Competition season here in Texas is literally just days away! Don’t forget that tomorrow is the online registration deadline for the ATX Holiday Twirl Fest, and who all is attending the Fall Twirling Festival Saturday? We will be there, and we can’t wait to see everyone. Let’s get competition season started!
Before we do that, it is time to continue our final week of Feature Twirler interviews here on the blog! Today we have our second to last Collegiate Twirler Spotlight of the season. These two awesome Texas twirlers represent every week in Reynolds Stadium all the way in Fayetteville.
Today's Collegiate Twirler Spotlight is on these Texas Twirlers turned, University of Arkansas Majorettes, Kendal Baker & Lindsay Richards!
The University of Arkansas is the home of the Razorbacks, and some serious school spirit! It is impossible to attend a Razorback Game Day and not get caught up in the atmosphere. A big part of building that spirit is the University of Arkansas Majorettes and Feature Twirlers. The 2019-2020 team consists of Captain Ashley Wicks, Co-Captain Kendal Baker, twirlers Lindsay Richards, Whitney Williams, and Hanna Carter, and Feature Twirlers Savannah Miller and Isabella Udouj. Lead by Coaches Ashley Moss and Cecily Clinkcscales, the Razorback Twirlers bring smiles, sparkles, and awesome skills to the field each week.
Why are we featuring these Arkansas twirlers? Two of the young ladies on the Majorette Line are from Texas! Kendal Baker and Lindsay Richards may be across state lines, but they are still Texas Girls, and we love supporting them as a part of #teamtexas.
What brought these two Texas twirlers from the Lone Star State to Arkansas? Kendal tells us it was the chance to experience something new. “I wanted to get out of my city and experience life on my own. As an only child I was attached at the hip to my parents (not a bad thing, just a fact) and so I wanted to live on my own and experience a new city and way of life.” Lindsay had similar reasons. “I was hoping to experience somewhere new since I have lived in Texas my whole life. Arkansas is beautiful and they also offer amazing scholarships for students that come from out of state.”
Making the decision to go out of state is a hard one, but deciding which school to go to is even harder. We asked these ladies what brought them to the University of Arkansas. Kendal loved the environment and culture. “Ultimately I loved the feeling that Arkansas gave me when I stepped on campus.” Lindsay was also glad to find they had a great twirling program. “Arkansas has a great line with an impressive skill level. I also love the school so twirling at Arkansas is a great fit for me!”
Arkansas has been a great choice for both of these ladies that has led to experiences they will never forget. We asked them what advice they had for other twirlers that might be making the decision for themselves whether to stay in Texas or not. Lindsay said, “Going out of State is a great opportunity! It may seem scary at first, but it will help you grow as an individual and it is great to experience living in a new location when you’re young.” Kendal agreed and said that everyone has to make the right decision for themselves. “Go with what your gut tells you to do, even if you are scared or afraid. Life is about leaping out of your comfort zones.”
While they have loved their choice to attend Arkansas, it isn’t always easy being away from home. Lindsay says the hardest part has definitely been being away from family. Kendal also misses her friends and family but loves getting to share Fayetteville with those that come to see her. “Leaving my hometown friends was so hard. Luckily I get to see my family regularly because they come to the football games.”
Now that we have learned what brought these ladies to Arkansas, let’s learn more about them!
Kendal is a Sophomore Supply Chain Management Major from Keller, Texas. At UA she is also a member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and the Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Service Organization. She has been twirling for 15 years and is currently working with Coach Ashley Moss. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was the Texas State Advanced X-Strut Champion. Her favorite competition tricks are rolls and 4 or 5 spins, and her favorite field trick is the toss triple leap from their pre-game show. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Carly Bender DeTrempe, DaNae Couch, and Steffany Lien. After college she hopes to get a job in her degree field.
Lindsay is a Senior Majoring in Marketing and Minoring in Finance. She is from The Woodlands, Texas. At UA she serves on the executive board for her professional business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, and is a member of the American Marketing Association. She has been twirling on and off since she was 7 years old and is coached by Patti Mickey, Ashley Moss, and Cecely Clinkscales. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was the Intermediate National Solo when she was 16. Her favorite competition trick is a toss turn illusion and her favorite field trick is a toss cartwheel. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Kayli Mickey McIntosh. After she graduates, she has already lined up a job working as an Inside Sales Representative at Dell.
Fun Facts!
Favorite Color – Light Pink (Lindsay)
Favorite Movie – “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (Kendal), “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” (Lindsay)
Favorite Music – “I love all genres of music but especially love alternative/indie pop” (Kendal), “I like all types of music honestly, it really depends on my mood! (Lindsay)
Favorite Quote...
Kendal – “No matter what you are, be a good one” – Abraham Lincoln
Lindsay – “She believed she could, so she did!”
When they are not twirling, they love to…
Kendal – “Hang out with friends, catch up on sleep and homework, and watch Netflix.”
Lindsay – “Watch movies, shop, cook, and hang out with friends and family.”
Something people might not know about them is…
Kendal – “I sleep with my eyes open.”
Lindsay – “I was on a golf team for a short time when I was younger!”
Favorite moment as an Arkansas twirler…
Lindsay – “Performing pregame for the first time! It was the first moment that I stepped
out onto the field to twirl and it was an amazing feeling.”
Funniest moment as an Arkansas twirler…
Kendal – “When we went to Arlington for the A&M Game this past September, one of the other Majorettes, Hanna, and I made it on television. Only problem was it looked like we were arguing with each other!”
Lindsay – “I completely fell in the middle of a two spin at a practice this year!”
What is the best life skill they have learned from baton twirling?
Kendal – “Confidence!
Lindsay – “That all good things come to those who wait.”
Arkansas is a University rich with traditions. Kendal just loves their live mascot, Tusk. “He is really cute!” Lindsay’s favorite is their pregame routine or the chant the band does at the end of every practice. They both also really enjoy the pursuit of the “Spirit Stick” within the Razorback Marching Band. “During early week, each section tries to win a spirit stick. They do this by putting on skits during water breaks and having the most spirit and pep throughout the day. Once you win the spirit stick you get to decorate it. The twirlers always end up decorating it with rhinestones.” Of course they do! Twirlers love their bling!
This year has been exciting for both twirlers. Kendal was ecstatic to be named Co-Captain of the Majorette line. We asked her what she did differently this year to prepare and what has been the best part. “Going into auditions, the thought of being co-captain never occurred to me. In my interview, however, the judges kept asking hypotheticals about being a captain. After my interview I texted my mom, ‘... they might make me co-captain! What?!?!’ When they announced the captain as Ashley Wicks, and me as co-captain, I was overjoyed. I have loved being co-captain this season. It is so rewarding when you work hard with a group of twirlers and it pays off on the field.”
Lindsay had a very unique experience. While she did not twirl for her initial years at Arkansas, going into her Senior year, she decided to go for it and audition. As you can see, her risk paid off. “I truly missed twirling and realized that twirling my senior year at the University of Arkansas, even for just one year, would be a great opportunity. I have enjoyed this experience and have friendships with the other twirlers that will last a lifetime! As a senior, every event that we partake in is my first and last. It is a bittersweet and special feeling. This season has also pushed me to become a better twirler, so I am thankful for that.”
We know there are many twirlers that may attend a University that were not able to twirl initially due to not having spots available or not auditioning, so we loved seeing Lindsay get to take her shot. We asked her what she would tell other twirlers that may already be in a college debating on auditioning for a twirling spot at their school, and she said to go for it! “It is better late than never!!!! I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to twirl at the University of Arkansas my senior year. It was been the best experience!”
Finally, to wrap up our interview we asked them what advice they would pass on to help twirlers survive their college experience. Kendal told us to be friendly. “Everyone at college is equally scared and uncomfortable. Don’t be afraid to go up to someone and start talking. Chances are they are very thankful you started a conversation.” Lindsay’s advice was to hone your time management skills. “Manage your time well! Twirling in college is a great experience, but, be sure to schedule your days to fit in your schoolwork and twirling demands.”
We want to say thank you to these two wonderful Texas Twirlers for being today’s Collegiate Twirler Spotlight. Way to go Kendal on a great season as Co-Captain, and Congrats to Lindsay on an amazing Senior year as a Razorback twirler. Wooo Pig!
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment