Collegiate Twirler Spotlight - Tarleton State University Feature Twirler

 Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Can you believe competition season starts in just a little over one week here in Texas?  We know all our #TeamTexas collegiate twirlers are doing everything they can to get the most out of their football season during these final weeks, especially this Texan. We loved following her Game Day experience on the Instastory Takeover, and we hope you did too!

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

Tarleton State University, located in Stephenville, Texas, is the home of the Texans, and today’s featured twirler! The Tarleton Marching Band, known as The Sound and The Fury, is a key Texan spirit organization, and their Feature Twirler, Emilie Janicek, is the centerpiece of their Game Days!

We asked Emilie what made her choose Tarleton, and she said it was love at first sight! “It all started during my Campus Tour on Labor Day of 2021. I loved the vibe at Tarleton State University! The college had everything I wanted—a rich history and meaningful traditions, a D1 sports program, an enclosed campus, that small-town feel, a spectacular music scene, outstanding academics and research opportunities for my major, plus lots of options to become involved on campus and to make a difference!

About a week later, I received my welcome and acceptance letter from Dr. James Hurley, Tarleton's President. Two days later, I received confirmation of being in the University's Honors Degree program. That same afternoon, I received a text from a chatbot with the adorable name of Oscar P.! My devotion to Tarleton began at that moment.

When housing applications opened, I hit the submit button and paid the non-refundable deposit. I committed to Tarleton---regardless of whether I got the privilege of representing the University and its marching band as Tarleton's Feature Twirler.”

Going into twirling discussions already committed to Tarleton, Emilie didn't experience the typical audition process. “After my Campus Tour, I signed up for Tarleton's Game Day Tour so my dad could see the campus and watch the football team play. While researching more about the University, I noticed that Tarleton's All-Region Band Clinic, Band Day, and the Game Day Tour were all on September 25th!

The schedules didn't conflict, so I signed up for the Band Day portion, but there wasn't an option for a twirler to play a part, so I emailed Dr. David Robinson, Director of Bands, and asked if I could participate as a baton twirler. He replied that they looked forward to having me, and that he would let Dr. Westbrook and I work out the details.

I had an impromptu, live audition at marching band rehearsal and a guest feature twirler performance at the game. Dr. Gary Westbrook offered the Feature Twirler position to me on the spot, which solidified that Tarleton State University was my destiny!”

That destiny has led Emilie to an amazing experience at Tarleton. While she says there are many things to love about the school, her favorite thing is the professors! “I love that if you put yourself out there and put in your best effort, the Professors, Academic Advisors, Academic College Deans and Department Heads, the Athletics Department and Coaches, Executive Leadership, and the University's President, Dr. James Hurley, and wife, First Lady Kindall, genuinely want to get to know you, watch you succeed, and help you in any way they can!”

In addition to a wonderful faculty, Tarleton has some fantastic traditions. “We have a lot of traditions, and they're all so cool! The Walk Down Rudder Way, Pointe Du Hoc led by the Texan Corps of Cadets' Cannon Team, Lighting of the Smokestack, Yell Contest, Snake Dance, Beating of the Drum, Bonfire built by the Plowboys, Silver Bugle Hunt, Midnight Breakfast with purple pancakes, Founder’s Week, and Legend of the Texan Rider! Also, we love our Oscar P., who might look like a mascot, but he's Tarleton Texans' spirit animal!”

She can’t forget the Purple Poo though when talking about traditions… Yes, we said the Purple Poo. “The Purple Poo is the oldest and most secretive spirit organization in Texas. This year, we’re celebrating their 100th year! The Poo show up to campus events and raise school spirit. They do so anonymously by disguising their identities by wearing masks and costumes, and by changing their voices.”

With all of these traditions, we had to know which one was her favorite, and she told us, “The best tradition by far, although bittersweet, is that first-year students light a candle during convocation to signify joining the Tarleton family. Each student's flame burns until his/her death, and a Tarleton brother or sister lays the flame to rest at the annual Silver Taps Ceremony.”

Now that we have learned more about Tarleton, let’s learn more about Emilie!

Emilie Janicek
Emilie is a Sophomore from Smiley, Texas, and is majoring in Biomedical Sciences on the Pre-Med track. In addition to being the Tarleton Feature Twirler, she is also very involved on campus. “I serve as the Vice President of Global and Community Connections for our University as a member of the Executive Board of Tarleton's Student Government Association. This position gives me the privilege of getting to know a diverse group of people and interacting with multiple campus organizations and the greater Stephenville community. I'm happy to listen to and voice students' concerns and needs. I also serve as an Honors College Ambassador and work for the Honors College by mentoring approximately sixteen Freshmen. Additionally, I am a member of Phi Mu - Epsilon Pi Chapter. I’m thrilled that Phi Mu has a national philanthropic partner, the Children's Miracle Network, to which all the chapters contribute. Epsilon Pi has the honor of working with Cook's Children's Hospital in Fort Worth. We also help out at Foster's Home for Children in Stephenville.” 

Emilie is a collegiate level twirler that has only been competing since she was 12. “I received my first Starline baton as a gift when I was four, but I didn't become involved in the sport until I was twelve. I've learned a lot in 7 years, and I'm still learning new tricks and skills.” Her favorite competition event is 3-baton, and her favorite field trick is, “Definitely elbow pops because the crowd loves them!” In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Kristie Kriegel Peterman, The University of Texas at Austin's 1986-91 Longhorn Feature Twirler. 

After College, Emilie hopes to continue on the medical track. “My short-term goal is Medical School. Until then, I plan to research eye disease and vision disorders, as well as work as an intern at different medical practices. My ultimate goal is a career as an ophthalmologist. In addition, I plan on continuing the sport of baton twirling by coaching and sharing my passion for shiny, spinning metal sticks.”

Fun Facts!

Favorite Color: “Purple!”

Favorite TV show or Movie: “It's a tie between Criminal Minds and Grey's Anatomy.”

Favorite Book or Podcast: “There are too many great books to choose just one! My go-to podcast for long drives is ‘Even the Rich.’”

Favorite Food or Drink: “My current favorites are sushi and Sonic's Ocean Water.”

Favorite Quotes…
"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." ~Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

"What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be?" ~Angie Thomas, The Hate You Give

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Prov 3:5-6

When she is not twirling, she loves to…
“Read; Walk around campus; Hang out, cook, and study with my friends; Call my mom!”

Something people might not know about her…
“The same year I chose to be a baton twirler, I was diagnosed with a specific type of corneal dystrophy, where bright lights can cause eye pain, halos, and glare. The diagnosis explained a lot of the symptoms I had been experiencing while twirling at pep rallies, games, and twirling competitions. With the increased use of LED lights on football fields and in sporting arenas, performing requires strategic planning before tossing the batons into the air. More often than not, I go for it and trust my training.”

The best non twirling life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“Time management is a soft skill I've mastered due to baton twirling. I've learned how to be efficient and productive with my time, which allows me to participate in multiple activities, earn good grades, and still have time for fun and relaxation.”

Advice to future collegiate twirlers or those in the audition process…
“Choose the college you attend because you love everything about it and can see yourself thriving there during your undergraduate years. If you get to twirl as the feature or as a line twirler, it will make being an Ambassador for the University and its band program a breeze and super fun!”

Favorite memory as a baton twirler…
“Something I will never forget is hearing the announcer introduce me as ‘Feature Twirler, Emilie Janicek’ and pronouncing my last name correctly!”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“It was so cold at Tarleton's Senior Night football game last year that I stuffed hand warmers into my costume and kept them there during our halftime performance. I was worried that one of the warmers would fall out during a trick or that the heat would melt my costume.”

Favorite thing about your university's marching band program…
“Our marching band gets to travel and perform at all of our out-of-town football games in Texas! Getting to perform in different-sized stadiums is really fun, and it’s a blast hanging out with the different sections during the games. Each section has its own personality, and I love that!”

Favorite tradition or inside joke within your band program…
“Our athletic bands always sing Tarleton's Alma Mater, "The Color Song," acapella after every game.”

Something you are really looking forward to this field season…
“This season has been more exciting than ever because I’ve gotten to know some of the starters on defense and offense and their coaches. I look forward to being on the sidelines cheering on The Texans at every game!”

We want to thank Emilie for sharing her Game Day with us, and we wish her an amazing rest of her Fall season, and a great rest of her school year. Go Texans!

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.