We are off into another weekend of football, twirling, and those Friday Night Lights. So much happening around the State of Texas this weekend with band competitions, the University of Houston Twirler Day, and more football games than we can count. Whatever you are doing this weekend, we hope you all have amazing performances!
This week for our FNL Feature, we visit Schertz, TX, and the home of the Buffaloes, to meet the Samuel Clemens High School Feature Twirlers - Madison Chadwell, Abigail Sluaghter, and Caitlin Thai!
These three twirlers love their Friday evenings rocking the blue and gold. While they do have to audition every year to keep their positions, they say it is worth it. As Madison said, "I have loved every minute. I am just always glad I made it". Being a part of the Clemens band has also been a great learning experience for them. Their band teaches some great discipline, and they always have to follow the band saying that "To be early is to be on time".
It is perfect that we are doing their feature this week, as October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and one of the twirler's favorite traditions is the October PINK OUT game. "Everyone wears pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness, and we even get to wear our pink costumes". If your school is also doing a PINK out game, please consider purchasing a pink rhinestone Ribbon of Hope hair piece from http://www.carolinecarothers.com/Twirling-for-the-Cure.html. All profits from the sale of these hair pieces goes to benefit Twirling to Fight Cancer.
All of them attribute many of their successes to the lessons they have learned in baton twirling, especially the value of practice. If they were to give advice to future high school twirlers, they would say that "your practice is how you will perform, so preactice full out every time!". So true! When it comes to competition they also have learned that in a performance sport, you have to focus on your performance, not the judging. "Sometimes you win when you shouldn't have, and sometimes you lose when you should have won". This is a mindset they said is valuable even outside of competition. Knowing this should do them well in the many challenges life may present for sure!
While we have learned a bit about them as a team, let's take a moment to meet them individually...
Junior, Competition Level: Beginner
Madison has been twirling for 9 years and is currently a member of the Texas Gems, coached by Melinda Mann White. The competition title she is the most proud of is when she won the Texas State Basic Strut in 2012. Her favorite competition trick is her reverse blind, and her favorite field trick is rolls and elbow bumps. Madison says the twirler that has inspired her the most is Texas Tech Head Twirler, Allyson Padron. After high school she hopes to twirling for a University and study to be a nurse.
Abigail Slaughter
Junior, Competition Level: Beginner
Abigail has been twirling for 4 years as a member of the Twirling Sweet Sensations taught by coaches Michele Pangrac and Mary Ann Srulowitz. The competition title she is the most proud of winning was her X-Strut at the 2017 Texas State Championship. Her favorite thing to do in competition is her rolls, and her favorite field trick is doing high tosses with spins, passe hops, bows, etc underneath. Abigail says the twirlers that have inspired her most are her coaches. "They never gave up on me even when I sometimes gave up on myself. They always pushed me and they have accomplished so many great things that have motivated me to always work harder". After graduation, Abigail would like to pursue a math related career, most likely in the engineering field.
Caitlin Thai
Sophomore, Competition Level: Beginner
Caitlin has been twirling for 9 years is also a member of the Twirling Sweet Sensations taught by coaches Michele Pangrac and Mary Ann Srulowitz. The competition title she is the most proud of is when she won the Texas State Beginner Solo in 2015-2015. Her favorite competition trick is an illusion, and her favorite field trick is 2 baton. Caitlin says the twirlers that have inspired her the most are Caroline Carothers, Michael Lopez, and, of course, her coaches Michele Pangrac and Mary Ann Srulowitz. After high school, Caitlin looks forward to attending college.
Fun Facts!
Favorite Color = Purple (Caitlin), Velvet Red (Abigail), Red (Madison)
Favorite Music = Today’s Top Hits (Caitlin), All genres (Madison & Abigail)
Favorite Song = “Feel It Still” (Madison)
Favorite Animal = Turtle (Caitlin), Giraffe (Madison)
Favorite Movie = Any Disney Movie (Caitlin), “Meet The Robinsons” (Abigail), “The Shack” (Madison)
Favorite Quote…
Favorite Quote…
Abigail = “Keep moving forward”
Madison = “Strive for progress, NOT perfection!”
Caitlin = “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is your best."-Tim Duncan
When they are not twirling they like to…
When they are not twirling they like to…
Caitlin = “Hang out with friends and family”
Madison = “Play my clarinet. I love band as well”
Abigail = “Do puzzles and colorguard.”Something people might not know about them is…
Madison = “I am legally blind in my right eye and I live on a farm”
Caitlin = “I was in gymnastics for 3 years before I started twirling”.
Abigail = “I play violin”
Favorite Advice from their Coaches...
Abigail = “If you believe in yourself you can accomplish anything you want in life”
Caitlin = “It's okay to look stupid if you're doing what you love”.
Madison = “To believe in myself and have the confidence it takes to excel"
Wanting to learn a little more about their twirling experiences, we asked them what has been the funniest moment they have had on the field. Madison told us that one time her and Abigail did an exchange "and the baton traveled about twenty yards away from us. Needless to day, we didn't catch that one!"
We also wanted to know what their favorite moments have been in twirling. Caitlin said that "winning first place for the first time felt amazing!" while Madison said that "being featured in front of my family and school" was a major highlight for her. Abigail's favorite moment is when she gets to do her rolls. She gets a lot of enjoyment out of achieving them, and says she especially loves doing fishtails.
Finally we asked them what they will miss the most when they graduate. Madison phrased it best when she said "I really don't want to think about it yet, BUT I will miss twirling with my friends".
We appreciate these three ladies taking the time out of a very busy schedule to answer our questions and we wish them a great evening and season under those Friday Night Lights!
We hope you have enjoyed this edition of our FNL Feature. Have a favorite High School or Collegiate Twirler that you would like to see interviewed? Please contact us with their name and email address at texastwirlcontact@gmail.com so that we can reach out!
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