Friday Night Lights Feature - Grand Oaks High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

September is coming to an end, but the field twirlers are still shining bright! Can you believe it will be October in only a few days? Speaking of Fall, let’s learn more about this amazing twirler and how much this season means to her!

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

This season’s first 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, and is also one of the biggest high schools in Texas with over 4,000 students. It is also home to Team USA member and Grand Oaks High School Feature Twirler, Lily Easterwood!

With a school that huge, we wanted to know how Lily was able to earn her spot on the field. “If there is an athlete interested in the position, they reach out to the color guard director and she decides if they are fit for the spot.” Thankfully the colorguard director and band director at GOHS loved Lily and thought she was such a great fit for their program that she is actually incorporated into the band's competitive marching show! You know we love to see it! 

Being a big part of the band’s show and a very visible part of the High School’s spirit organizations, we asked Lily what her favorite part about attending GOHS was, and she said she loves all of it. “I love how supportive the students are and our campus is beautiful!”

Another thing Lily loves are all of the GOHS traditions, but she says the “parade of champions” is the best one. “Every few weeks we have a “parade of champions” during first period. It’s like a mini pep rally to recognize any sport’s/club’s recent success!” 

Even the band has its own traditions, and let’s just say when it is your birthday you get a special surprise. “When it’s someone’s birthday at rehearsal, we stay after and pour whatever water we have left on their head!”

Finally we wanted to know what Lily is looking forward to the most this season, and she told us the band competitions are the best. “I can’t wait to travel to band competitions and hear the crowds during performances!”

Now that we have learned more about twirling at Grand Oaks, let’s learn more about Lily!

Lily Easterwood, Sophomore
Lily is an Elite level competitor that has been twirling for eight years. She is a member of the Mickey's Majorettes and she is coached by Kayli Mickey-McIntosh and Patti Mickey. The competition placement she is the proudest of earning was being named the 2025 IBTF Junior A 3 baton silver medalist/ Her favorite twirling tricks are anything with 3 or 4 batons! In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Carissa Wolfe. After High School, she hopes to twirl for a university while studying medicine to become an anesthesiologist. 

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Orange
Favorite TV Show, Movie, and/or Book – Corpse Bride & Coraline (Movies), Grey’s Anatomy (Show), and “The Silent Patient” (Book)

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Built bars and a Ghost (Welches Grape) energy drink.”

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“Losers focus on winners, winners focus on winning.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Teach Sunday School, play sudoku, read, and do puzzles and diamond paintings!”

Something people might not know about her…
“I am ranked 3rd in my high school class out of over 1000 kids.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“Time management and work ethic.”

The most memorable advice from her coach…
“Breath, and trust your training.”

Advice to future high school twirlers…
“Don’t be afraid to perform with facials! It’s never embarrassing to have fun and it makes your performance more entertaining!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“I love Autumn, so when I’m stressed during a routine, my coach yells out random fall words. I’ll be mid-trick and hear ‘pumpkin!’ ‘Flannel!’ ‘Football!’”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“The adrenaline of performing in front of the student section!”

We want to thank Lily for sharing her Game Day with us. We hope she has an amazing time this season, and has an Autumn filled with all the pumpkins, flannel, and football! 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.

Collegiate Twirler Spotlight - University of Texas Feature Twirler

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

The end of September is here, fall has arrived, and the collegiate twirlers are bringing the sparkle and shine each weekend. We loved following this twirler and her Game Day last weekend, and we know you will enjoy learning more about this South Carolina girl turned #TeamTexas 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 the University of Texas Feature Twirler!

Photo credits to Ralph Arvesen

The University of Texas (aka the BEST UT!), is located in Austin, Texas, and is currently home of the #1 Football Team in the country! Hook Em! It is also the home of the sweet and talented University of Texas Feature Twirler, Gracie Williams! 

Gracie joins an amazing legacy of Longhorn Feature Twirlers. “I’m the 35th Feature Twirler at the University of Texas!” The Longhorn Feature Twirler is front and center on UT Game Days and has so many amazing performance opportunities. “One of my favorite parts of my position is getting to perform to “Wabash” during the third quarter of football games and being part of all the fun traditions that come with Texas game days!”

We wanted to know the process about how Gracie earned this prestigious position. “Our audition process includes an initial video submission, followed by in-person tryouts and an interview in the Bubble, our indoor practice facility!” These auditions, and all the amazing opportunities Gracie gets throughout the year, are coordinated by UT Feature Twirler #29 and current UT Twirling Coach, Whitney King Coons. 

It is really not a surprise why someone would want to attend UT, but we asked Gracie what brought her to the ATX. “I chose Texas because it really had everything I was looking for in a college! It’s an amazing school academically and athletically, has so many opportunities, and is in such a fun city. Being able to continue twirling while pursuing my academic goals made it the perfect fit for me!”

Being from South Carolina, this decision meant leaving home and going to school out of State. “Coming from a small town in South Carolina, I really wanted to step outside my comfort zone and experience something new! I loved the idea of moving somewhere completely different, meeting new people, and getting to explore a new city. Texas felt like the perfect place to do all of that while still getting the college experience I had always wanted!”

Now that she is in Texas, we wanted to know what the best part is about attending UT, and Gracie said, “Definitely being in Austin! I love that there’s always something to do, whether it’s trying new restaurants and coffee shops, exploring the city, or just finding random things to do with friends. I feel like there’s always something new to experience here!”

Attending a major university like the University of Texas surely comes with great traditions, and Gracie assured us that UT has traditions as big as Texas. “I love Smokey the Cannon and lighting the Tower burnt orange! There’s nothing like hearing the cannon go off after a touchdown or seeing the Tower lit up after a big win!”

Another great thing about twirling at UT is being a part of the Showband of the Southwest! The Longhorn Marching Band marches 400+ members and is a huge part of Game Day. This creates a special bond and their own set of traditions. “After practices, the entire band gathers around the ladder to play “Texas Fight,” and every section has its own fun little traditions they do with their group.”

Finally, with being the #1 Football Team in the Country, there has to be so much to look forward to this season, so we asked Gracie what she is the most excited for, and she told us she is excited for the away games. “Getting to travel with the band and experience game days in different stadiums is so much fun, and I’m especially excited with all the hype surrounding Texas football this season!”

Now that we have learned more about twirling at UT, let’s learn about Gracie!

Gracie Williams, Sophomore
Gracie is an Elite level twirler from Pendleton, South Carolina, who is majoring in Kinesiology. She has been twirling for 13 years as a member of the Carolina Superstars, and is coached by Hazel Cartee. The competition titles she is the proudest of winning include the 2023 Junior Nations Cup X-Strut Champion, 2024 Senior Congressional Cup Twirl-Off Champion, and 2026 Senior Miss Majorette of the Southwest. Her favorite twirling trick is a reverse horizontal 4 spin, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Ally Duda and Steffany Lien. After college she hopes to attend physical therapy school and become a pediatric physical therapist, “with the long-term goal of opening my own pediatric PT clinic!”

Favorites!
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite TV Show: Austin and Ally
Favorite Movie: The Proposal
Favorite Book: Postcards from Summer

Must-Have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Cheez-Its, GoGo squeeZ, and Gatorade!”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“You must either modify your dreams or magnify your skills.” — Jim Rohn

When she is not twirling, she loves to…
“I love just spending time with friends whether it’s exploring Austin, trying new coffee shops and restaurants, finding fun little adventures to go on, or just hanging out!”

Something people might not know about her is…
“I have an older brother and sister!”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“Definitely time management! Between school, practices, performances, competitions, and everything else going on, twirling has taught me how to balance a busy schedule and make time for the things that are important to me. It’s also taught me a lot about being responsible and staying committed to something even when things get busy!”

The most memorable advice from her coach…
“Mrs. Hazel has always reminded me that at the end of the day, twirling isn’t just about winning titles or being the best. It’s about being a good person, being someone others can look up to, and being the best version of yourself both on and off the floor. I think that’s something that has really stuck with me throughout my twirling career because there’s so much more to this sport than just the competition side of it!

Advice for future collegiate twirlers…
“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and go after what you want! Also you’ll end up at the place that’s meant for you! Collegiate twirling is such a unique experience, and it’s so much more than just performing on the field. The friendships, opportunities, and memories that come with it are some of the best parts. Enjoy every second of it, because getting to represent your university doing something you love is such a special experience!”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Honestly, some of my funniest memories are just from being at twirling camps with my friends! Between all the random things that happen during practices and the time spent together outside of twirling, there’s never a dull moment. Some of my favorite memories from this sport have come from those friendships and all the little moments in between!”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“Definitely game days and getting to be on the field with the Longhorn Band! There’s nothing like the energy of DKR on a Saturday, and I think I’ll miss everything that comes with it, from early morning rehearsals and getting ready with everyone, to performing in front of thousands of Texas fans. It’s such a fun experience, and the season always goes by way too fast!”

We want to thank Gracie for sharing her Game Day with us, and we wish her and the Longhorns an amazing rest of their season. Hook 'Em Horns!

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 - Vista Ridge High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

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

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 Vista Ridge High School Feature Twirlers!

Photo credit @jasonmoodytx

Vista Ridge High School, located in Cedar Park, Texas, is the home of the Rangers. It is also home to the Vista Ridge Twirlers, Hailey Wood and Annie Addison.

We wanted to know how they earned their twirling positions, and they said it was more about a conversation with the band director. According to Hailey, “the High School band director my freshman year had been my middle school band director, so I had known him for a while. (Fun fact, we actually share the same birthday!) He had followed my twirling through middle school so when it was time to talk about High School we had a conversation about what options might be available. This allowed me to twirl at the 8th grade band night game, where I met the VRHS Principal. He was so excited to have a twirler! With both of their support I twirl on the sidelines and in parades and stadium pep rallies. This year Annie came in as a freshman and is able to join me on the sidelines after halftime.”

One thing about Ranger Nation is that they take their traditions seriously. The one that gets the entire student body involved is when the Marching Band plays SAIL. “At pep rallies and after halftime of every game, the band joins together and plays the song Sail by AWOLNation. All the spirit groups have a dance they do, the student section goes crazy, and the band jumps around and has so much fun. The best part is during the drum break when we all stare at each other and shout out words that rhyme with ‘sail’. Sail, Hail, Rail, Mail...”

With so many games, pep rallies, and even fireworks and a parade for Homecoming, there is a lot to look forward to this season, but the thing both Hailey and Annie are the most excited about is getting to share the sidelines. As Hailey tells us “Annie and I have both been a part of Twirl ATX for many years. We have spent many long days training in the gym together and supporting each other at contests for awhile, so it is very fun to get to put that on the field. It is so great to be able to cheer each other on!”

Now that we have learned more about twirling at VRHS, let’s learn more about Hailey & Annie!

Hailey Wood, Sophomore
Hailey is an Elite level competitor that has been twirling since she was four years old. She is a member of the Mickey’s Majorettes, where she is coached by Kayli Mickey-McIntosh, Patti Mickey, and Tori Elyea, as well as being a junior coach for Twirl ATX and a member of the Ambition Baton Club for team. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was being named the 2025 NBTA Junior Grand National Twirling Champion. “It was truly a dream come true!” She is also proud to be a 3x member of Team USA and looks forward to competing in England this coming summer. Her favorite twirling tricks are illusion walkovers and  “all the rolls!” In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Emily (Perkins) Lisenby and Savannah Miller. After High School, she hopes to major in graphic design and hopefully be able to represent a University as a collegiate twirler. 

Favorites
Favorite Color – Cinderella Blue
Favorite Movie/TV Show/Book – “Spiderman: Far From Home”, “Project Hail Mary” (movie & book), and “Danny Phantom”

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink… 
"Clif BLOKS, grape Gatorade, and Z Bars."

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“Treat every day like Elle Woods after after Warner told her that she wasn’t smart enough for law school.”
 
When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Do Asiatic Instinctive Archery, write poetry, and do Diamond Art.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I have a thing called POTS. Basically the autonomic system that manages the flow of blood from my heart to my brain doesn’t do its job all the time, which can leave me dizzy and nauseous. This has been a big challenge as a baton twirler, but thankfully with the help of my neurologist we have found ways to improve my symptoms and keep me twirling safely!”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“Pain tolerance! (JK). It has taught me how to be able to carry myself with confidence.” 

The most memorable advice from her coach…
“Think about the positives before the negatives.”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Game days are loud (especially the band and student section) and often chaotic, but just make sure to have fun and enjoy the experience. Also, say hi and get to know the sidelines photographers. They take wonderful photos!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“It wasn’t funny at the time, but now it is a great story. The night before I won Junior Grands at AYOP in 2025 I dislocated my rib during solo offs. I competed in Grands not knowing the pain was a rib dislocation, and still won the Grands title! I always tell myself if I can do that, I can do anything!”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“Getting to cheer on and being cheered on by the VRHS Band and Colorguard. Love y’all!”

Annie Addison, Freshman
Annie is an Intermediate level competitor that has been twirling for six years. She is a member of the Twirl ATX, where she is coached by Whitney Coons, as well as Jassandra Sadler and Ashley Wood. The competition placement she is the proudest of earning was being named the 2025 Beginner Preteen Texas State Pageant Winner. Her favorite twirling tricks are fishtails and toss front walkovers. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Annetta Lucero. After high school, she hopes to be a feature twirler at a college/university and study to become an elementary school teacher. 

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Purple
Favorite TV Show, Movie, or Book – Fruits Basket

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Orange Gatorade”

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“Always be kind, the smallest smile could make someone’s day better.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to…
“Watch anime and play the french horn.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I can recognize and name all the flags of the world.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“The ability to never give up and commit to something even though it can be hard.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“It was the Regionals competition in 2023 and I was having a tough time with my back neck rolls, so I was really frustrated at myself.  My regional solo did not go well and I started to cry as I came off the floor. Coach Whitney pulled me aside and said that “It’s okay. It’s just twirling. It’s supposed to be fun!” I really cherish that moment because it was the day that I realized twirling wasn’t just about being the best and being perfect, it’s also about having fun and just enjoying yourself in the moment. I went on to win my open solo at regionals that year because of the small sweet words she gave me that day.”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Whenever you get out on the turf or sideline, have a big smile and just have fun with it. Toss the baton high and show the people what you got.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“At a fourth of July parade my baton was slippery because it was raining really hard and I was marching as well while twirling in the rain. I did a high toss and it slipped out of my hand and flew into the crowd, which they threw back to me. I laughed but felt terrible since I was worried I could have hurt someone!”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“Being able to perform for my school and also cheering on my team. It’s a very fun time!”


Thank you to Hailey & Annie for sharing their game day with us. We wish them the very best rest of their season, and we know they will continue to shine together. Go Ranger Nation!

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 - Kansas State Feature Twirlers

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

What a great weekend of College Football. Many great moments, including some awesome field twirling. We loved getting to follow along with these Twirlers as they took over our Instastory on Saturday, and now we are excited to have them as this week’s Collegiate Twirler Spotlight.

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

Our next Collegiate Twirler Spotlight is on the Kansas State University Feature Twirlers!

Kansas State University, located in Manhattan, Kansas, is the home of the K-State Wildcats, and the nation's first operational land-grant university! K-State is also known for its strong school spirit and the close-knit community in Manhattan, which is often called the “Little Apple.” Additionally, on Game Days in Manhattan you can find three amazing twirlers! “Each twirler is given a title that relates back to a long-time tradition within the twirling program as well as colors the twirler wears specific to their title!” For the 2026-27 Season the Kansas State Twirlers include Wildcat Twirler, Allie Phillips; Feature Twirler Kaylee Brungardt; and K State Twirler, Abigail Marquisse!

With the support from their twirling coordinator that they say, “helps us with everything we need”, these twirlers had to work hard to earn their spots. “The K-State Feature Twirler audition is a competitive process where twirlers showcase their skills, tricks, choreography, and ability to perform. The audition focuses not only on technical ability but also on performance quality, confidence, showmanship, and how well the twirler represents the spirit and pride of K-State. Auditions go through a series of group routines as well as individual routines and an interview.”

With a competition audition process to get through, we wanted to know what it was about K-State that made them choose to come to Manhattan. As Allie tells us, “I chose K-State because being a collegiate twirler had always been a dream of mine, and I knew I wanted to be part of the Big 12. Big 12 football is amazing, and I wanted the opportunity to experience that atmosphere while continuing to twirl at the collegiate level. The first time I toured K-State, I immediately fell in love with the campus and the sense of community. Game days here are truly like no other, and there is something so special about being able to perform in front of the K-State crowd. It really is “Manhappiness.” Academically, K-State was also a great fit for all of us with amazing programs that offered us a path to pursue our dreams academically
as well.”

Being from Colorado, and a #TeamTexas transplant, choosing K-State meant going out of state again! We asked Allie how she made this decision. “I wanted to experience something new and challenge myself by going out of state for college. K-State gave me the perfect opportunity to have new experiences, meet new people, and become more independent while still being close enough to Colorado that I could drive home when I wanted to. It gave me the best of both worlds being able to experience life somewhere new while still having home within driving distance.”

Now that Allie has been at K-State a couple years, we wanted to know what her favorite part of attending the university was, and she told us that “I love the K-State campus! The architecture makes it feel almost like a castle, which makes campus so beautiful and unique. More than anything, though, I love how close knit the K-State community is. Even though K-State is a large university, it has a small-school feel where people genuinely care about one another. That sense of community is one of the things that made K-State feel like home.”

With such great spirit and so many traditions, we wanted to know which one Allie enjoyed the most. “The Wabash Cannonball is definitely my favorite tradition. The entire stadium gets involved, and it creates such an incredible game-day atmosphere. Being on the field and seeing thousands of K-State fans participate together is something that never gets old. It really shows how much school spirit and pride there is at K-State.”

There is also a lot of pride to be found as a member of the K-State Pride of Wildcat Land Band!  “One of my favorite band traditions is King of the Hill. The drum majors and twirlers march through the band and do a funny six-count while trying to keep a completely straight face. Meanwhile, the entire band tries to make you laugh or break character. It is always hilarious and is one of those traditions that brings the whole band together.”

Finally, we wanted to know what Allie was most looking forward to this season, and she told us she is happy to be a part of the future of K-State. “I am most looking forward to being part of a new era. There is a lot of exciting change happening with our football team and new additions to K-State, which makes this season especially exciting. I can't wait to watch everything come together and have the opportunity to support what I truly believe is the best football team!”

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

Allie Phillips, Wildcat Twirler
Allie is a Junior from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and is majoring in Athletic Training and Rehabilitation Sciences — Pre-Physical Therapy, with a Kinesiology Minor. She has been twirling for 14 years and is a member of the Texas Touch of Class where she is coached by Sheila Payne Rigelsky. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was when she was named the Senior Miss Majorette of Colorado in 2024. Her favorite twirling tricks include any multiple-baton tricks, but she especially loves four-baton with variety catches! In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by former Purdue Golden Girl, Amanda Coy. After college, she hopes to attend physical therapy school and become a sports physical therapist.

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Navy

Favorite TV Show, Movie, and/or Book – Grey's Anatomy

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

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“Your normal day is someone's dream, so be thankful every day.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to... 
“Hang out with friends, go to the gym, or grab a coffee.”

Something people might not know about her... 
“She competed at Miss Teen Volunteer America, representing Colorado.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is... 
“Learning how to manage my time and prioritize what is most important. Balancing school, twirling, and everything else has taught me how to stay organized and make the most of my time.”

The most memorable advice from her coach... 
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers... 
“Enjoy every second of it. Collegiate twirling is such a unique opportunity, and it goes by much faster than you think. Don't put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect. Focus on enjoying performing, making memories, and representing your school with pride. Also, don't be afraid
to put yourself out there and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler... 
“Last year's final game of the season is definitely one I can laugh about now. It was so cold, and there was so much wind and snow. I remember thinking, ‘This is crazy!’ But at the same time, it was so much fun. There was really nothing we could do except laugh while the snow and freezing wind were blowing directly in our faces. It was definitely one of those moments that was miserable in the moment but became such a fun memory afterward.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“Performing in front of the K-State crowd and the energy of game days. I will also miss spending so much time with the band and the other twirlers. There is something really special about being on the field, hearing the crowd, and knowing that you are representing K-State. Those game day moments and the memories we make together are something I will miss the most.”

Kaylee Brungardt, Feature Twirler
Kaylee is a 5th year student from Lenexa, Kansas, who is majoring in Chemical Engineering and seeking a Master of Business Administration. She has been twirling for 15 years, and the competition title she is the proudest of earning was being a Gold Medalist in the Adult A X-Strut representing Team USA in Italy in the Summer of 2025. Her favorite twirling tricks include toss illusion walkovers and anything two-baton. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Douglas Daniels. After college, she hopes to work full time as a process engineer and earn her judging license for baton twirling.

Favorites!

Favorite Color - Light blue
Favorite TV Show, Movie, and/or Book - The Midnight Library

Must-Have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Fruit snacks and Cheez-Its.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“‘You’ve got this.’ I say this to myself every time I take the floor or perform.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to…
“Run, read, and wakeboard.”

Something people might not know about her…
“I enjoy running with friends and hope to complete a half marathon.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“Learning how to stay disciplined both physically and mentally while balancing a busy schedule and staying organized.”

The most memorable advice from her coach…
“Trust your training.”

Advice to future collegiate twirlers…
“Enjoy every performance and take advantage of every opportunity. The seasons go by faster than you think!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Breaking her arm a few days before a state competition and still competing her solo with her non-dominant hand.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“Performing in front of a packed stadium on game days and getting to be part of all the gameday traditions that make K-State football so special.”

Abby Marquissee, K-State Twirler
Abby is a Freshman from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, who is majoring in Kinesiology. She has been twirling for 15 years and is a member of Julie’s Touch of Silver where she is coached by Julie Seckar-Anderson, Lacey Sleik, and Whittney Wara.” The competition title she is the proudest of earning was the 2023 Gold medal in Parade Corps and Silver medal in twirling corps at Worlds. Her favorite twirling tricks include 4 spins and toss front walkovers. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by all collegiate twirlers! After college, she hopes to travel to new places.

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Pink
Favorite TV Show: Grey’s Anatomy

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Strawberry Açaí and plain bagel with cream cheese from Starbucks.”

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

When she is not twirling, she loves to... 
“Hang out with her friends and find new places to visit!”

Something people might not know about her... 
“I love to cook and bake!”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is...
“Teamwork and communication.”

The most memorable advice from her coach... 
“Always push yourself to be better in any aspect of your life and work to be the best version of yourself.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers... 
“Be yourself in every performance and take every moment in!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler... 
“I once made up a word in a modeling interview, and it became a joke to use it in sentences with my team!”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“Getting to see my new family almost every day!”



We really enjoyed following these Kansas State Twirlers on their Game Day adventure, and we wish Allie, Kaylee, and Abby a wonderful rest of their football season. EMAW!

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 - Whitehouse High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

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

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 Whitehouse High School Twirlers!

Whitehouse High School, located in Whitehouse, Texas, is the home of the Wildcats and a pretty well known name from football game days. No, we are not talking about THE Super Bowl winning quarterback, Patrick Mahomes (although he did attend Whitehouse HS where he played football and baseball). We are talking about the awesome Whitehouse High School Twirlers! This year the WHS Twirlers include Seniors Addison Gray & Captain Heidi Jensen; Juniors Jamie Braswell, Kyla Roberts, & Makenzie Tucker; Sophomores Gracie Hatchett, Baylee Mata, & Kimberlynn Underwood; and Freshman Makynzie Cliborn, Trinity Sanchez, & Makenzie Tucker!

Led by WHS Twirling Coach & Band Director, BreiAnn Gee, a fun fact about the Whitehouse Twirlers is that they are all in band! “Our band is a military marching band so we also march as majorettes.” How did they earn their positions? “Our audition process is in three parts. First, we do fundamental tricks. Then we do a routine in groups of around 4 after learning it either that morning or that week. Then we perform a solo with our choice of music and choreography that we learn on our own or with a private coach.”

Earning one of these positions adds a level of spirit to their twirling, and they love to be a part of it. “Our school is super spirited. Everyone dresses up for the themes and attends the football games. Also, the student section is called The Jungle!” In addition to the school spirit, WHS has a lot of spirit within their band. “The band is like a family!”

It isn’t all about games and themes though for the WHS Twirlers. One of their favorite things about going to WHS is the opportunities the school provides. “We have lots of opportunities for shadowing people in whatever field we plan on working in when we graduate. And there are a lot of certifications you are able to get from those pathways, all provided by the school!”

With all that school spirit and support, we had to know what the best traditions are at WHS, and they gave us a whole list! From the student section at football games, performing a routine with one of their parents during the Pink Out game 4th quarter, the Homecoming bonfire where the twirlers all twirl fire, and decorating the school for homecoming, to doing a combined routine with our Junior High Majorettes and the inside jokes within the band, these twirlers are enjoying life at WHS!

You know we all love a good band inside joke, so we had to hear more about that. “The upperclassmen will tell freshman band students that there are boy and girl shakos and tell them they picked the wrong one! They also freak the freshmen out during the UIL marching comp saying that select freshmen are called back to do the drill by themselves. Everyone gets a good laugh!” Even the twirlers have their own little traditions. “Before every half time performance the majorettes pray together, do 10 jumps, and a spin to get the nerves out!”

Finally, we asked what they were most looking forward to this season, and it was for sure their HOMECOMING week, and of course Senior Night to celebrate their seniors!

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

Heidi Jensen, Senior Captain
Heidi has been twirling for 7 years. The competition placements she is the proudest of earning was qualifying for state solo and ensemble. Her favorite twirling trick is elbow roll variations , and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her friend Ruby. “She doesn’t twirl, but she’s inspiring.” After High School, she plans to go on a mission trip for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints. “My relationship with Christ has helped me get through so many hard moments, so I want to help others learn of Him and be able to experience that too!”

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Blue
Favorite TV Show, Movie, and/or Book – Pride and Prejudice

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
Luke 12:27-28

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Watch movies and sleep!”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I always have seasoning in my bag so I don’t have to eat bland food. I was also on the UIL literacy criticism team that won the 2026 State Championship.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“I’ve learned how to keep pushing, even when you’re discouraged and in pain from all the times you’ve not caught a trick! Resilience!”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Think of marching drills like a routine!”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Listen to your band directors and coaches, they know what they’re doing, or at least mine do! So don’t be stubborn and get it done!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“When Jamie was doing her 4th quarter pass offs and slipped and fell at the very beginning of her routine.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“The energy when you do good on a routine, then good on your marching drill, drink a Dr. Pepper during 3rd quarter, and then get up in the stands for the 4th quarter and have lots of fun as a team. That’s hard to beat!”

Addison Gray, Senior
Addie has been twirling for 5 years. The competition placement she is the proudest of was  qualifying for State Solo and Ensemble. Her favorite twirling trick is doing different toss jumps, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her Mom. After High School, she hopes to go to college and play college Tennis and major in Marine Biology.”

Favorites!
Favorite Color –Light Purple
Favorite TV Show, Movie, and/or Book – Meg Movies and Gilmore Girls

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“The comeback is greater than the setback.”

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

Something people might not know about her… 
“I was supposed to be a triplet.”

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

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“You can do it! Just throw the baton.”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Be confident, don't be scared to throw the trick.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“When Jamie fell during 4th quarter pass offs.”

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

Jamie Braswell, Junior
Jamie competes at the Novice level for NBTA and Ruby for TPU. She has been twirling for 5 years, and is a member of Twirl Revolutions where she is coached by Jeri Coke and Rachel Cheatham. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was earning 1st place in multi baton dance twirl 3 times at TPU! Her favorite twirling trick is a toss leap, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her parents. “They are always there to support me!” After High School, she hopes to attend college and get certified to become an occupational therapist, “and maybe be a feature twirler!”

Favorites!
Favorite Color –Pink
Favorite TV Show, Movie, and/or Book – The Greatest Showman

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“‘Trust the process’ - Progress doesn’t always happen as quickly as you want, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t improving.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Listen to my favorite music groups, Facetime my friends and play games!”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I listen to Kpop!”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“Learning discipline and time management! Twirling has taught me how to stay committed to something even when I’m tired, frustrated, or don’t get it right the first time.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Even though the sport may hurt you at times, It’s your ability to have confidence that makes you stronger and it helps you push through to become the best twirler you can be.”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Enjoy every moment because it goes by SO fast. Don't be afraid to make mistakes! One of your best memories will come from the moments that don’t go perfectly. Support your teammates, work hard, and remember why you started twirling in the first place!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Me and my best friend Kyla stayed up all night during SFA twirling camp to learn footloose just for us to forget it in the morning!”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“I will miss the football games where we all just get to dance and have fun making the most of our time here. It’s truly just a big family and I couldn’t be more happy to spend my high school days with these girls twirling and living the best life during football season!”

Kyla Roberts, Junior
Kyla competes at the Beginner level for NBTA and Ruby for TPU. She has been twirling for 5 years, and is a member of Twirl Revolutions, where she is coached by Jeri Coke. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was winning the 2026 TPU Circle of Champions Junior Top Twirler Grand Champion. Her favorite twirling tricks are angel Rolls and 3 baton stacks, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Mrs. Coke. “She’s such an icon!” After High School, she hopes to attend college and twirl.

Favorites!
Favorite Color –all of them!
Favorite TV Show, Movie, and/or Book – Outer Banks

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“Attitude is everything.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Play piano or hang out with friends.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I have 2 different colored eyes.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“Working well with people I may not get along with.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Fix your face.”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Ask for help if needed and practice!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“I got a bloody nose during pre game on the field from whacking myself in the face during a horizontal spin and had to keep performing! And Kimber Poppins.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“Football games and twirling on the field with my team.”

Makenzie Tucker, Junior
Makenzie is an Emerald (TPU) level twirler that has been twirling for 3 years. She is coached by Abby Staffod. Her favorite twirling trick is a toss catch in an illusion, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Abby Staffod. “She is an amazing twirler and is always supportive and kind!” After High School, she hopes to hopefully attend Texas A&M University and pursue a degree in Nursing.

Favorites!
Favorite Color –Pink
Favorite TV Show, Movie, and/or Book – Dance Moms

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
Matthew 6:34 CSB “Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Swim, Golf, study, doomscroll, or volunteer for clubs.”

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

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“Do not give up when things get hard!”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Take lessons early!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Having to wear old uniforms for pictures because our new ones weren’t in yet. They didn’t fit anyone so we had to scrunch them up in the back with hair ties.”

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

Gracie Hatchett, Sophomore
Gracie is an Emerald (TPU) level twirler that has been twirling for 7 years. She is a member of Twirl Revolutions and she is coached by Jeri Coke and Ainsley McDonald. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was qualifying as a 2026 TPU Top Twirler. Her favorite twirling trick is a toss front walkover, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Ainsley McDonald. After High School, she hopes to continue to teach twirling and own a coffee shop.

Favorites!
Favorite Color –Dark Green
Favorite TV Show, Movie, and/or Book – Tangled

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“Your next move matters more than your last mistake.”

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

Something people might not know about her… 
“I have freckles in the whites of my eyes.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“Learning to be patient.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Don’t be ashamed of your mistakes, just be proud you tried.”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Don’t overstress yourself! Just practice!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“The memes the team makes from the bad FNL pictures.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“Twirling with my close friends.”

Baylee Mata, Sophomore
Baylee has been twirling for 4 years and she is coached by Chloe Rothrock and Mrs. Rachel.
Her favorite twirling trick is little joe flips, “fast and easy!” In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Chloe Rothrock. After High School, she hopes to go to medical school and get a masters degree to become a nurse practitioner.

Favorites!
Favorite Color –Pink
Favorite TV Show, Movie, and/or Book – Spiderman

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto...
“Everything happens for a reason.” & “Trust the process.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Do marching or schoolwork.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I am really good at drawing.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“How to be immune to pain.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Don’t say you can’t do it; believe in yourself!”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Don’t slack off!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Finding the funniest photos of each other on Jim Jackson’s page.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“The nice cool crisp weather and that adrenaline rush from performing.”

Kimberlynn Underwood, Sophomore
Kimber has been twirling for 4 years. Her favorite twirling trick is a Toss Bow, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Avery McGraw. “She is a fantastic twirler!” After High School, she hopes to go to college to be a labor and delivery nurse.”

Favorites!
Favorite Color –Green
Favorite TV Show, Movie, and/or Book – The Sandlot

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
Corinthians 16:14 “Let all you do be done in love”

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

Something people might not know about her… 
“I was born on Mother’s Day!”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Get out of your head” & “Stop thinking so much”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Self confidence is huge! One mistake won’t ruin your entire future.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Painting pumpkins at our Halloween party.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“Friday Night Lights!”

Makynzie Cliborn, Freshman
Makynzie has been twirling for 4 years and she is coached by Hannah Coin. Her favorite twirling trick is a two turn, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Abigail Stafford, Avery McGraw, and Callie Simmons. After High School, she hopes to attend college. “Maybe A&M. I’m still looking at all my options right now.”

Favorites!
Favorite Color –Purple
Favorite TV Show, Movie, and/or Book – Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Hamilton, Once Upon a Time, & Catching Fire.

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“Whether you think you can, or you can’t; You’re right.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Read, sleep, drink coffee, watch tv, talk to my sister, do human geography homework, or write.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I’m in the church choir!”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“You’re gonna get hit. It’s going to hurt. But you have to keep trying and can’t be scared of something bad happening again.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“You need to work hard to get where you want to be.”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Take it seriously, listen to Mrs. Gee! Don’t forget that you are on the team because you love to twirl! Go out on the field, twirl, and enjoy it!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Before my first junior high game I dropped the baton on my eye and I started bleeding. The high school captain, Avery McGraw, held a napkin to my face to stop the blood and simply said we were bonding. 7th grade me was miserable, but now it’s funny.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“Marching and performing every Friday night! It’s like getting rid of an adrenaline rush.”

Trinity Sanchez, Freshman
Trinity is an Emerald (TPU) level twirler that has been twirling for two years. She is a member of Twirl Revolutions and she is coached by Jeri Coke and Ainsley Castillo. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was when both her groups and solo made it to the circle of champions for TPU. Her favorite twirling trick is a toss angel, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her coach, Mrs. Coke. After High School, she hopes to go to Baylor so I can be a psychiatric therapist or trauma surgeon. 

Favorites!
Favorite Color –Pink
Favorite TV Show, Movie, and/or Book – Gilmore Girls and Scream

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“The one who falls and gets back up is much stronger than the one who never fell.”

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

Something people might not know about her… 
“Spotify is my most used app.”

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

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Smile!”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Just keep going and don’t overthink!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“Mornings when we are all so tired and just doing random stuff. One time we were pretending to be car dealership blowup guys during band practice.”

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

Callie Simmons, Freshman
Callie has been twirling for four years and is coached by Renetta Gingles. Her favorite twirling trick is a Toss double leap, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Julie Horcheler and Renetta Gingles. After High School, she hopes to go to college to become a lawyer.

Favorites!

Favorite Color –navy
Favorite TV Show, Movie, and/or Book – Dance Moms

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous: do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you may go.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Play my French Horn or read.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I’m a middle child.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“A good work ethic & discipline.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Look where you want to go, and you’ll get there.”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Twirling is MORE than just spinning a stick, and if anyone says otherwise, don’t listen to them!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Taking team pictures at the Rose Garden.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“Marching in the band.”


Thank you to the Whitehouse twirlers for sharing their game day with us. We wish them the very best rest of their season, and we know they will continue to make great memories together.. Go Cats Go!

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.