ends.”

Callan Hall       
Callan is a Junior Applied Exercise Science Major on the Pre-Professional track from Salina, Kansas. She has been twirling for 16 years and is a member of Shannon’s Stars where she is coached by Shannon Meis and Lauren Cox. The competition placement she is the proudest of earning was placing 6th at Worlds in junior three baton in Liverpool, England. Her favorite twirling trick is doing 4-Baton, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her coaches, Shannon Meis and Lauren Cox. After college, she hopes to attend PA school.

Favorites! 
Favorite Color – butter yellow 
Favorite Book – The Bible
Favorite TV Show –  Grey’s Anatomy
Favorite Movie –  My All American 

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“A big breakfast and lots of water!”

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

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Workout, hang out with friends, paint banners, and go on walks.” 

Something people might not know about her…
“I played three sports other than baton in high school.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“A good work ethic. Baton knocks you down more times than you can even imagine, but the resilience of sticking with it and overcoming those setbacks translates into my day-to-day life.”

The most memorable advice from her coach…
“‘She believed she could, so she did!’ My coaches always believe in me and support me but they truly have emphasized getting me to believe in myself.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“Truly treasure every moment!! I am already halfway done with college and I feel like I just got here! Enjoy the moment and give it everything you’ve got!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“My coach cut my hair before modeling at nationals ‘because it wouldn’t curl right 😂’”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“I will miss getting to twirl everyday with Jaidyn, I LOVE FOOTBALL so I will miss watching and cheering on the Cowboys, and I will miss seeing my family at the games!”

We want to thank Jaidyn and Callan for sharing their Game Day with us, and we are excited to see how the Cowboys continue to climb the rest of the season. Go Pokes!

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 - Oak Ridge High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Another great weekend of twirling means we are closing in on the remainder of the regular high school 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 one of our awesome Texas Twirlers for your reading enjoyment this lovely October Tuesday.

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 season’s next Friday Night Lights Feature is the Oak Ridge High School Feature Twirler!

Oak Ridge High School, located in Conroe, Texas, is the home of the War Eagles, and the soon-to-be biggest fine arts wing in Conroe ISD. It is also the home of the first Oak Ridge High School Feature Twirler in over 25 years, Beatrice Williams!

In order to earn this position and be able to represent the red, white, and blue each week, Beatrice had to follow a three part audition process. “My audition process included performing a two-minute routine, writing an essay, and completing an interview.”

After being named the Feature Twirler, Beatrice became a familiar face on game days, where she loves to see the ORHS pride from the field. “My favorite thing about Oak Ridge is the uplifting school spirit.”

This great school spirit must lead to some fun traditions! Beatrice confirms, but says the best one happens on the field. “After the band performs at halftime, the drill team and band come together to perform our school song in a formation that spells ‘OR’.” 

Finally, we wanted to know what she was most looking forward to this season, and she confirmed Bandtober is exactly where she wants to be right now! “I am most looking forward to attending more band contests this season.”

Now that we have learned about twirling at ORHS, let’s learn more about Beatrice!

Beatrice Williams, Junior
Beatrice is a Beginner level competitor that has been twirling for 8 years and competing for 3 years. For individual events, she is a member of the Texas Twirlers, where she is coached by Sue Young. For team, she is a member of the Ambition Baton Club, and coached by Lori Perkins. Her favorite twirling trick is anything involving rolls. After high school, she hopes to become a dental hygienist.

Favorites!

• Favorite Color – Pink
• Favorite Movie – Tinker Bell and the Pirate Fairy

Must-Have Game Day Snack…
“The fruit snacks we get after halftime!”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“Live life to the fullest.”

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

Something people might not know about her…
“I am terrified of turtles.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“Interview skills.”

Advice to future high school twirlers…
“Take every opportunity you can because it goes by so fast!”

Best tradition/inside joke within her band program…
“Our best inside joke is our band directors’ strangely colored shoes!”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“The feeling of performing in front of such a large crowd.”

We want to thank Beatrice for sharing her game day with us, and we hope Beatrice and the entire Oak Ridge marching band have an amazing remainder of their Bandtober! Caw Caw!

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. 

Band-tober Blog Feature - Thrall High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

October means Marching Contest Season here in Texas, and today’s featured twirler sure knows what that is like! Between being drum major and feature twirler, this Senior knows that Bandtober is busy, but in the best way!

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 season’s first Band-tober Blog Feature is the Thrall High School Feature Twirler!

Thrall High School, located in Thrall, Texas, is the home of the Tigers, and a school district of only 900 students! “All Grades Pre-K thru 12 are all on one campus!” It is also the home to the Thrall High School Feature Twirler AND Drum Major, Leianne Kirchner! 

As we mentioned, Leianne is both the Feature Twirler and Drum Major at Thrall High School. “This combination has never been the same person at my school!  I am able to conduct and then also have marching spots moving throughout the band during our halftime show!” 

What an amazing opportunity for Leianne! We had to know how this came together. In order to become Feature Twirler, Leianne had to go through a pretty standard process. “We did an Interview and then a twirling routine. Applicants also must play an instrument in the band in order to audition.” 

Then she decided for her senior year to add on the title of Drum Major! “I decided to try out and become Drum Major because I wanted to make a difference in my band and encourage positivity within the band!  Once I was named Drum Major it took a lot of time away from twirling to learn the skill sets needed to be a Drum Major and Leader of the band. It has been extremely rewarding in the new relationships that I have built within this group. This past weekend we competed at the Battle of the Bluff in La Grange Texas. We were awarded Best 3A Band, Best 3A Colorguard, Best 3A Percussion and 4th Overall Band out of 23 very good competitors!” 

Being a leader for the band and being such a visible representative of the school, we had to know what Leianne’s favorite part of attending Thrall is, and she said it is the people. “Everybody knows everybody. There are 67 Seniors this year and most of us started in the same school together in pre-K.”  

With such a close-knit student body, we just know the traditions have to be strong! “We have pep rallies for home games on Fridays at the end of the day. The entire school Pre-K thru Seniors all pack into the gym to hype up our Tigers (All Sports and Band) for their Friday and Saturday events. We play our fight song, play games and do a VICTORY Cheer by grade level.  I started twirling at the pep rally when I was in 1st grade!”

Even the band program has its special traditions, including a band mascot! “Each year we have a mascot that travels to our band events and competitions. We have had Patrick the pineapple, Fred the Skeleton, and Ducky the Duck. We get the band sections and leadership to take pictures with these mascots. It helps break the ice with our new members and makes them feel included and engaged in our program.”

Finally, we had to ask Leianne what she was most looking forward to this season, and you know Band-tober was right there at the top! “I am excited for all the UIL Band Competitions in Band-tober and our weekly Friday Night Lights!”

Now that we have learned more about twirling at Thrall, let's learn more about Leianne!

Leianne Kirchner, Senior
Leianne has been twirling for 14 years, “I started at 3 years old!” She is a member of Lynn Dell's Twirl and Dance where she is coached by Lynn Dell Harrell. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was the USTA National Age 0-6 Two Baton event in 2015, “I was only 6 years old!” Her favorite twirling trick is anything with three batons! In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by the twirlers that help younger members of their studios! “(Baylor Golden Girl) Maggie Churdimsky and (former Angelo State Feature Twirler) Katy Herber have been such a help when I hit a mental block or just needed help with a trick!” After High School, she hopes to attend college and study animal genetics and embryology, and to hopefully continue twirling!

Favorites!

• Favorite Color – Turquoise
• Favorite TV Show – Friends
• Favorite Books – “I have dyslexia and had a very difficult time reading when I was younger.  Now I love to read everything, especially books within a series.”
• Favorite Podcasts – “I love any true crime podcasts and my friend Baxter's Cattle Innovation Station Podcast.”

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“I love DR PEPPER!  Game Day/Contest Day/Every day is a Dr Pepper Day!”

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
 "When you love what you have, you have everything you need." Winnie the Pooh

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Sleep!  But I never get a chance to sleep in!”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I show cattle competitively. I have heifers and bulls that I feed and take care of every day. I have practiced twirling at every major stock show in Texas! It's normal to find me juggling batons in a trailer line while we wait to unload, or in the show ring the night before while my animals are resting. Also, I listen to my band music over the barn speakers while washing my cattle. It helps me memorize my music while I work on my other projects. Fun Fact: My bull Rory likes our movement 1 song: Bad Romance by Lady Gaga.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“Realizing I may have done my very best routine, but it was not the best routine for the judge that day.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Don't be a meemaw, go faster!”

Advice to future high school twirlers…
“Be an active member of your band! March, be part of the show and have fun! Field twirling is not the same as competitive twirling. It's the same pressure, but the skillset and judging criteria are completely different. Enjoy every moment!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Several years ago, I started practicing outside of the cattle barns at the State Fair of Texas.  After about 10 minutes I turned around and realized I had a crowd of about 50 people watching and quietly cheering me on as I practiced my 3 baton.”  

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“I will miss the feeling of being part of a team - the best band team. I have the best band leadership team, and I am very thankful for the friends I have made in the band.”  

We want to thank Leianne for sharing her competition day with us! We want to send a huge congrats to the Thrall Band on a great showing, and we wish Leianne the very best remainder of her senior year. Purple, White, Tigers Fight!

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 Arizona Twirlers

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

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

Each season this blog likes to get to know many of our awesome Texas twirlers a little better by learning about their experiences. We will be meeting many High School twirlers throughout the season with the Friday Night Lights Features and discovering more about our Texas Collegians with the Collegiate Twirler Spotlights. We will also be having many of our High School and Collegiate twirlers take over our Social Media Story for their Game Days! Make sure to follow us on Instagram @twirlingiscatchingtx or at facebook.com/twirlingiscatchingtx so you don't miss a thing!

Our next Collegiate Twirler Spotlight is on the University of Arizona Twirlers!

The University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, is the home of the Wildcats! It is also home to this wonderful Twirling Team! The 2026-2027 University of Arizona Twirlers includes Paige Epp, Emma Latour, Ava Migliazzo, Kimika Shimazaki, Ava Frese, & #TeamTexas twirler - Evelyn Henry!

While the University of Arizona’s mascot is the Wildcats, their school saying is “Bear Down”. We wanted to know how that came to be, and we were able to learn the history behind the well known saying! “The famous Arizona saying “Bear Down” came from the student body president and school quarterback John Button Salmon, who whispered in his coach's ear to tell his team to Bear Down as his dying words right before he passed away in a tragic car accident in 1926.The same saying “Bear Down” is written on the rough of Bear Down gym, the old basketball arena which still is a stable building on campus. Then, Jack Lee, a past Band Director, saw the words “Bear Down” on the roof of Bear Down gym when he flew to Tucson to interview for the Band Director position. He then wrote Arizona’s fight song “Bear Down Arizona” which is still used today.”

This team of Feature Twirlers is led by their twirling coordinator, Kirsten Grabo. We wanted to know how these twirlers came together and what the process included. “To audition to the University of Arizona you first reach out to Kirsten Grabo via email declaring your interest. From there, she will give you a list of things needed to be seen when you submit your video audition. If you make it to final audition rounds, Kirsten will email inviting you to in person auditions. In person auditions are held beginning of April at the University of Arizona. This audition includes twirling with the current team, performing Bear Down, fight, and a 2-3 baton routine. You will also perform an individual show twirl, spotlighting your 1,2,3, and 4 baton skills to the panel of judges. You then have an interview with the panel of judges to conclude the audition process.”

Once they have completed this process, the new season’s team is announced. As an Arizona Twirler, this group gets a lot of amazing opportunities. “We twirl with the Pride of Arizona Marching Band. This means we are incorporated into the marching bands drill during pregame, and halftime performances. We Twirl 1,2,3 and sometimes 4 batons during halftime, as well as lighted batons. Another fun fact about the Twirling Team is that we get to twirl on the sidelines cheering Arizona on for the whole game. Not only do we twirl for football, but we twirl at all the men’s basketball games as well!”

With the  members of the team coming from Texas, Illinois, Iowa, California, and even Canada, we wanted to know why they all chose Arizona? “We all wanted to go to school far away from home, and Arizona has really good programs for all of our areas of interest.” Arizona has given them all a great twirling option while all pursuing their ideal fields of study, but they also love the campus!. “We all love the beautiful campus! Who doesn't love palm trees!”

The weather is also a big factor in why they chose Arizona. “One thing we love about our school is the warm weather year round and all of the mountains and hiking locations in Tucson. Twirling wise we love the appreciation our school has for twirling, like letting us twirl the entirety of football games on the sidelines, and letting us twirl at every basketball game!”

Palm trees, nice weather, and a great school? Sounds like a win! What would make it even better? Great traditions! They all say their favorite school tradition is the Wildcat Walk, and of course they have to include the band march off. “We do a march off every year at the end of the season with all the other sections! It is always fun to see the other sections get competitive and for us to show off our marching skills!”

Finally, we asked them what they are most looking forward to this season, and they all are excited about the possibility of a Bowl Game, and also the start of Basketball season!

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

Paige Epp, Captain
Paige is a senior from Airdrie Alberta Canada, who is majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Adolescent Education, Music. She is an advanced/elite level competitor that has been twirling for 14 years. She is a member of Elite Aridrie Baton and  is coached by Loren Dermody. The competition placements she is the proudest of winning was competing in International competitions in 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023, and receiving multiple metals and top 10 placements. Her favorite twirling trick is anything with three batons, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Julee Stewart and Jennifer Marcus. After college, she hopes to become a Pediatric Speech Pathologist.

Favorites!
Favorite Color - Yellow
Favorite TV Show - Desperate House Wives

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Nerd Gummy Clusters.”

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“C’est La Vie.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to..... 
“Hangout with friends, go on hikes, and go for coffee.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I love to sew, and sew clothes, bags, and other fun things!”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“Determination. Baton has taught me to never give up, even when things get hard.”

The most memorable advice from her coach... 
“Practice like you have never won. Baton performances are muscle memory, you want to be so prepared that your mind lets your body take over!”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers... 
“Twirl with full confidence at all times! The fans pick up on vibes, if you are nervous they will feel it! You have nothing to lose, so always go out and have fun!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler... 
“My funniest moment as a baton twirler was my sophomore year at the University of Arizona during one of our halftime performances. We went from part 1 of our show to part 2, and I got so into part 1 that when I hit my ending pose for part 1, I stayed in it while the band moved to set part 2.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“I will miss the feeling of performing pregame with the Pride of Arizona. Pregame is an electric
feeling when the crowd starts to cheer and the music starts to play!”

Ava Frese
Ava is a freshman from Iowa City, Iowa, who is majoring in Psychology. She is an advanced level baton twirling that has been twirling for 11 years. She is a member of Ambition Baton and Dance in Iowa and she is coached by Jessica Maxwell. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was winning Advanced Junior Miss Majorette of Iowa in 2024. Her favorite twirling trick is a toss front walkover, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Ella McDaniel. After college, she hopes to get a PhD in psychology.

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Pink
Favorite Movie or Book – Harry Potter

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Fruit snacks.”

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto… 
“If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail” — Kobe Bryant

When she is not twirling, she loves to...
“Find other ways to stay active, like going to the gym!”

Something people might not know about her...
“I love doing my own nails.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is...
“Confidence.”

The most memorable advice from her coach...
“There is no harm in trying.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers...
“The school is just as important as the position.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler...
“Getting batons stuck in the ceiling at our studio.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“Halftime performances on the field.”

Evelyn Henry
Evelyn is a freshman from Dallas, Texas, who is majoring in Business Management. She is an advanced level competitor that has been twirling for 11 years. She is a member of Texas Touch of Class where she is coached by Sheila Rigelsky. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was the 2026 Senior Miss West of the Mississippi. Her favorite twirling tricks are  illusions, walkovers, and fujimis, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her coach, Sheila Rigelsky. After college, she hopes to  run the social media of a sports team and continue as a twirling coach.

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Blue
Favorite Book or Movie – The Hunger Games (books and movies!)

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Pringles and Lemon-Lime Liquid IV.”

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“We are a product of everyone we have loved!”

When she is not twirling, she loves to…
“Grab a sweet treat with my friends.”

Something people might not know about her…
“I have a Duolingo streak of over 1400 days!”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“Conversational skills with all kinds of different people.”

The most memorable advice from her coach…
“Don't overthink and be #zen.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers…
“Enjoy each and every performance!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“My jazz shoe came off when I was doing an illusion during my solo.”

What event are she most looking forward to this season? 
“My first basketball game in McKale.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“The energy of the crowd during touchdowns!”

Kimika Shimazaki
Kimika is a sophomore from San Jose, California that is majoring in Global Studies with a minor in Japanese Culture. She is an advanced level competitor that has been twirling for 14 years. She is a member of Valley Baton Club where she is coached by Paige Campbell. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was the 2024 USTA Nationals Intermediate Solo 17. Her favorite twirling tricks are back of neck rolls, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Amelia Di Paola. After college, she hopes to work in healthcare and to continue spreading the joy of twirling.

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Purple
Favorite Series – Frieren

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Sour Bubbs Gummies.”

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“Misogi.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to...
“Spend time with friends and cook good food.”

Something people might not know about her...
“I love matcha.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is...
“It's all about mindset!”

The most memorable advice from her coach...
“Sky is the limit!”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers...
“Start recording yourself and those videos will not only improve your twirling, but could be used
for your video audition.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler...
“When I slipped and fell during a trick and caught it.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“Twirling with everyone in the marching band as a big group for halftime!”

Ava Migliazzo
Ava is a Junior from Geneva,Illinois, who is majoring in Nursing. She is an advanced competitor that has been twirling for 11 years. She is a member of Silver Knights Baton Twirling Corp. and is coached by JoAnn Britton. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was being named Miss Majorette of Illinois in 2021/Junior, 2022/Senior, & 2023/Senior. Her favorite twirling tricks are  low flip, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her teammates. After college, she hopes to  become an ICU nurse.

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Blue
Favorite TV Show  – Friends

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

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“The work is always worth it.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to...
“Read books.”

Something people might not know about her...
“I read 40 books over the summer.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is...
“Learning that the work is always worth it.”

The most memorable advice from her coach...
“My coach would always tell me to trust my training.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers...
“Don’t doubt yourself.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler...
“I have had multiple performances where my shoes have fallen off, and I have faceplanted in front of the entire band.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“I am going to miss seeing my teammates everyday.”

Emma Latour
Emma is a Junior from Naperville, Illinois, who is majoring in Elementary Education, She is an advanced level competitor that has been twirling for 14 years. She was a member of The Silver Knights Baton Corps and was coached by JoAnn Britton and Olivia Negris. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was the 2019 Miss Majorette of Illinois. Her favorite twirling tricks are spins and “anything with a walkover”, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Danielle Hull, her former teammate in corps and high school.” After college, she hopes to become an elementary or middle school teacher.

Favorites!
Favorite Color – green
Favorite Movie – Mamma Mia

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Nerd gummy clusters.”

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“You will never know until you try.”

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

Something people might not know about her is…
“I have been skydiving.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“Time management and commitment, especially when it comes to twirling in college.”

The most memorable advice from her coach…
“To practice like you are going to perform so you have that muscle memory and there's no surprises when you get out on the floor/field.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers…
“Video everything and take as many opportunities as you can to twirl in front of an audience.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“When she was competing in duet with her duet partner and on one of our exchanges we both hit the ceiling and both our batons went flying in different directions and we couldn’t stop laughing including the judge so we had to salute and just end our routine.”

What is her favorite thing about her  school? 
“One thing I love about my school is the warm weather year round and all of the mountains and hiking locations in Tucson. Twirling wise I love the appreciation our school has for twirling, like letting us twirl the entirety of football games on the sidelines, and letting us twirl at every basketball game.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“Getting to perform and/or practice in Casino Del Sol Stadium 4+ times a week.”

We want to thank the Arizona Twirlers for sharing their Game Day with us, and we enjoyed learning more about them. Have a great rest of your season. Bear Down!

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.