Friday Night Lights Feature - Gonzales High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

We are back for week five of High School Football! This year may look a little different, but twirlers all over Texas are making it work, and we are so excited to be able to Feature many of them over the next couple of months. As those Friday Night Lights turn on in stadiums all over Texas, we hope to see many face masks and safety precautions being taken so that we can continue to enjoy the sights and sounds of football teams, marching bands, and our favorite, lots of talented baton twirlers. Make sure to follow us on Instagram @twirlingiscatchingtx or at facebook.com/twirlingiscatchingtx so you don't miss a thing!

This weekend’s Friday Night Lights Feature is the Gonzales High School Feature Twirler! 

Gonzales, Texas is located east of San Antonio, and is home of the Apaches. Gonzales is also the home of a group of twirlers that have kept batons on the field at GHS games for over a decade! While some years there are multiple twirlers, and sometimes even a line, for Fall 2020, Gonzales High School only has one Feature Twirler, Ava Medellin! Many in #teamtexas may know Ava, as she has represented Texas at AYOP for several years as a solo competitor, pageant qualifier, and team member. 

This is Ava’s third year twirling for GHS, but it is definitely different from any other year. We asked Ava how she handled the quarantine and what she got out of it. “During the spring and summer, I tried to make the best of the quarantine by practicing what I could. Having to practice at home gave me the opportunity to work on things I often skipped over in the past such as modeling, rolls, and flexibility. Although I missed attending state and nationals this year, it was nice to have time to prepare for football season.”

As football season is always an exciting time of the year for the Apache community, we wanted to know what the best part is for Ava. “My favorite thing about marching season is getting to perform with the band at halftime and incorporating my skills into the halftime show! I am very grateful that our band gave me the opportunity to twirl in the marching show this year.”

Being a GHS Feature Twirler comes with a lot of exposure, which is a responsibility Ava doesn’t take lightly. Many of the previous GHS twirlers began twirling due to seeing another twirler performing at football games, and Ava knows that during each performance she might be inspiring the next GHS Feature. She told us, “There are two younger girls who watch and cheer me on at every home game and it makes me so happy knowing that I make a positive influence on them.”

Now that we have learned a little more about the GHS Community, let’s learn more about Ava!

Ava Medellin
Junior Feature Twirler
Ava is an advanced level twirler that is coached by Pat Montgomery and Michael Lopez of the Alamo City Strutters. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was the 2019 Texas Junior Intermediate Pageant Winner. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by current Texas Tech Feature Twirler, Abby Morgan. Her favorite field tricks are elbow pops and back neck rolls. After High School she hopes to attend a University and perform as a Feature Twirler. 

Fun Facts!
Favorite Color – Purple
Favorite Movie – “Pitch Perfect 3”
Favorite TV Show – “Vampire Diaries” & “Gossip Girl”
Favorite Music – Taylor Swift
Favorite Book – “Maybe One Day”

Favorite Quote… 

“She believed she could, so she did!”

Best advice from her coach… 

“Rolls rolls rolls!”

Favorite Moment as a Baton Twirler…
“My favorite so far was getting to perform my solo in the advanced solo-offs at regionals this year. It was scary at first, but once I got out there it was such an amazing feeling to be performing in front of everyone.”

Funniest Moment as a Baton Twirler… 
“I was twirling fire during halftime and two of the batons wouldn’t light! In the moment it wasn’t very fun but looking back it was funny and it made the audience laugh!”

Baton Twirling has been a major part of Ava’s life and has really prepared her for her future. In addition to learning how to be a good role model, she feels baton twirling has also made her more sure of herself. “Twirling has helped me become more confident and it has shown me how to break out of my shell!”

Knowing the confidence she has gained through baton twirling, we asked Ava what advice she would pass along to any future twirlers, and she told us that always giving her best effort has really paid off. “Practice as if you are performing, always time your routines, and go full out no matter what.”

We want to thank Ava for great advice and we wish her an amazing rest of the season. Go Apaches!

We hope you have enjoyed this edition of our FNL Feature. Have a favorite HS or Collegiate Twirler that you would like to see interviewed? Please contact us at texastwirlcontact@gmail.com with their name and email address so that we can reach out to them!