Sunday, April 26, 2020

2020 Fall Twirler Announcements - University of Arkansas

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

It is that exciting time of year where twirlers are auditioning for twirling spots for the Fall. This blog hopes to help spread the excitement by announcing the selections for the lovely twirlers we will see on the field very soon in Texas, and representing out of State. If you have an announcement for new twirler selections for 2020-21, please email texastwirlcontact@gmail.com so that we can help spread the word!

Today we have an out of State twirler post. We are excited to announce that the University of Arkansas will have 3 Texas Twirlers calling those hogs including one of the Feature Twirlers and two of the Majorettes!


The University of Arkansas, located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, is the home of the Razorbacks, and has a rich tradition of baton twirling. Arkansas not only has stellar feature twirlers, but also a talented twirling line that shines on the field at Reynolds stadium along with the Razorback marching band.


We want to welcome Texas Twirler McKenzie Gomez as a new Arkansas Feature Twirler! McKenzie is a freshman Interior Design major. She is from Round Rock, where she was a Round Rock High School Feature Twirler. McKenzie has been coached by Sheri Carter, Lori Perkins, and Caroline Carothers. We asked McKenzie what made her want to be a Razorback twirler and she told us, "The first time I visited Arkansas, I knew I wanted to call Fayetteville home, so I worked as hard as I could to achieve my dream!" Congrats on making that dream come true McKenzie!





Next, returning this coming fall, in the position of Majorette Captain will be Texas twirler, Kendal Baker! This will be Kendal's third year on the Arkansas Twirling Line and she is once again honored to be named a Captain. Kendal will be a Junior in the fall, and is studying Supply Chain Management. Kendal is from Fort Worth. She is most excited about performing pregame in Reynolds Stadium!









Joining the line new this year is Pittsburgh, Texas, native, Skyler Brown. Skyler will be a freshman who is majoring in nursing. She is most excited for cheering on the hogs and creating new friendships with the twirlers! Welcome to the team Skyler!












McKenzie will be Featured with the Razorback Marching Band alongside returning Feature Twirler, Isabella Udouj. Kendal & Skyler will be joined on the field the other three members of the Majorette line including the other Majorette Captain, Hannah Brown, as well as Whitney Williams, and rookie Summer Hill.

You can follow the Arkansas Twirlers on their Facebook page located at www.facebook.com/UARKMajorettes. They do a wonderful Twirler for a Day program in the Fall where younger twirlers get a taste of what it is like to be a Razorback twirler and perform on the field alongside these amazing young ladies, so keep an eye out for information on that program.

We know this fantastic group of twirlers will be an amazing team. We are all so happy for McKenzie, Kendal, and Skyler, and we can't wait to see them calling those hogs this Fall. Woo Pig Sooie!

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. 

Saturday, April 25, 2020

2020 Fall Twirler Announcements - Texas Christian University Part 2

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

It is that exciting time of year where twirlers are auditioning for twirling spots for the Fall. This blog hopes to help spread the excitement by announcing the selections for the lovely twirlers we will see on the field very soon in Texas, and representing out of State. If you have an announcement for new twirler selections for 2020-21, please email texastwirlcontact@gmail.com so that we can help spread the word!

Today we announce an addition to the 2020-21 Texas Christian University Feature Twirlers! 


TCU, located in Fort Worth, TX, is known for some awesome football, and even more awesome twirlers. As we announced earlier this month, this Fall the Horned Frogs will feature twirlers Haylee Chiariello, and Stephanie McBurnett. This week, an additional twirler has been announced to join them. We want to extend a huge congrats to new TCU Feature Twirler - KK Tunnell!

KK (Caleigh) Tunnell is from the Dallas area. She has been a Feature Twirler at Rockwall-Heath High School and a member of Texas Touch of Class, coached by Sheila Payne Rigelsky and Shirley Payne. KK was a 2019 US Twirling Ambassador to Peru and is the reigning 2019 & 2020 Miss Majorette of the Southwest.


We know KK will be an amazing addition to the TCU Feature Twirler family. We are looking forward to seeing these THREE lovely and talented young ladies as they twirl together in the Amon G. Carter Stadium this Fall. Go KK, Haylee, and Stephanie! Fear the Frog!

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, April 21, 2020

2020 Fall Twirler Announcements - Texas State University


Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

It is that exciting time of year where twirlers are auditioning for twirling spots for the Fall. This blog hopes to help spread the excitement by announcing the selections for the lovely twirlers we will see on the field very soon in Texas, and representing out of State. If you have an announcement for new twirler selections for 2020-21, please email texastwirlcontact@gmail.com so that we can help spread the word!

Today we announce the selection of the 2020-21 Texas State University Feature Twirlers!


Texas State, located in San Marcos, TX, is the home of the "Pride of the Hill Country" - the Bobcat Marching Band. Annually, the BMB selects twirlers to serve in their feature positions. Auditions were held for the 2020-21 season via video auditions earlier this month, and for the first time in many, many years, three twirlers were selected to represent Texas State!

Returning to the Bobcat Marching Band this season will be Kaylee Williams and Megan Lazrine, and new to the Texas State University Jim Wacker field will be incoming freshman, Cayla Watson!

Kaylee is from Whitehouse, Texas, and is coached by Shelby Elder and Janice Jackson Seamands. As a member of the class of 2022, she is majoring in Computer Science. Megan is from Sweeny, Texas, and is coached by Jana Reid. Also a member of the Class of 2022, she is majoring in Business Management.

New to Texas State this Fall is incoming freshman, Cayla Watson! Cayla is from Corpus Christi, Texas, where she is a Feature Twirler at Flour Bluff High School, and has been coached by Keely Davis and Michael Lopez. She will be pursing her degree in Civil Engineering at Texas State.

We look forward to seeing these three talented young ladies as they lead the Pride of the Hill Country and are featured at halftime in the Bobcat Stadium. Congrats to Kaylee, Megan, and Cayla! Eat 'Em Up Cats!


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.

Sunday, April 19, 2020

The More You Know... How does USTA work?

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

A couple weeks ago we introduced a new series to the blog called “The More You Know…”. In this series we will be posting about different NBTA, USTA, or UIL related rules that currently exist, but that not everyone may be familiar with or fully understand. We have reached out to prominent Texas judges in these areas to share the rule or process they wish more people knew about. Our first edition of this series was about using proper NBTA Title Terminology. Make sure to check out that post to learn more!


For the next edition of "The More You Know..." we will learn "How does USTA work?"

Today we are moving into the world of the United States Twirling Association, or the USTA. When this blog originally was introduced, and for our first couple years, we exclusively covered NBTA related Texas events, because that is what we were familiar with. Recently we have been trying to give more attention to our USTA Texas Twirling friends, and the great things they are achieving.

To do this, we reached out to well known and respected USTA Coach and Judge, Lori Lewis Perkins. Lori currently resides in Magnolia, Texas. She has been teaching baton for over 30 years and is the current President of the Texas Twirling Teacher’s Council and a contest director in the Houston Area. In 2019, she was awarded the USTA National Choreography Award. She has trained world medalists, and is a great source of information regarding USTA. We are so happy to have her help in shedding light on this topic!


While twirlers from any organization may learn something from this blog entry, it is aimed at those that currently don’t know about or understand USTA. They have seen that USTA has wonderful twirlers, and they have been interested in checking it out, but are nervous about what they don't know, or scared of those “compulsory things”. Hopefully by this conclusion of this posting, you will be excited about venturing out to an upcoming USTA event!

At USTA Sanctioned Competitions, they offer 5 types of events:

  • Essential Events (For Evaluation Only) – Compulsories, Movement Technique, Short Program
  • Foundation Events: Basic, Military, Presentation, Parade March (Nov., Beg., Int., & Adv. Divisions)
  • Championship Events: Solo, Two Baton, Three Baton, Strut, Artistic Twirl, Duet, Artistic Pairs (Most of these events offer Nov., Beg., Int., & Adv. Divisions, but the Int. division is optional for Three Baton, Duet, and Artistic Pairs).
  • Group Events: Twirl Teams (Novice, A, AA, AAA, and Elite; content restrictions apply), Dance Twirl Teams (Beg., Int. [opt], & Adv.), Trios (Beg., Int. [opt], & Adv.), Parade Corp, Entertainment Corp, Show Teams, and Artistic Group (the last three only offer one level).
  • Collegiate Events: National Collegiate Event, offered at Nationals. Optional for local, state, or regional contests.


Now that we know the TYPES of USTA events, let’s learn how they work and get rid of some of those fears!

1.  You are never required to qualify to compete in a USTA competition for any of the above events.  Anyone may enter local, state, regional, and national competition at your level for the above non-essential events. There has been a lot of incorrect information being spread online recently about the qualification processes for USTA.

2.  Compulsories are never required to enter a USTA competition! We repeat… they are NEVER REQUIRED to compete at a USTA Competition! The only event that relies on compulsory levels is the Freestyle routine for U.S. Trials or Pre-Trials. Someone who has never done a compulsory can still compete at a USTA competition in any other event!

3.  The Competition involving Compulsories and Freestyle is totally separate!  This competition is called the U.S. TRIALS. The U. S. Trials is the selection process for the WBTF World Championships where, to simplify as much as possible, “Four Elite Junior women, Senior Women, Junior Men, & Senior Men must receive a qualifying score to represent Team USA. Additionally, One Junior Pair, One Senior Pair, and One Team can also compete for a qualifying score and Team USA position”. This is a TOUGH competition, and very few athletes ever attain the goal of even competing at this level.


4.  Since #3 is so hard to attain, and USTA believes in providing appropriate training to reach the highest levels, USTA developed the PRE-TRIALS PROGRAM.  The Pre-trials is a separate competition! It offers athletes the opportunity to begin a freestyle routine (similar to an NBTA rhythmic routine) earlier in their development, but with content restrictions. Athletes competing at Level A will only compete in their Region. Once they progress to AA, AAA, or Elite, they have the opportunity to qualify at their region to advance to a National Pre-trials competition, where they compete in compulsories (25% of the score) and freestyle (75% of the score).

5.  USTA uses standardized music for all competitive events.  Timing begins and ends with the music provided. To help make this run smoothly, the USTA uses a set system where each competitor is assigned a lane and a numbered order to perform. This is similar to Twirl Mania, and the process many NBTA contests are using as well. An announcer will call out the names before the music begins.

6. The above listed events are the ONLY sanctioned events offered by USTA.  You may see offered or enter other events at local competitions such as Modeling, Freestyle, Show Twirl, Etc., but those events are Non-sanctioned events and offered at the discretion of the contest directors.

These are just some highlights for you.  A complete rule book with detailed explanation of all events and competitions can be found at www.ustwirling.com. Section 5 of the current edition of the rule book is dedicated to compulsories and movement technique and how they can be beneficial to the proper development of all athletes. Compulsories are not something to be afraid of! Their purpose to is to ensure that Elite twirling athletes are being taught the required skills in the correct manner to ensure they properly represent the US on the World Level with uniformity.

Provided here are some important links to more information on local and national USTA Resources:


We hope this has been helpful to you and cleared up any concerns you might have about checking out a USTA contest in the future. Currently all Texas area competitions are on hold due to Coronavirus issues, however, depending on how the summer goes, some events might get rescheduled into late June/July. This blog will make sure to post about any rescheduled events and share registration information when it becomes available. If you have any additional questions, please reach out to Lori Perkins at twirllp@yahoo.com. She will be happy to help you, or put you in touch with someone that can! 

We hope you have all enjoyed this opportunity to learn something new, and a big thank you to Lori for all her help in explaining this subject! Can't wait to see many new faces at the next USTA event!


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.

Friday, April 17, 2020

#TeamTexas Quarantine T-Shirts!

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

We know this is a time in our lives no one is likely to forget about, but some of our awesome Texas Twirlers have come up with some super cute ways to support each other and remind us that while we may all be apart, we are still united together under this great twirl community!

There are two cute shirt designs below... Check them out, and let us know if you have any questions on ordering. Both of these shirts support companies that have been very supportive to twirlers, and we want to be able to help them out in return if we can. If you order one of these shirts, make sure to post a pic on your social media and tag us! We can't wait to see all our Quarantine Queens Quaran-Twirling online!

Twirling Sweet Sensations Fundraiser Shirt
TSS is doing a Fundraiser to help their families struggling with finances due to loss of jobs or other financial struggles during this Covid-19 shutdown. They have families needing scholarships and they will not allow any twirler to stop doing what they love! They are selling these T-shirts or tank tops for $20 (includes shipping). Color of your choice! Teams with orders of 12 or more can have their team name listed where is says Twirling Sweet Sensations on the design below! Single orders or orders of less than 12 will say, "We are Quaran-Twirling"! Please message TSS on Facebook or email michele.pangrac@gmail.com with the color of shirt and sizes of tanks and/or t-shirts and Michele Pangrac will get them going for you. Twirling Sweet Sensations is a 501(c)3 non-profit.



Quarantine Queen 3 Chicks Tank Top
Jaidyn Poole, our Junior Miss Majorette of the Southwest, and her mom, Mitzi, were talking about how fun it would be to have cute tanks to represent this Quarantine time period. Their idea was to make it in Texas colors and spread the word to as may Texas twirlers as possible to order them. Normally we do a Team Texas shirt for AYOP, but since AYOP is canceled, this is the next best option. If interested contact Marlene Chambers at 3 Chicks Creations via Instagram, FB, or email her at chambersrgbk@yahoo.com to order. You can ask for the "Texas Quarantine Queen" design. You can personalize the back if you would like with your name, year, title, or whatever touch you might want added. Costs will vary based on the design. The goal is to celebrate what the twirlers accomplished and remember this crazy time by celebrating these Texas girls!




Tuesday, April 14, 2020

2020 Fall Twirler Announcements - University of Conneticut

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

It is that exciting time of year where twirlers are auditioning for twirling spots for the Fall. This blog hopes to help spread the excitement by announcing the selections for the lovely twirlers we will see on the field very soon in Texas, and representing out of State. If you have an announcement for new twirler selections for 2020-21, please email texastwirlcontact@gmail.com so that we can help spread the word!

Today we announce the selection of the 2020-21 University of Connecticut Feature Twirler!



The University of Connecticut, also known as "U Conn", located in Storrs, CT, is the home of the Huskies. U Conn has a history of some amazing Feature Twirlers, and this year they get to add a Texas Twirler Maggie Barnett to the list of fantastic talent that has performed on Rentschler Field!

Maggie is currently a student at Byron Nelson High School, where she is a Feature Twirler, alongside her younger sister, and was a baton twirling Ambassador to Peru this past September. She is also the 2019 Miss Majorette of Texas and Inaugural Major Margaret Mann Innovation Award Winner. Maggie is coached by Janice Jackson Seamands of the JJ Texas Star Twirlers.

What made this Texas Twirler interested in going all the way to Connecticut? "UConn provided me with the unique opportunity to twirl while also double majoring in music performance and political science! On each visit to UConn the band directors and staff were so welcoming!" Such an amazing opportunity!

We all want to wish a huge congrats to Maggie as she begins her new adventure at UConn! Go Huskies!


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. 

Sunday, April 12, 2020

2020 Fall Twirler Announcements - Texas Tech University

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

It is that exciting time of year where twirlers are auditioning for twirling spots for the Fall. This blog hopes to help spread the excitement by announcing the selections for the lovely twirlers we will see on the field very soon in Texas, and representing out of State. If you have an announcement for new twirler selections for 2020-21, please email texastwirlcontact@gmail.com so that we can help spread the word!

Today we announce the selection of the 2020-21 Texas Tech University Twirlers!



Texas Tech, located in Lubbock, TX, is well known for their National Champion Twirlers. Led by Coach Bethany Tolley, the Texas Tech Twirlers performs at football games, school events, and compete on the National level. Auditions for the Fall twirling line were held virtually in early April and they selected five twirlers for the Texas Tech Twirling Line and one Feature Twirler.

Returning for the 2020-01 Season will be Feature Twirler Abby Morgan. Abby is from Gonzales, Texas, and has earned the title of 2019 and 2020 Collegiate Miss Majorette of the Southwest, bringing the biggest title in the region home to Raiderland two seasons in a row!


This Fall, Texas Tech is excited to announce they have extended offers to four returning Twirlers, and one new Twirler. Returning this season will be the new Texas Tech Head Twirler - Kimberly Davis, as well as the 2020 Southwest Regional Collegiate Downfield Champion, Chailie Alsaffar, and advanced level twirlers, Emma Zuar and Anna Hughes.


Joining the team this year will be newcomer Morgyn Hendon. Morgan will be a Junior at Tech this Fall. From Midland, TX, she twirled at the Midland Christian School under the direction of former Texas Tech Twirler, Brianne Womble Adkins, and is currently coached by Former Texas Tech Feature Twirler, Amanda Tolley. Morgyn was introduced to the team this weekend through a virtual call with her new teammates. How cute is that? Welcome Morgyn!


Congrats ladies on being a part of another year of this awesome twirling institution. We know it is going to be a great year and we cannot wait to see you all perform together representing what a Texas University can look like. Guns Up Ladies! Wreck 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.

Thursday, April 9, 2020

2020 Fall Twirler Announcements - UT Permian Basin

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

It is that exciting time of year where twirlers are auditioning for twirling spots for the Fall. This blog hopes to help spread the excitement by announcing the selections for the lovely twirlers we will see on the field very soon in Texas, and representing out of State. If you have an announcement for new twirler selections for 2020-21, please email texastwirlcontact@gmail.com so that we can help spread the word!

Also, make sure to check out the 2020 Texas Collegiate Twirler Audition Guide. Most of the information has been updated, including details for several schools that adjusted their try-out dates.

Today we announce the selection of the 2020-21 University of Texas - Permian Basin Falcon Twirlers!


The University of Texas Permian Basin Falcon Twirlers, lead by Coach Marlene Torres, held video auditions earlier this month, and selected three awesome twirlers to represent the Falcon Marching Band for the 2020-2021 season. Congrats to Tori Swindle, Kydie Edwards, and Alaina Adcox! We cannot wait to see these ladies performing this Fall in the famous Ratliff Stadium, home of the movie "Friday Night Lights"!

Tori Swindle will be a Sophomore this upcoming year. Her hometown is Odessa, Texas, and she is coached by Marlene Torres. She is currently attending UTPB and majoring in Nursing.

Kydie Edwards is a High School Senior currently taking concurrent classes at Cisco Junior College and at Albany High School. She plans to major in Business. Her hometown is in Albany, Texas, and previously lived in Colmesneil, Texas. She is coached by Vicki Ray. 

Alaina Adcox is a Senior at Schulenburg High School. Schulenburg, Texas, is her hometown, and she is coached by Shay Yates-Iannelli.  Alaina plans to major in Marketing.

Each of these young ladies will be receiving a scholarship for being a UTPB Twirler. The Falcon Twirlers perform at all pregame and halftime performances with the UTPB Spirit of the Permian Basin Marching Band, and accompany the UTPB Band at pep rallies and other public appearances. For more info about the Falcon Twirler program, visit the UTPB Falcon Twirler's Facebook Page.

Congrats to these ladies. We can't wait to see you all on the field in the Fall! Go Falcons!

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? Please contact us at texastwirlcontact@gmail.com and we would love to hear more about it. 

Sunday, April 5, 2020

2020 Fall Twirler Announcements - Texas Christian University

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

It is that exciting time of year where twirlers are auditioning for twirling spots for the Fall. This blog hopes to help spread the excitement by announcing the selections for the lovely twirlers we will see on the field very soon in Texas, and representing out of State. If you have an announcement for new twirler selections for 2020-21, please email texastwirlcontact@gmail.com so that we can help spread the word!

Also, make sure to check out the 2020 Texas Collegiate Twirler Audition Guide. Most of the information has been updated, including details for several schools that adjusted their try-out dates.

Today we announce the selection of the 2020-21 Texas Christian University Feature Twirlers! 


TCU, located in Fort Worth, TX, is known for some awesome football, and even more awesome twirlers. This coming Fall, the Horned Frogs will feature two new faces on the field showing their purple pride. Let's big a big round of conrats to Haylee Chiariello & Stephanie McBurnett!


Haylee comes to TCU from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She is coached by Vicki Ray from Vick's Chicks. Haylee is also the reigning Miss Mustang and will be representing baton twirling at Miss Oklahoma.


Stephanie is from San Antonio, TX. She is the WCHS Feature Twirler and SW Regional Pageant Royalty. Stephanie has been coached by Patti Mickey, Kayli Mickey-McIntosh, Tori Mays, & Major Margaret Mann.

We are looking forward to seeing these two lovely and talented young ladies as they twirl together in the Amon G. Carter Stadium. Way to go Haylee and Stephanie! Fear the Frog!

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.

Saturday, April 4, 2020

2020 Fall Twirler Announcements - Sam Houston State University

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

It is that exciting time of year where twirlers are auditioning for twirling spots for the Fall. This blog hopes to help spread the excitement by announcing the selections for the lovely twirlers we will see on the field very soon in Texas, and representing out of State. If you have an announcement for new twirler selections for 2020-21, please email texastwirlcontact@gmail.com so that we can help spread the word!

Also, make sure to check out the 2020 Texas Collegiate Twirler Audition Guide. Most of the information has been updated, including details for several schools that adjusted their try-out dates.

Today we announce the selection of the 2020-21 Sam Houston State University Feature Twirlers!

 

The SHSU Twirlers, lead by Coordinator Kelley McCormick, had their normal auditions altered due to the current situation, but still moved forward with virtual auditions and interviews. Following the auditons, three new twirlers were selected to represent the Bearkats this coming fall.

We would like to congratulate new SHSU Feature Twirlers - incoming freshman from The Woodlands, Madison Frantzen, incoming Master's Student from Crandall, TX, Rachel Dugan, and incoming freshman from Latrobe, PA, Yelayna Rossi! We look forward to seeing these three rock the orange and blue in the Elliot T. Bowers Stadium this coming season. Go Bearkat Twirlers!




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.