Friday Night Lights Feature - Reagan High School Twirlers

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Have you checked the contest calendar recently? All of the dates for the upcoming season have been submitted. Want to check those out so you can start planning your contest schedule? Visit texastwirl.com/contests.html. It is going to be a great competition season!

Now, lets get back to our favorite time of year, football season! This week for our Friday Night Lights Feature, we are down in San Antonio meeting the twirlers from Ronald Reagan High School – Ashlyn Morris, Lily See, and Halle Burton!

In order to be a Ronald Reagan Feature Twirler, these ladies must re-audtion every year. Tryouts include an interview, doing the fight song, and a routine of their choice that usually includes 1, 2, and 3 baton. This process is fully worth it to these twirlers, as they love being a part of the Reagan community.

From being able to lead the band on the field during the halftime show, to spending time with each other every day, these three twirlers find lots of joy in their organization. "Being in each other's company always makes our day better". One of their favorite traditions in the band helps them to find this joy, even when things get hard. "Before each competition, each section gets in a circle. We go around saying our favorite memories from band and we encourage each other. This gets us mentally prepared". 

Not only has twirling in high school been a great experience for them, they all attribute field twirling with improving their confidence in everything they do, even off the field or competition floor. What advice do they have for twirlers wanting to one day twirl in High School? Of course discipline and hard work. "Keep practicing, and know that there is a huge payoff for twirling for your high school". That there is!

Lets take a moment and meet each of these three Rattler Twirlers...

Ashlyn Morris, Senior, Competition Level: Beginner

Ashlyn has been twirling for 9 years with Coach Pat Montgomery. She is the most proud of winning her 2017 Texas State X-Strut. Her favorite competition trick is a three spin, and her favorite field trick is a two spin catch blind. In baton twirling, she is most inspired by Baylor Feature Twirler, Adaline Bebo. Ashlyn’s favorite individual twirling moment was when she caught her three spin at the State Championship. After High School, Ashlyn will attend Abilene Christian University where she hope to twirl and will major in psychology.

Lily See, Sophomore, Competition Level: Intermediate

Lily has been twirling for 8 years with Coach Pat Montgomery. She is the most proud of winning the Beginner Southwest Regional Pageant title when she was in the Pre-Teen division. Her favorite competition trick is a double illusion, and her favorite field trick is a toss, kick, illusion. In baton twirling, she is most inspired by 2016 Miss Texas, Caroline Carothers. Lily’s favorite individual twirling moments occur when she gets to perform at AYOP at Notre Dame University. After High School, Lily hopes to twirl for a University and then attend medical school.

Halle Burton, Freshman, Competition Level: Intermediate

Halle just recently moved to Texas, but has been twirling for 8 years with Coaches Debbie Salem and Shaylie Fawcett. She is the most proud of winning the All West Regional Beginner Pageant when she was in the Pre-Teen division. Her favorite competition trick is an illusion into three baton, and her favorite field trick is a toss cartwheel. In baton twirling, she is most inspired by her Fantasia teammate and former College Miss Majorette of America, Rebecca Lantz. Halle’s favorite individual twirling moment happened at AYOP when she was competing in the Beginner Pre-Teen pageant. She not only caught her four spin in her solo, but she also won the modeling portion of the event and ended up placing top ten overall. After High School, Halle hopes to become a Gatorette at the University of Florida.

Fun Facts!

Favorite Color = Mint Green (Ashlyn), Orange (Lily), Turquoise (Halle)

Favorite Music = They like a wide variety. “Anything from musicals to pop”

Favorite Movie: Wizard of Oz (Halle)

When they are not twirling they love to…

Ashlyn & Lily – “Hang out with my friends”

Halle – “Curl up and read a good book”

Something people might not know about them is…

Ashlyn – “I play the flute”

Lily – “I don’t have an appendix anymore”

Halle – “I also play competitive club lacrosse”

Favorite quote:

Ashlyn – “Be proactive, not reactive”

Lily – “Just because my path is different, doesn’t mean I am lost”

Halle – “Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Take a moment and make it perfect”

Most Memorable Tip From their Coach:

• Ashlyn – “When I was younger I broke my arm twirling. After not twirling for almost a month I had a lesson. I was still getting used to being able to use my arm, and even holding a baton hurt. My coach told me in order to become a better twirler I had to push through even if I was a little bit uncomfortable. When I finally got through that injury my twirling got exponentially better
• Lily – “Getting nervous at competition is never fun. (My Coach) is always there next to me to calm me down and get me through each performance and inspire me every time.
• Halle – “Perfect practice makes perfect” or “You perform how you practice”

Best School Tradition: "At the end of the game all of the football players, cheerleaders, and the twirlers go in front of the band while the band plays the alma mater". 

Funniest Twirl Moment: "When we were preparing for our annual pep rally, Rattler Round-Up, it was very windy. We were trying to practice our exchange and our batons were flying everywhere because the wind was so bad"

Thank you ladies for taking the time to answer our questions. You all look amazing, and we wish the Ronald Reagan twirlers a great season. Go Rattlers!

Photo Credit: Denise Morris - denisetakesphotos.smugmug.com. 

We hope you have enjoyed another edition of our Friday Night Lights Feature. Have a favorite High School or Collegiate Twirler that you would like to see interviewed? Please contact us at texastwirlcontact@gmail.com so that we can reach out to them!