Collegiate Twirler Spotlight - Iowa State University

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

The weather is finally beginning to change, and it is starting to almost feel like Fall here in Texas! We love this part of the season, and we are once again excited to feature another one of our wonderful Texas Collegians and her Co-Features today. We really enjoyed following these twirlers during their Instastory Takeover this past weekend, and we are happy to share more about these wonderful representatives of our sport. 

This week’s Collegiate Twirler Spotlight is the Iowa State University Feature Twirlers!

Iowa State University, located in Ames, Iowa, is the home of the Cyclones. It is also the home of some amazing performers, including TX Twirler Lexi Kinney, and co-features, Grace Wood, and Haley Spiers!

We asked these twirlers why they chose Iowa State, and they all just said it felt right. According to Lexi, “They have a great business school with great opportunities and school spirit!” As the newest to Iowa State, Haley knew it was the best place for her in just one visit. “When I toured for the first time I fell in love with the campus and Ames immediately felt like home to me.” 

For Grace, it was just meant to be. “I have always been a Cyclone fan, but ultimately the academic opportunities were most important to me. The twirling was an added bonus!” She also has a special ISU connection. “I am a second-generation Iowa State feature twirler; My mom twirled for the ISUCFVMB when she was in college too!”

Anytime you go to school out of state, it is a big decision. We asked our Texas girl, Lexi, what led her to leave Texas for school, and what had been the most difficult thing about being away from home. “I chose to go out of state because Iowa State was so welcoming, and it felt like home when I visited the school. The hardest part about being out of state is the distance. Sometimes it is upsetting that I cannot just come home for a weekend, but I wouldn’t change anything about my experience!”

To get these spots, the twirlers had to go through an audition process focused on skill and showmanship. As they told us, “The audition process for the school is sending in an application/video. After that, you may receive and call back for an in-person audition! Typically, for this audition, you will do a downfield routine to a school song and another routine showing who you are as a twirler, and then you will interview with the twirling coordinator and band director.”

We asked them to share with us their favorite things about Iowa State, and they had a lot to share! “My favorite thing about the school is the atmosphere on gamedays! The Step Show and Spirit Walk get me extra excited for the games,” says Lexi. She also enjoys that the band always has something up their sleeve regarding the halftime show. “They love to surprise the fans!” 

For Haley, it is the campus! “My favorite thing is how beautiful the campus is, I love how much you can connect with nature while on campus.” That connection is why Grace loves the ISU community. “Iowa State is a large university with tons of opportunities and people, but it still has a small-town feeling.” She also shared with us one of their best school traditions. “You become a true ‘Iowa Stater’ when your sweetheart kisses you under the Campanile at Central Campus when the clock strikes midnight.”

Now that we have learned more about life at ISU, let’s learn more about these twirlers!

Lexi Kinney

Competition Level: Advanced

Lexi is a Sophomore from Rockwall, Texas. She is majoring in marketing with a minor in entrepreneurship. Lexi has been twirling since she was six years old. She is coached by Ashley Moss, and also works with the Texas Touch of Class team out of Dallas. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was College Miss Majorette of Iowa. Her favorite competition trick is a Five Spin catch blind, and her favorite field trick is a Toss Front Walkover. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her coach, Ashley Moss. After college, she is still figuring out her next steps, but knows that she hopefully wants to stay in Iowa. 

Grace Wood

Competition Level: Advanced

Grace is a fourth-year student from Indianola, Iowa, that is majoring in nutritional sciences (research option). In addition to being an ISU Feature Twirler, she also works in a lab on campus doing research on diabetic rat models. Grace has been twirling for 18 years and is coached by Dawn Reed. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was Grand National Solo Champion. Grace’s favorite competition trick is anything rolls, and her favorite field trick is anything three baton. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Emily Bright Wood. After college, Grace would like to pursue a master’s and potentially PhD in nutrition and then continue working in research and academia. 

Haley Spiers

Competition Level: Advanced

Haley is a freshman from Waukesha, Wisconsin, that is majoring in athletic training. In addition to being an ISU Feature Twirler, she is also in the Kin club for kinesiology majors. Haley has been twirling for 17 years and is a member of the Revolutions Twirling Club. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was being named an AAU Jr Olympic All-Around Gold Medalist. Haley’s favorite competition trick is a spin double crossover illusion, and her favorite field trick is a high toss Leap crossover illusion. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Anna Spiers. After college, Haley hopes to work with a professional sports team as their athletic trainer. 

Fun Facts! 

• Favorite color: Red (Lexi & Haley), Yellow (Grace)
• Favorite Movie: The 100 (Lexi), Gran Torino (Grace), High School Musical (Haley)
• Favorite Book: Anything written by Jodi Piccoult! (Grace)
• Favorite Food or Drink: Dr Pepper (Lexi), Mashed Potatoes (Grace), Apple Juice (Haley)

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…

• Lexi – “Pray, hope, and don’t worry!”
• Grace – “Leave the world a little better than you found it.”
• Haley – “Everything will work out how it’s supposed to.”

When they are not twirling, they love to… 

• Lexi – “I love to spend time with my friends and family.”
• Grace – “Read, go for runs, and cook.”
• Haley – “Go on hikes with my friends.”

Something people might not know about them… 

• Lexi – “I love to travel anywhere and everywhere!”
• Grace – “I love to fish.”
• Haley – “I love spending time outdoors.”

The best non twirling life skill they have gained from baton twirling is… 

• Lexi – “The best life skill is not giving up when things get hard.”
• Grace – “Self-discipline and a strong work ethic.”
• Haley – “The ability to interact with all types of people.”

Most memorable advice from their coach… 

• Lexi – “No one can do your routines, so go out there and do your best!”
• Grace – “Nobody remembers the titles you win; they remember the way you treat others.”
• Haley – “You can’t control what other people do; you can only do your best.”

Advice to future collegiate twirlers or those in the audition process… 

• Lexi – “Trust the process, you will end up where you are meant to be!”
• Grace – “Choose the place that feels like home and provides you with the academic opportunities you need, the twirling will work out how it’s meant to.”
• Haley – “Have fun during your auditions! You’ll end up where you’re meant to be.”

Favorite memory as a baton twirler… 

• Lexi – “My favorite memory is the pregame of every game. Seeing the band and fans get excited for the game just makes me so happy.”
• Grace – “Twirling fire in the Bill Riley Talent Search finals at the Iowa State Fair on Iowa Public Television, and then being named the grand champion. This is a huge honor in the state of Iowa and I got to meet so many incredible people through this experience.” 
• Haley – “Going to Peru as a twirling ambassador!”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler… 

• Lexi – “The funniest memory is when I tripped in front of everyone on our victory day.”
• Grace – “Playing Steve Harvey in our game show themed twirling corps when I was in middle school.”
• Haley – “I got my baton stuck in a basketball hoop while competing my solo!”

Favorite thing about their university’s marching band program… 

• Lexi – “My favorite thing is at the end of each practice we all gather and sing our school song!”
• Grace – “Our staff and members are so supportive and encouraging. I can truly count on any of the 350 members to support me no matter what!”
• Haley – “I love how kind everyone is, it truly feels like a big family.”

Favorite tradition or inside joke within their band program… 

• Lexi – “At the end of each practice the drum majors say a joke of something funny that happened at practice.”
• Grace – “Singing the alma mater together after every rehearsal. It’s a nice moment to appreciate our unity and hard work for a common goal.” 
• Haley – “I think it’s fun that we sing a version of happy birthday to band members at the end of every practice.”

Something you are really looking forward to this field season… 

• Lexi – “I am looking forward to the great memories that have yet to come with the other two amazing twirlers!”
• Grace – “Making memories with Lexi and Haley. We have so much fun together and there is never a dull moment.”
• Haley – “I’m looking forward to twirling under the lights at Jack Trice for the first time!”

We just loved learning more about these Iowa State twirlers, and we know we will all be cheering for them the rest of the football season. Go Cyclones!

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.