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.

Friday Night Lights Feature - Liberty Hill High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Band-Tober is here and the first weekend of October Marching Contests are in the books! Every twirler that is a part of their marching band understands that Band-Tober means band, band, and more band all month long! It is an exhausting month, but we all know we love it, especially when it means more Game Day Twirling!

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 Liberty Hill High School Feature Twirler!

Liberty Hill High School is located in Liberty Hill, Texas, and is the home of the Panthers, and a district that lives by their motto of "Building Champions”. “Our football team is known for its Slot T offense where it mostly runs the ball.” This strategy has taken LHHS through many rounds of playoffs, which always makes for a great opportunity for the Liberty Hill High School Feature Twirler, Laurel Scallan!
An interesting fact about LHHS is that education began in Liberty Hill in 1854 in a one-room log cabin. “We are now one of the fastest-growing school districts in Texas, and my class was the first to split up between my high school and the new high school, Legacy Ranch.”

We wanted to know what Laurel did to earn her spot at LHHS and she told us she was able to use her experience to create a position. “I was lucky enough to be able to twirl at my middle school, so when it was time to head to High School, I came to the band director with my ideas and my experiences both as a competitive twirler and as the Liberty Hill MS Feature Twirler. We worked out a plan so that I could march in the band and also twirl in order to keep my position as a member of the Varsity-level Wind Ensemble.”

Being the twirler and in the Varsity Band is a lot of work, but Laurel is happy to do it. “I am the feature twirler, but I also play the flute in our marching band. I have been recognized at a school board meeting the last two years for advancing to the UIL Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest for Twirl Solo, and our band has qualified for the state 5A marching contest for the past three years in a row!”

It is amazing to see the support and opportunities Laurel gets from LHHS, which is one of her favorite things about being a Panther. “Even though I'm in a 5A high school, it still feels like a small town school where I have opportunities to do multiple activities and know a lot of people.”

Small town vibes means lots of great traditions! We asked Laurel which ones were her favorite, and she couldn’t name just one. “We have a chant that the whole school does to a drum cadence called "White Noise." Also, at all of our home football games we have a tailgate where student organizations have booths with free activities, and our Panther Pit Crew (dads who BBQ) awards money to the best booths and also has food available for a donation. The band always stops to perform at the tailgate before entering the stadium for the game. Finally, our football team always walks from the Field House through the home stands to the song "Thunderstruck" to enter the field for its final warm up before the game. It gets everyone excited!”

As a member of a 5A State level marching band, they must have their own fun traditions! As Laurel tells us, theirs is also very sentimental! “Every year after marching season we add a bead to our Panther necklaces, which we earn at the end of our Freshman year. Every year is a different bead that represents the theme of our show and is chosen by our drum majors.”

Finally, we wanted to know what Laurel is the most excited about this season, and she said she cannot wait for the Christmas parade! “I am excited to twirl in our town's Christmas parade which is a night parade with light up floats. I get to twirl my glow baton, and the crowd loves it!”

Now that we have learned more about twirling at Liberty Hill, let’s learn more about Laurel!

Laurel Scallan, Junior
Laurel is an Intermediate level twirler that has been twirling for eight years. She is a member of Twirl ATX where she is on the Diamonds team, and is coached by Whitney King Coons, as well as Ashley Wood and Jassandra Sadler. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was when the Diamonds were named the Beginner Small Senior National Dance Twirl Winners at AYOP in 2025. Her favorite twirling trick is “a really fun roll trick I learned from Adeline Bebo at a camp that is now in almost all of my routines.” In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by former University of Texas Feature Twirler, Erica Kuntz (her first collegiate role model) and most recently, her Twirl ATX teammates & Texas Tech Feature Twirler, Anna Lilie. After high school, she hopes to study aerospace engineering or mechanical engineering with an emphasis in aerospace, and represent her college as a twirler.

Favorites!
Favorite Color – teal
Favorite TV Show/Podcast – Forensic Files! “I started watching it when I'd get ready for competitions in the early morning when not much is on, and now I love it.”

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Water (it is the only thing that is allowed in uniform) and I need it to stay hydrated at our hot games.”

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
"It never gets easier, you just get better."

When she is not twirling, she loves to dance…
“Take dance classes for fun, though they do help with my twirl (and band) performances.”

Something people might not know about her is…
“I am fascinated by space exploration and rockets, and I love engineering. I am the co-president of my school's rocketry team. Last year, as one of the top 100 teams in the nation, we were invited to the national competition outside of Washington, DC. I was also recently accepted into NASA's Texas Aerospace Scholar program, and I am working to receive my Level 1 rocket certification.”

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

The most memorable advice from her coach is ... 
"You can do hard things."

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“My advice to future high school twirlers is to enjoy every moment and to advocate for yourself and for your twirling opportunities because time goes by much faster than you realize.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“After finishing a cute and very sassy competition routine with my very energetic teammates when I was much younger, the announcer said, "well, that was adorable!" as we walked off the court. It had everyone laughing!”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“This year, we have a lot of seniors in our band, many of whom are amazing musicians. I am really going to miss this last football and marching contest season with them.”

We want to thank Laurel for braving the rain to still give us an amazing Instastory Takeover, and we wish her and the Liberty Hill Band an amazing rest of their marching season! Go Panthers!

We hope you have enjoyed this blog post. We are always looking for great new stories about Texas twirlers. Do you have an idea or some information we could use to help highlight our sport? Contact us at texastwirlcontact@gmail.com and we would love to hear more about it. 

Collegiate Twirler Spotlight - Kilgore College Twirlers

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Welcome to “Band-Tober” and all the fun that comes with a month full of marching band, football, and watching those collegiate twirlers rock it on Saturdays. We know today's twirlers did just that this past weekend and we loved following their Game Day experience on the Instastory Takeover.  

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 Kilgore College Twirlers!

Kilgore College, located in Kilgore, Texas, is the home of the Rangers and the East Texas Oil Museum, which tells the story of the 1930s East Texas oil boom and includes a full-scale recreation of an oil boomtown! It is also the home of the twirlers in Blue & White, the Kilgore College Twirlers! This year the KC Twirlers include Feature Twirler - Emelie Enriquez, and Line Twirlers Jayla Foster, Ray Garret, Tyranny Bridges, Cheyanne Currin, & Taylor Hudman.

Led by twirling coach Laney Hearon, we asked how the Kilgore Twirlers earned their positions, so they told us about their audition process. “Candidates meet the morning of auditions to learn a group routine. Once auditions begin, line candidates perform the group routine they learned that morning, along with a variety of multiple-baton tricks. Feature candidates perform a choreographed solo routine that showcases their grace, spirit, and stamina. The audition process allows us to see each candidate’s individual skills, performance ability, and ability to learn and adapt in a group setting.”

We wanted to know what led these twirlers to choose Kilgore College, and while they had many reasons, the academic options were a big factor. “I choose to attend Kilgore college because of the opportunity to attend college while still doing what I love. Also to note the 8-week course
schedule allows me to focus on a smaller class load at a time.”

With the spirit these twirlers have for their school, we had to find out what the best part of attending Kilgore College is, and the campus was a consistent favorite. “My favorite thing about Kilgore college is the campus. Staying on campus has given me a lot of time to explore. I enjoy being outside with my friends, reading and practicing at the park.”

The KCT’s have a great time as a unit, and have developed some fun traditions. “The best tradition to me is our Adopteds. By random we are assigned to a KCT alumni for mentorship and just to help us feel more welcome. My Adopted for my freshman year was Macy, a former feature twirler also! Macy made the whole season feel very special for me. I’m excited to meet whoever I have this year!”

Finally, we asked what they are most looking forward to this season, and it was definitely their time together. “This year I’m looking forward to sharing the field with my amazing teammates and for the opportunity to share what game day is like for us with other twirlers at our Twirler for a day game!”

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

Emelie Enriquez, Sophomore
FEATURE TWIRLER
Emelie is from Lincoln, California, and is majoring in Business Management. She has been twirling for 19 years and is a member of the Ambition Baton Club, a Coach for the Dixie Diamonds Baton Club, and has been coached by Mark Nash, Ella Nash, and currently, Lori Perkins. Her favorite twirling tricks are rolls and toss illusions, and in baton twirling she has been most inspired by Emily Perkins Lisenby and Carissa Wolfe. After college, she hopes to attend a cosmetology program to become a licensed aesthetician and continue coaching.

Favorites!
Favorite Colors – red and pink
Favorite TV Show or Movie – “Elemental” or “How I Met Your Mother”

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Powerade, sour candies, and bananas.”

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“Always winning when you’re having fun.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Hangout with friends, listen to music, and practice yoga.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I love ducks and used to have 4 pet ducks before moving to Texas.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“Patience is a virtue and good things take time and effort.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“‘It doesn’t matter what happens today, just believe in yourself and your training and what’s meant to happen will.’ Competition or game days can be extra stressful and we forget to enjoy it. Trusting in yourself and having the confidence to get the job done is so important.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers…
“Don’t be scared to take up space, be loud, ask questions, and focus on enjoying your time while in school.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Once while at practice all 3 of my batons sporadically got stuck in the building gutters outside. We had to ask for help from the rec center employees to bring a ladder.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“I’ll miss our home game wins! We perform the fight song at the very end of the game and our school song on the field with all of the players and cheer celebrating our win together!”

Jayla Foster, Sophomore
Jayla is from New London, Texas, and is majoring in early childhood education. She has been twirling for 10 years, and is coached by Laney Hearon with the KCTs. Her favorite twirling trick is a toss illusion, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Briyanna Blalock. After college she hopes to become an elementary school teacher.

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Pink
Favorite TV Show, Book, or Movie – “Miss Congeniality” and “The Summer I Turned Pretty”

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

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.” - Maya Angelou

When she is not twirling, she loves to…
“Go on walks , bake, and build legos.”

Something people might not know about her…
“I played tuba for 7 years.”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“Don’t compare yourself to others, just do your best!”

The most memorable advice from her coach…
“Stop overthinking everything!”

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

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Probably when I was doing my first solo and I forgot the whole thing I thought my whole world was over but now it just makes me laugh.”

What will she miss the most when football season is over?
“Doing the fight song and celebrating with my team mates after winning a game.”

Ray Garrett, Sophomore
Ray is from Liberty City, Texas, and is majoring in English. She has been twirling for 9 years and is a member of KCT where she is coached by Laney Hearon. Her favorite twirling tricks include rolls, back hand one turn catch back hand, and most two baton tricks. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by “my best friend Brooklyn Maxwell, who is now a Feature Twirler at Texas State University.” After college, she hopes to become an esthetician.”

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Green
Favorite Show – The Walking Dead
Favorite Movie – 2016 TMNT
Favorite Book – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Root Beer!”

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“I do not exist to impress the world, I exist to live my life in a way that will make me happy.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Play video games or read.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I enjoy poetry and often read it in my free time! William Blake is my favorite.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“Learning that criticism is not always bad and just because someone is giving me criticism does not mean they hate me.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“It’s okay to not immediately catch a trick! Trying and practicing shows your dedication.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“Pulling my hamstring from hitting the splits!”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“Not the practices in 5 million degree weather. I’ll miss being silly and getting ready together with
all the girls. We’re all very close.”

Tyranny Bridges, Sophomore
Tyranny is from Tatum, Texas, and is majoring in Business. She has been twirling for 9 years, and is a member of KCT where she is coached by Laney Hearon. Her favorite twirling tricks are Toss Cartwheels, Toss Illusions, and Leaps, and in baton twirling she has been most inspired by Marisha George. After college, she hopes to become a therapist or psychologist.

Favorites!
Favorite Color - Blue
Favorite TV Show – Ted Lasso

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

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“Be curious not judgmental” -Ted Lasso

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Read, blast music, and go dancing.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I enjoy writing poetry.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“Knowing that sometimes you need a break, but also understanding that taking a break does not mean you have to quit.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Just because you don’t THINK you’re good enough, there’s a bunch of people who KNOW you’re more than good enough.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“Don’t give up on yourself before you have the chance to achieve your dreams. Obstacles don’t mean failure, they give you the chance to grow as a person and a twirler.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“Completely messing up our tryout routine, but feeling so comfortable and confident that day that I just laughed through it. That was when our “team” felt more like a family than anything else!!”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“Getting to see my girls everyday, getting wayyy too involved with the game and yelling at the players, and getting to twirl to our amazing Ranger Band.”

Cheyanne Currin, Freshman
Cheyanne is from Mount Enterprise, Texas, and is majoring in Early Childhood Education. She has been twirling for 10 years and is a member of KCT where she is coached by Laney Hearon. Her favorite twirling trick is a toss illusion, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by KCT Feature Twirler, Emilie, “because even with me being hurt she still helps me stay on track with my twirling.” After college, she hopes to become an elementary teacher and then get her degree in child psychology so she can do cps work.

Favorites!
Favorite Color – Pink
Favorite TV Show, Movie, or Book – “Winnie the Pooh”

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Coca Cola & gummies.”

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“You can have a bad day today but tomorrow is always a new day.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Paint, bake sweets, go fishing, & ride four wheelers.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I’ve been to state 4 times with twirling.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“To breath, calm down, and keep trying.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Keep working at it, you're almost there.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers…
“Show up, try and show off how talented you are. Even if you drop, keep smiling! It’s going to be ok.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“When I was at individual practice and I was doing a new trick and my baton got stuck on the roof and I sat there trying to look up and find it for 20 minutes.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“I will definitely miss the late night games. Just being here with all these twirling you see how close a bond can get. I'm gonna miss my twirl sisters that includes everyone. I can’t wait to see we’re everyone goes from here.”

Taylor Hudman, Freshman
Taylor is from Kilgore, Texas, and is majoring in Radiology. She has been twirling for 7 years. Her favorite twirling tricks are toss cartwheels or toss illusions, and in baton twirling she has been most inspired by failing. After college she hopes to become a radiologist. 

Favorites!
Favorite Colors –blue / pink
Favorite TV Show or Movie – Barbie

Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Red Bull or yellow Gatorade and M&Ms.”

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“Let them watch you succeed.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Hang out with friends and look at houses I am not going to buy.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I don’t like hugs or being touched.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“Multitasking and remembering things.”

The most memorable advice from her coach…
“Toss straight up, not out.”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“Keep going even when you want to quit or when you drop over and over. Just keep going.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“When I caught my two-turn at a game for the first time and I started jumping up and down.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“I will miss us all laughing and singing when getting ready or us all complaining about the heat when we’re fine and the band kids are dying!”


We want to thank the Kilgore Twirlers for sharing their day with us, and we wish them an amazing rest of their fall season. Rack ‘Em!

We hope you have enjoyed this blog post. We are always looking for great new stories about Texas twirlers. Do you have an idea or some information we could use to help highlight our sport? Contact us at texastwirlcontact@gmail.com and we would love to hear more about it.

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.