Saturday, June 23, 2018

Miss Texas 2018: Meet the Twirlers - Miss San Antonio

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Day One of the 2018 Texas State Championship has come to an end (huge shout out to the Director, Bethany Tolley, for getting everyone out by 7 pm despite having a ton of individual music sets!), which means our FIVE Texas twirlers competing in the 2018 Miss Texas pageant have moved in to their hotels and are preparing for a week of competition and sisterhood.

To make sure our twirlers get the proper level of support from the twirling community, leading up to the Miss Texas pageant (June 25th to June 30th) we will be doing an interview with the baton twirlers that will be competing. We want to come together and unite to celebrate and support these young women as they represent our community and show Texas what twirlers can do!

Our next Miss Texas twirling representative is the 2018 Miss San Antonio, Ashley Sneed!



Ashley is 19 years old from San Antonio, Texas, where she is the Feature Twirler at the University Incarnate Word, where she is majoring in fashion merchandising and business. You may know Ashley from both NBTA and USTA where she holds titles in both organizations, including Miss Majorette of the US Virgin Islands, Miss Majorette of the Southwest, Miss Majorette of Texas, and the USTA Texas State Twirl Strut Champion. Ashley is coached in NBTA by Tori Mays of the Texas Gems.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE VOTING IS OPEN! Help support our Texas Twirlers in their mission to get baton twirling to the Miss Texas stage! Top 2 highest "votes" get a guaranteed spot to perform in the finals. Check out the People's Choice voting site to donate. We still have two twirlers in the Top 5 for People's Choice, but none in the Top 2 yet! Who wants to see these ladies perform live at the Miss Texas Finals? If you do, click on the link and support our twirlers!

Ashley did fantastic at the 2017 Miss Texas pageant, bringing home the Best Non-Finalist Talent Award. She looked amazing then, and we just know with another year or preparation and experience she will had a great showing. Now lets learn a little more about Ashley and how the MAO has helped her launch and support a non-profit close to her heart while also furthering the skills she learned as a baton twirler...


Miss Texas Platform: L.I.G.H.T. Love Is the Guide to Heal from Tragedy

Life Motto: "Go after your dream, no matter how unattainable others think it is.” - Linda Mastandrea

What was your favorite story from the 2017 Miss Texas Pageant? "Watching the phenomenal growth of my friend Caroline Carothers serving as Miss Texas and being such an amazing role model for young women."

What part of Miss Texas Week are you most looking forward to? "I am so excited for interview! I also can't wait to share with the judges my social impact L.I.G.H.T. Love Is the Guide to Heal from Tragedy which is a nonprofit organization that I created to help children and teens who have gone through a tragedy find their light and turn their tragedy into a triumph. Many of my fellow twirlers don't know my personal story of tragedy and inspiration for my platform. The one defining moment that truly motivated me to make my platform was the death of my father. I lost my dad when I was two years old in a car accident, and as I got older I realized that my dad was not a piece of my puzzle. As I grew older, my dad’s absence hurt me more and more, it saddened me because all the other kids were fortunate enough to have both of their parents. I chose my platform because it is a topic that is near and dear to me, and it is not addressed enough in our society."

Which part of Miss Texas Week are you most nervous to return to? "On stage question always makes me nervous. You never know what question is going to thrown at you."


What lesson did you learn last year that you are taking to heart this time? "To truly cherish all the beautiful memories and friends you make at Miss Texas."

What do you feel you did the strongest last year? How will you repeat? "Last year I was awarded non-finalist talent winner which is such a great accomplishment. I will repeat my success by having fun on the Miss Texas stage and showing my personality."

What have you done differently in your preparations this year? "I solely focused this year on servitude and using my title to truly make an impact in my community and inspire children to achieve their dreams."


If you could go back and tell yourself something before last year's Miss Texas week, what would it have been? "Enjoy the journey!"

Now that you are a seasoned competitor, what advice would you have for a competitor experiencing Miss Texas week for the first time? "Stay hydrated, eat, and trust in God in your preparation."

It has been so wonderful getting to know the FIVE fabulous ladies representing twirling at Miss Texas this week. We want to thank Ashley for taking a moment to answer our questions and fill us in on her journey. We wish you the best of luck! We know you will do amazing.


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.

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Miss Texas 2018: Meet the Twirlers - Miss Fort Worth

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

The weekend is almost upon us. We know some people are traveling today, and some tomorrow. We wish all Texas Twirlers heading to Lubbock for the Texas State Championship safe travels and good luck! In the meantime, our FIVE Texas twirlers competing in the Miss Texas pageant next weekend are gearing up to head to Dallas for the 2018 Miss Texas Week!

To make sure our twirlers get the proper level of support from the twirling community, leading up to the Miss Texas pageant (June 25th to June 30th) we will be doing an interview with the baton twirlers that will be competing. We want to come together and unite to celebrate and support these young women as they represent our community and show Texas what twirlers can do!

Our next Miss Texas twirling representative is the 2018 Miss Fort Worth, Erica Kuntz!

Erica is 22 years old and is from Dallas, TX. Erica has been a constant smiling face in NBTA competitions for many years. You may know her as an International Show Twirl champion or former Miss Majorette of Texas, but her absolute favorite role is that of the current University of Texas Feature Twirler (Hook Em!). Erica is a member of Texas Touch of Class and is coach by Sheila Payne Rigelsky and Shirley Payne. At UT, she is also a Senior Public Relations/Pre-Law major with a double minor in International Business and Spanish.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE VOTING IS OPEN! Help support our Texas Twirlers in their mission to get baton twirling to the Miss Texas stage! Top 2 highest "votes" get a guaranteed spot to perform in the finals. Check out the People's Choice voting site to donate. We still have two twirlers in the Top 5 for People's Choice (including Erica!), but none in the Top 2 yet. Who wants to see these ladies perform live at the Miss Texas Finals? If you do, click on the link and support our twirlers!

This is Erica's first year in the Miss America Organization. She was honored to bring home the Miss Fort Worth title, and it looking forward to experiencing the big stage and the Miss Texas sisterhood! (As this is Erica's first year in the MAO, we are asking her a different set of questions as the returning competitors. Check out the archives to read answers to the same questions from the other Texas Twirlers, as they answered them before their appearances in the Miss Texas 2017 pageant).

Miss Texas Platform: Rise Above It: Leveraging Adversity for Success

Life Motto: "I have not failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work. Many of life's failures are from people who gave up before they realized how close they were to success." - Thomas Edison


Favorite Twirling Experience: "Going to Peru as a United States Goodwill Ambassador changed the course of my life. It was there that my passion for Spanish came alive and my servant's heart was put to work through a sport I love most. I made friends and memories that will last a lifetime."

What made you pursue competing in the MAO? 
"It seemed like a natural transition for me in this stage of my life; it's a fun way to showcase my talent while still being competitive. Above all, it's an incredible opportunity to change lives of those in my community through volunteer work and service."

How would you say Baton Twirling has helped you in your MAO journey?
"The amount of discipline it takes to juggle a full course load in college while preparing for the competition is unlike any other experience I've had. The amount of discipline and self-motivation I've had to exercise as a result of years in the sport of baton twirling is the only way I've been able to balance it all successfully."

Why did you select your platform? What made it special to you? 
"My social impact, "Rise Above It: Leveraging Adversity for Success" knows no boundaries. It's applicable to all ages and provides a guide to transform your biggest weakness into your biggest strengths. It's a personal issue I face as a woman pursuing a male-dominated career, so I wanted to capitalize on that and show other people how to overcome barriers in their lives."


What has been the most rewarding moment so far as Miss Fort Worth?
"I loved volunteering at the Special Olympics in Dallas. It changed my perspective on how society views those who have a disability, be it physical, mental, or both. The amazing people at the Special Olympics have such contagious spirit of joy and taught me many valuable life lessons that day: dance like nobody's watching and don't let life tell you that you can't do something. It was rewarding to be a part of such an incredible day and meet so many wonderful people."

What has been the hardest part about competing in the MAO pageants?
"The most difficult part is actually fundraising. There are so many different causes that need monetary support, which forced me to go above and beyond the fundraising expectation given how moved I was by these various causes. I was fortunate enough to have incredible fundraising events with Twirl ATX "Kids Twirl for Kids" and Texas Touch of Class  "Makeup for Miracles." I am so grateful for the support I've received not only from these organizations, but from everyone in my life who has given to me either financially or with their precious time."

What advice would you have for other twirlers thinking about going the pageant route? 
"Go for it! You have nothing to lose, but rather, everything to gain."

Any fun or interesting stories or sidenotes you would like to add? 
"This organization is for everyone! I want people to know that I have maintained two internships and still had time to prepare for the competition. All it takes is consistent hard work, mindful resourcefulness, and determination to be better than you were the day before."

Thank you so much to Erica for talking to us about this amazing new adventure she is about to embark on. We know Erica will have a fantastic first appearance on the Miss Texas stage, and we all wish her the very best of luck. Get it Erica! #TeamTexas loves you!


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.

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Miss Texas 2018: Meet the Twirlers - Miss College Station

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

What an exciting week for baton twirling in Texas. Everyone is getting ready for the State Championship in only four days, and we are all getting psyched about Miss Texas Week. We are all so happy to get to support FIVE Texas baton twirlers as they compete for the title of Miss Texas 2018!

To make sure our twirlers get the proper level of support from the twirling community, leading up to the Miss Texas pageant (June 25th to June 30th) we will be doing an interview with the baton twirlers that will be competing. We want to come together and unite to celebrate and support these young women as they represent our community and show Texas what twirlers can do!

Our next Miss Texas twirling representative is the 2018 Miss College Station, Aly Beaupré!


Aly is 22 years old and hails from Corpus Christi, TX. Aly is well known within the NBTA competition circuit as she has held titles including Miss Majorette of Texas, Miss Majorette of Mississippi, and is a former Ole' Miss Feature Twirler. Aly is a member of Texas Touch of Class and is coached by Shirley Payne and Sheila Payne Rigelsky. She was also coached by Katherine Pambrun and Keely Davis. Aly is current a Senior at Texas A&M University, a preschool teacher at the Angel Academy and a Membership Adviser for Gold's Gym.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE VOTING IS OPEN! Help support our Texas Twirlers in their mission to get baton twirling to the Miss Texas stage! Top 2 highest "votes" get a guaranteed spot to perform in the finals. Check out the People's Choice voting site to donate. We still have two twirlers in the Top 5 for People's Choice, but none in the Top 2 yet! Who wants to see these ladies perform live at the Miss Texas Finals? If you do, click on the link and support our twirlers!

Last year Aly did amazing at the 2017 Miss Texas pageant. She was one of the People's Choice winners and was a part of the Top 12! It was so fantastic seeing her in the finals. This year, Aly has really focused in on her personal and physical health and is ready to take on 2018 with a new strength!


Miss Texas Platform: Happy Heart, Happy Life - The American Heart Association

Life Motto: “All of our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them” - Walt Disney

What was your favorite story from the 2017 Miss Texas Pageant? "I would have to say performing throughout prelims and finals. The adrenaline rush I get from performing on the Miss Texas stage is indescribable. I’m so excited to be back for more!"

What part of Miss Texas Week are you most looking forward to? "I’m excited to show off all of my hard work. I have now lost 29 lbs since March and my confidence is through the roof! In not just lifestyle and fitness, but in every phase of competition. With that being said, I’m equally as excited to see all of my sweet pageant sisters." (Blog Editor Side Note: Aly's fitness journey has been such an amazing thing to watch, she will actually be highlighted in a show on HBO following all the progress and success she has achieved. We can't wait to see her rock her new confidence and on the stage!)


Which part of Miss Texas Week are you most nervous to return to? "If we’re being honest... I’m not nervous at all. It’s hard to explain but it all goes back to my confidence in myself."

What lesson did you learn last year that you are taking to heart this time? "To know that at the end of the day, it’s a competition and it’s not going to determine my life. I have so many exciting things going on in my life right now that whether I walk away with the crown or not, God has a plan for me and I refuse to leave feeling defeated."


What do you feel you did the strongest last year? How will you repeat? "My talent. It’s no secret that I’ve been twirling for a really long time now (18 years to be exact) and it’s where I feel most comfortable. I still feel talent is one of my strongest areas of competition but I tried a new approach this year and have worked just as hard in the other phases to make myself equally as “strong” in those as well."

What have you done differently in your preparations this year? "Like I said above, I focused on every phase of competition equally so I’m hoping it’ll help my overall performance and results in the pageant!"


If you could go back and tell yourself something before last year's Miss Texas week, what would it have been? "To take in every moment because it goes by so quickly. I looked forward to this week all year and it’s finally almost here, it’s mind blowing how fast the year has gone by!"

Now that you are a seasoned competitor, what advice would you have for a competitor experiencing Miss Texas week for the first time? "To just have fun! It is possible to focus on what you’re there to do AND enjoy the week! Take the time to get to know the other contestants, they are going to be your biggest supporters and best friends- both during pageant week and life in general."

Thank you so much to Aly for taking time to answer our questions. We wish you the best of luck as you compete on the Miss Texas stage, and just know, all the Texas twirling community is behind you! #TeamTexas supports Miss College Station! Gig 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. 

Monday, June 18, 2018

NBTA Texas State 2018... The Final Countdown!

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Its is now officially State Week! The 2017 NBTA Texas State Championships are in only 5 days! We know twirlers all over the State have been basically living in the gym, practicing with all their heart, and preparing their best for this weekend. We wish everyone the very best of luck and just remember, no matter what happens, smile and enjoy the celebration of our sport and our State coming together. Also, don't forget to hashtag your pictures on social media with #txstatetwirl2018!

To help everyone with their final packing and mental preparations, we have a special message from our fantastic Contest Director, Bethany Tolley, with some last minute FYIs...

  • Program/T Shirt/Etc pick up at The Overton Hotel, 2322 Mac Davis Lane 6pm-8pm  If you don't pick up then, go to the awards table on Saturday Morning. Even if you didn't order anything you will have a name sign that you will need!
  • Saturday events start with the letter S.
  • Two and three baton will be on SUNDAY
  • We have a large contest and we live in a town where the judges have early flights home on Sunday, SO please be on time to your lanes. The order of appearance is in the program. It is the set system so your name will be by a set number. Please pay attention.
  • Our team competition along with Show Twirl, Rhythmic, and Collegiate events is 83 sets!!! Please know that we will be pushing the contestants to take the competition floor quickly and exiting just as fast! Be prepared and ready to go to help move this along.
  • If you are staying in the area by Texas Tech University, there are plenty of neat places to eat.  
  • A special treat is available. The Jones AT&T Stadium on the Campus of Texas Tech University (which is in walking distance from the Overton Hotel) will have a movie night on Friday, June 22. It starts at 7:00pm, but the stadium opens up at 5:30pm. Take blankets to sit on the football field and watch COCO on our big screen. Even if you don't stay for the movie, this is a great opportunity for the contestants to get on a large university football field. Great picture opportunities! Who knows, they say some of the athletes will be around for autographs and pictures too!
  • At this time the Coaches Social is still planned to be held immediately after team competition at the contest facility. This may change to the Overton Hotel. I will make announcements at the end of the Pageant competition and the end of the Team Competition.
  • I look forward to having everyone in Lubbock!  Safe Travels

Contest Location: Lubbock Memorial Civic Center - Exhibit Hall. 2322 Mac Davis Lane, Lubbock, TX 

Contest Schedule:

Saturday, June 23rd, 2018
  • 7:00 am - Contest Facility Opens
  • 8:00 am - Contest Events Begin. All events start with the letter "S"
    • Miss Texas Model
    • Miss Majorette & Pageant Model
    • Best Appearing
    • Best Costume
    • Miss Majorette & Pageant Strut
    • Basic Skills Basic Strut
    • Miss Majorette & Pageant Solo
    • Basic Skills Solo
    • Individual Music Events
      • Team Events
      • Show Twirks
      • Collegiate Twirl
      • Rhythmic Twirl
    • Group Awards
    • Coach & Judge Social

Sunday, June 24th, 2018
  • 7:00 am - Contest Facility Opens
  • 8:00 am - Contest Events Begin
    • Basic & Military Struts
    • Open X-Struts & State X-Struts
    • Open Solos & State Solos
    • Two & Three Baton
    • Award Ceremony

For more information or assistance, please contact the contest director at btolley@sbcglobal.net

Sunday, June 17, 2018

Miss Texas 2018: Meet the Twirlers - Miss Park Cities

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

The official Miss Texas Countdown is on and this year the Texas Twirling Community is so psyched to support FIVE Texas baton twirlers as they compete for the title of Miss Texas 2018! To make sure our twirlers get the proper level of support from the twirling community, leading up to the Miss Texas pageant (June 25th to June 30th) we will be doing an interview with the baton twirlers that will be competing. We want to come together and unite to celebrate and support these young women as they represent our community and show Texas what twirlers can do!

Our next Miss Texas twirling representative is the 2018 Miss Park Cities, Adaline Bebo!


There are not many in the twirling community that don't recognize the name of Adaline Bebo! On top of being a pageant contestant, Adaline is also a WFNBTA World GOLD and Silver medalist, International Cup Senior Elite Artistic Twirl Gold Medalist, and the Baylor University Golden Girl Feature Twirler Captain. At Baylor, Adaline is majoring in Neuroscience on the Pre-Law track and is coached in baton twirling by Jackie Stewart and Cheryl Wimberley.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE VOTING IS OPEN! Help support our Texas Twirlers in their mission to get baton twirling to the Miss Texas stage! Top 2 highest "votes" get a guaranteed spot to perform in the finals. Check out the People's Choice voting site to donate. Currently we have two twirlers in the Top 5 for People's Choice, but none in the Top 2 yet! Who wants to see these ladies perform live at the Miss Texas Finals? If you do, click on the link and support our twirlers!

Last year Adaline began her adventure with the MAO as Miss Fort Worth where she competed in the 2017 Miss Texas pageant. Adaline did a beautiful job, wowing in her green evening gown, and walking away with an Alpha and Overall Preliminary Talent Award, as well as being a Quality of Life Finalist. For 2018 Adaline is hoping for a repeat talent award and a chance to perform her talent in the finals! Now, lets learn more about Adaline's return to the Miss Texas stage and all has learned from her amazing experiences in the past year.


Miss Texas Platform: No Limitations - Empowered by Possibilities

What was your favorite story from the 2017 Miss Texas Pageant? "I was randomly paired with another competitor and checked-in to my room for the week. I walked in to find that I would be sharing one bed with a total stranger. My roommate and I ended up becoming best friends and spent all of the competition as each other’s #1 fans! (Fun Fact: She is still my BFF! #thesisterhoodisreal)."

What part of Miss Texas Week are you most looking forward to? "I am so excited to show a different side of twirling to new audiences when I perform my talent routine!"

Which part of Miss Texas Week are you most nervous to return to? "I’m nervous to meet my roommate for the week! I had such a great experience last year that it will be hard to top, but I’m looking forward to meeting all of the new girls!"


What lesson did you learn last year that you are taking to heart this time? "The sisterhood is real! I feel so blessed to be competing alongside such incredibly smart, strong, and caring women!"

What do you feel you did the strongest last year? How will you repeat? "Last year, I won the preliminary Alpha (Rookie) and Overall Talent awards - I’m looking forward to returning with my new talent routine and sharing my unique twirling style with the world!"

What have you done differently in your preparations this year? "I have such a wonderful board of directors overseeing my preparations this year! They have been incredibly helpful in building my interview skills, competition wardrobe, and excitement for the job of Miss Texas! They have helped me succeed in areas that will benefit long after competing."


If you could go back and tell yourself something before last year's Miss Texas week, what would it have been? "START PACKING SOONER!!!"

Now that you are a seasoned competitor, what advice would you have for a competitor experiencing Miss Texas week for the first time? "I would tell them exactly what my mom told me before my first pageant! I was so nervous and on the brink of backing out when she told me, 'you have prepared for this your entire life, whether you’ve known it or not, and the experiences you’ve had and the kindness in your heart are going to be what earn you that crown, because it’s certainly not going to be the amount of time you’ve practiced walking in an evening gown'." (LOVE THIS!)

We want to wish Adaline the very best during Miss Texas week. We know with her amazing twirling skills and experience she will be a name to watch! The Texas Twirling Community is so proud of Adaline and excited to see her representing us. #TeamTexas supports you! Good Luck!


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.

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Miss Texas 2018: Meet the Twirlers - Miss Prestonwood Polo Club


Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

We know the twirling community loves pageants, and even more so when the pageant competitors are baton twirlers! We have been lucky to recently have been represented in the Texas Pageant world by 2016 Miss Texas, Caroline Carothers, and in the 2017 Miss Texas pageant we had four baton twirlers competing. This year, we get to do even one better with FIVE Texas baton twirlers vying for the title of Miss Texas 2018!!! We would love to see one of these women wear the crown!

To make sure our twirlers get the proper level of support from the twirling community, leading up to the Miss Texas pageant (June 25th to June 30th) we will be doing an interview with the baton twirlers that will be competing. We want to come together and unite to celebrate and support these young women as they represent our community and show Texas what twirlers can do!

Our first Miss Texas twirling representative is the 2018 Miss Prestonwood Polo Club, Kimberly Ferguson!


Kimberly is 24 years old and hails from Carthage, TX. You may have seen Kimberly performing around east Texas as she was the head twirler at her high school and a member of the well-known Stephen F Austin State University Twirl-O-Jacks in college! Kimberly is coached by Halie Hart. Kimberly graduated from SFA with a BA in Mass Communications and is currently a Yearbook Sales Rep with Balfour North Texas and a Texas Rangers Six Shooter.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE VOTING IS OPEN! Help support our Texas Twirlers in their mission to get baton twirling to the finals! Top 2 highest "votes" get a guaranteed spot in the TOP TWELVE. Check out the People's Choice voting site to donate. You can vote up until June 25th!!! Get our twirlers on that stage!

In 2017, Kimberly competed in the Miss Texas pageant as Miss Twin Rivers. She did a great job her first time through, and even pulled out a no drop talent routine! This year, she is back and ready to improve on everything she built last year. Now, let’s learn a little more about Kimberly, baton twirling, and her return to the Miss Texas stage!


Miss Texas Platform: Kimberly’s Literacy Project

Life Motto: "There are far better things ahead than anything we leave behind."-C.S. Lewis

What was your favorite story from the 2017 Miss Texas Pageant?
“I was very intimidated to meet my roommate last year. She is beautiful, had been Miss Texas Outstanding Teen, and placed top 5 every year at Miss Texas. I thought being in close proximity with her meant I'd have to be perfect at all times for like a week straight. I remember walking into our hotel room that day and all of her drawers had fallen out of a rolling cart in the bathroom, and she was sitting in the floor surrounded by toiletries, looking stressed out. She looked how I felt! Then that night we broke something in our hotel room and had to find a hostess to help us. Not only was she totally a normal person, she had a great sense of humor! After that first day together, I knew we would be friends.”

What part of Miss Texas Week are you most looking forward to?
“Seeing my friends from all over the state and learning our amazing production numbers! I always love the creative dances we get to do. I also love getting to share my story with the judges in our private interview, and seeing what everyone chooses to wear for each phase of the competition.”

Which part of Miss Texas Week are you most nervous to return to?
“Even after all these years, I still get nervous to twirl! This year there will be three levels to the stage, and my routine is choreographed to really use the whole stage, so I'll have to work on the spacing in rehearsal during the week. I think it also makes me the most nervous because twirling is where I literally pour out my blood, sweat, and tears so I want those 90 seconds to be perfect!”


What lesson did you learn last year that you are taking to heart this time?
“Not to take myself too seriously! I put a lot of pressure on myself last year to reach a certain placement, and not to let anyone down. That pressure really effected my mindset and performance during the week. This year, I'm going to just strive to do my best and enjoy every single second of the experience. It's so hectic to juggle pageant prep and two jobs, but I'm trying to relax and enjoy the entire journey. Some days it isn't possible for me to train in every area of competition, and I've had to learn to give myself credit for what I am doing towards my dream every day, instead of berating myself for not being able to do it all.”

What do you feel you did the strongest last year? How will you repeat?
“I feel like I was strongest in interview last year because my job as a college recruiter has prepared me for public speaking situations and I've been through a lot of job interviews! Now as a sales rep and a Six Shooter, my job is to talk to strangers of all ages and build relationships. Hopefully the judges will be able to feel a connection to me in just ten minutes if I stay confident and trust my training!”

What have you done differently in your preparations this year?
“This year I wasn't able to have a personal trainer, so I'm taking a lot of my fitness prep into my own hands, which is hard. I've also worked with an interview/mental management coach this year to get into a competitive mindset and tailor my presentation. That is probably the biggest and most beneficial change between last year and this year! I'm completely self-funded, so I have had two jobs this year, which makes training more of a challenge. I'm really focusing on what I'm going to say and having more substance in my presentation as opposed to my physical appearance.”


If you could go back and tell yourself something before last year's Miss Texas week, what would it have been?
“To be true to myself! There's a lot of advice out there, but you never know what the judges are looking for. For instance, I've been told in the past that pink doesn't look good on redheads, or it makes you look like a teen. This year, I'll be wearing nothing but pink or royal blue all week. I'm applying for a job and I'm not trying to defraud the judges - if they pick me as Miss Texas, I would probably wear pink on an appearance, and I don't think that makes me juvenile or my message less impactful. It's just being true to who I am, and that's always makes me feel the most confident!”

Now that you are a seasoned competitor, what advice would you have for a competitor experiencing Miss Texas week for the first time?
“I still feel like I don't have it all figured out! But I would advise them to stay in their own lane - the second you start to compare yourself to someone else, you lose.” (Blog Editor Note: Can we say that again for the people in the back? This. All. Day!) “Everyone competing is going to have a unique set of talents, experiences, and struggles that have brought them to this point. If you made it into this elite group of women, that must mean there is something special and unique about you, too. The odds are that someone else in the room is looking at you and wishing they had a quality that you possess! If you start to feel intimidated, make a point to compliment those admirable qualities in others. If nothing else, have a reputation for being the kindest person in the room.”

Any fun or interesting stories or sidenotes you would like to add?
“I hadn't performed a twirling solo in about four years before Miss Texas last year and all I wanted was a no drop performance. I got through my routine, but I had so much adrenaline pumping that the second I stepped off stage I started ugly crying! I was sobbing so hard, my friend assumed something horrible had happened or I had hurt myself, but I was just so relieved. Hopefully this year there won't be tears of any kind...but no promises.” 

Thank you so much to Kimberly for taking time to answer our questions. We wish you the best of luck as you compete on the Miss Texas stage looking pretty in pink, and just know, all the Texas twirling community is behind you! Show them what you got Miss Prestonwood Polo Club!


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.

Monday, June 11, 2018

Camp Calendar Series: 2018 South Texas Camp of Champions

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

In only two weeks, Twirlers from all over Texas will be in the Lubbock area for the NBTA Texas State Championships. So exciting! This event will be the last step on the way to Nationals for many twirlers, and for others it will be the grand finale to their season.

Regardless of which category you fall in, or even if you aren't attending the State Championships, everyone is beginning to think about what their next move will be once State is over. Will you be going full speed forward training for AYOP? Will you begin learning new routines for the Fall? Or do you just want to take some of your skills to the next level? No matter which option might be the right one for you, this is where the South Texas Camp of Champions comes in!


*STILL ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS!* While they are still accepting registrations, the deadline is quick approaching, so the sooner you can register the better! Interested in attending STCC? Please visit www.southtexascampofchampions.com or contact Pat Montgomery by phone at (210) 393-3551 or via email at southtexascampofchamps@yahoo.com.

Who? What? Where? When? Why?
Who: Directors Pat Montgomery, Major Margaret Mann, and Nancy Eisenhauer
What: 2018 South Texas Camp of Champions
Where: Thomas Jefferson High School Gym - 723 Donaldson Ave, San Antonio, TX 78201
When: June 27th to June 30th, 2018 - 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (half day on the 30th)
Why: The South Texas Camp of Champions is a 4 day baton twirling camp held in San Antonio each summer. This camp has been around for many years and has been a great tool for Texas twirlers. This camp brings in big name local and out of State instructors to teach everything from introductory level to advanced tricks. Every twirler will leave camp with an arsenal of new or improved skills.

Highlighted Program: STCC is very well known for its AYOP Readiness Program. Working with amazing National title holding instructors, those attending NBTA Nationals will participate in an intensive training program built to increase endurance, improve consistency, and prepare twirlers for the National level.

Amazing Instructors: One thing you can always count on at STCC is amazing instructors! This year will be no different as they are bringing back several popular instructors including:


*Internationally Renowned Coach, Kathy Forsythe
*Current College Miss Majorette of America & UofL Feature Twirler, Steffany Lien
*Five Time Miss Majorette of America & ASU Feature Twirler, Rebecca Lantz
*Former Washington Feature Twirler and World Medalist, Catherine Watters 
*Current Miss Colorado and Former ASU Feature Twirler, Meredith Winnefeld
*National Champion Coach and US Trial Judge, Sheri Carter
*Former State and National Champion,  Melinda Mann White
*Team USA Member and UTSA Feature Twirler, Michael Lopez
*University of Houston Feature Twirler, Rebekah Gonzales

Not only will these instructors be leading classes and prep sessions, but they are all available for private lessons as well! Make sure to include any private lessons requests with your registration!


Camp Logistics: Camp will occur June 27th to 30th from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. There is also a half day option (8:30 am to Noon or 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm). Cost is $290 for full day or $160 for half day. The full day camp includes a healthy lunch each day at Noon. The cost of camp also includes a t-shirt for twirlers to wear on the Friday of camp for the parent show-off performance at 11:15 am.

Each day of camp, twirlers will arrive in athletic/practice appropriate clothes and start the day with a group warm-up. They then will divide into hour long sessions rotating each hour to a new class. Lunch is served at Noon, and the day ends at 4:30 pm. Twirlers should bring with them their baton(s), twirling shoes, water, snacks, and a willingness to learn and try new things.

Unique Feature: While many of the out of town twirlers stay in hotels with their parents, there is also the option to stay with a host family if a hotel will not work for your schedule. Please contact the directors to set up a host family for your twirler. This is a great way to meet a new twirl family and cut down on costs.

Don't forget the super fun theme days!
*Wednesday = Wacky Sock Day
*Thursday = Wacky Hair Day
*Friday = Wacky/Favorite Shirt Day
*Saturday = Wear camp shirt and dark shorts

If this sounds like an amazing opportunity, which it is, and you want to enroll your twirler, please visit www.southtexascampofchampions.com. Any questions? Contact Pat Montgomery at (210)393-3551 or southtexascampofchamps@yahoo.com. We hope to see you there!


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.