It is here! The final High School Interview of the season. We have loved getting to learn more about High School twirlers from all over Texas, and from all different competition circuits. It is so great to see how many twirlers are out there spreading the love for our sport each Friday night.
Our final Friday Night Lights Feature this season is the Bullard High School Twirlers!
Bullard High School, located in Bullard, Texas, is the home of the Panthers, and some amazing twirlers. The BHS Twirling team, lead by Coach Jeri Coke, is made up of a Feature Twirler - Ally Wilcox, and nine line twirlers - Katie Campbell, Haley Smith, Stella Vaughan, Anja Terho-Streck, Molly Axworthy, Kellen Coke, Clair Hunter, Nichelle Sanders, and Alyssa Crow.
We asked Coach Jeri Coke how these young ladies secured their spots as BHS Twirlers. “We hold tryouts the Friday before spring break. The twirlers have to perform both a solo and a group routine that ends up being our first field routine. They learn the group routine about a week before tryouts.”
Once selected to be on the team, the Panther Twirlers get to be a big part of the Game Day experience at Bullard High School. From pep rallies, to the football game, to the post-game bonding, they love each part. They tell us their favorite moment of Game Day happens at the pep rallies, “when the student body comes to the floor and dances during the drum line feature.” These twirlers also love dancing in the stands, and their tradition of going to IHOP together after twirl and band events.
Now that we have learned more about what the BHS twirlers do, let’s learn more about them!
“Cast all of your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
Ally has been twirling for 6 years with Coach Beth Maddox and competes in the NBTA Intermediate division. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was the Beginner Miss Majorette of The Woodlands pageant. Her favorite tricks are toss somersaults or leg holds. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Beth Maddox, Caroline Carothers, and Joel Claudio. After High School she wants to become an educator of some sort and possibly a coach.
“Don’t be a drag. Just be a queen!”
Katie has been twirling for 10 years with Coach Jeri Coke. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was being named a Premier Performer. Her favorite trick is the splits. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Hannah Reschke. After High School she hopes to twirl in college, work with life skills students, and be successful.
“Assume you are wrong.”
Haley has been twirling for 5 years with Coach Jeri Coke. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was being named a Premier Performer. Her favorite trick is a two turn. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Rachel Hutchinson. After High School she hopes to attend a college and possibly twirl, “but most of all, become successful. During college I will be in the nursing program to become a DDN (disability development nurse) who works with special needs patients in hospitals.”
“Life is short, and if we enjoy every moment of every day, then we will be happy no matter what happens or what changes along the way.” – Gretchen Bleiler
Stella has been twirling for 6 years with Coach Jeri Coke. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was being named a Premier Performer. Her favorite trick is a retraction. After High School she hopes to go to college and have a successful career.
“If there ever comes a day that we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever.”
Anja has been twirling for 5 years with Coach Jeri Coke. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was being named a Premier Performer. Her favorite trick is a toss cartwheel. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Coach Jeri Coke. After High School she hopes to be a teacher for grades Kinder through 4th Grade.
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble but take heart! I have overcome the world!” John 16:33
Molly has been twirling for 6 years with Coach Jeri Coke. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was being named a Premier Performer. Her favorite trick is a toss grand jete. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Caroline Carothers. After High School she hopes to go to a big college and get a high paying job.
“The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra
Kellen has been twirling for 12 years with Coaches Jeri Coke, Patti Mickey, and Kayli Mickey-McIntosh, and competes in the NBTA Beginner division. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was the NBTA Junior Texas State Basic Skills Pageant. Her favorite trick is a four spin catch left. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Savannah Miller. After High School she hopes to be a Feature Twirler in college.
“Sometimes you just have to put on some lip gloss and act like you are excited!”
Claire has been twirling for 7 years with Coach Jeri Coke. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was being named a Premier Performer. Her favorite trick is an around the world under a fan kick. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Caroline Carothers. After High School she hopes to attend Texas Tech University, audition to become a Red Raider Twirler, and join the nursing program at the University.
“One moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory.” – Louis Zamperini
Nichelle has been twirling for 4 years with Coach Jeri Coke. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Savannah Miller. After High School she hopes to go to college and become a teacher.
“Live life to the fullest and have fun!
Alyssa has been twirling for 3 years with coach Jeri Coke. Her favorite trick is any type of rolls. In baton twirling she has been most inspired by Savannah Miller. After High School she hopes to attend college and become a successful psychologist.
Fun Facts!
Favorite Color – Teal (Alyssa and Haley), Maroon (Katie), Grey-Blue (Stella), Yellow (Anja), Pink (Molly), Blue (Kellen & Ally), Sunset colors (Nichelle)
Favorite Movie – A Star Is Born (Katie), Ironman (Stella), Heathers (Anja), The Princess Diaries (Molly), The Princess Bride (Kellen), Clueless, 10 Thing I Hate About You, and the Star Wars series (Clair), Legally Blond (Alyssa)
Favorite Music – “I listen to all kinds” (Ally), Lady Gaga (Katie), Country (Haley), Classic Rock (Stella), Alternative (Anja), “I love Christmas music!” (Molly), Frank Sinatra, Linkin Park, and MCR (Kellen), Country like the Josh Abbott Band (Nichelle), Any Music (Alyssa)
When they are not twirling, they love to…
- Ally – “Have downtime with naps or hangout with my friends outside of the twirling world.”
- Katie – “Be with my family, listen to music, and hang out with my friends and boyfriend.”
- Haley – “Play with my dogs and spend time with my family.”
- Stella – “Hike, read, or draw.”
- Anja – “Hang out with my sister and go shopping or watch a movie.”
- Molly – “Take naps and play with my dogs.”
- Kellen – “Read (but I always twirl!)”
- Clair – “Binge watch great 80’s/90’s romantic comedies.”
- Nichelle – “Hang out with friends.”
- Alyssa – “Be with my friends and play with my pets.”
Something people might not know about them is…
- Ally – “I really enjoy teaching people and helping others understand new concepts.”
- Katie – “I love jazz music.”
- Haley – “I started twirling on accident.”
- Stella – “I am allergic to grass.”
- Anja – “I have 4 siblings.”
- Molly – “I love dogs a lot!”
- Kellen – “I have the most random taste in music and an obsession with Pinterest.”
- Clair – “I love Star Wars!”
- Nichelle – “I like to hunt.”
- Alyssa – “Most people don’t know my middle name.”
- Ally – “Have fun with what you do because it is a God given talent.”
- Katie – “Mrs. Coke always reminds me how to handle situations that are difficult.”
- Haley – “Two and a half minutes does not determine who you are as a person or if you are a good twirler or not.”
- Stella, Molly, & Anja – “Assume you are wrong.”
- Kellen – “The judge always wants you to do your best!”
- Clair – “If you are early, just throw a one turn in there.”
- Nichelle – “One judge’s/person’s opinion of you doesn’t define you.”
- Alyssa – “Always smile and stay on your toes.”
These twirlers have made amazing memories together this season, but their favorite moment was at this year’s UIL Regional Twirling Competition. “Everyone made first divisions at UIL Regional Twirling Competition this fall, so the entire line (solos and ensembles) and our feature twirler (solo) will compete at state in June!” Wow! That is very impressive and says a lot about the talent at this school.
They do also have their funny moments. Between stray batons, slips and trips, and tons of inside jokes, they remember the moment that made them laugh the most. “One day we tried to be really quiet at practice, and Mrs. Coke thought we had done something wrong!” Oops!
Through the many hours of practice together they have each gained tons of skills individually, but they credit twirling together with teaching them teamwork. “We have really learned how to work in a team.”
Finally, to wrap up the interview, we asked them what advice they would pass along to potential future BHS twirlers, and they said, in the immortal words of their coach, “Assume you are wrong!”
We want to thank these ladies for being our final FNL Feature of the season, and congrats on a great fall!
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.
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