Friday Night Lights Feature - Harlan High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

Welcome to Band-Tober! Every twirler that is a part of their marching band understands that Band-Tober means band, band, and more band all month long! It is an exhausting month, but we all know we love it, especially when it means more and more twirling on those fields!

Each season this blog likes to get to know many of our awesome Texas twirlers a little better by learning about their experiences. We will be meeting many High School twirlers throughout the season with the Friday Night Lights Features and discovering more about our Texas Collegians with the Collegiate Twirler Spotlights. We will also be having many of our High School and Collegiate twirlers take over our Social Media Story for their Game Days! Make sure to follow us on Instagram @twirlingiscatchingtx or at facebook.com/twirlingiscatchingtx so you don't miss a thing!

Our next Friday Night Lights Feature is the Harlan High School Twirlers!

Harlan High School, located in San Antonio, Texas, is the home of the Hawks, and today’s Friday Night Light Features - HHS Feature Twirler, Faith Zaverl, and Twirler in Training, Lily Varghese!

A fun fact about these two twirlers is that Faith is the first ever Feature Twirler at Harlan High School, and Lily is the first twirler in training! Since Faith was the first twirler in school history, there was not an audition process. Then, Lily chose to be trained and mentored for a year to be the Feature her sophomore year when Faith graduates. 

In addition to being welcoming to twirling, they both love their school! “Our favorite thing about our school is the culture of greatness.” This culture leads to some amazing school spirit, including what they consider the best display of that spirit. “The best tradition at our school is playing the Alma Mater and Fight Song after every game!”

They also have some great traditions within their band. One of the funniest is an inside joke they all share. “During the ‘Hey Song’ after yelling ‘Go Hawks Go’ we will yell ‘Rooms to Go’ instead!”

Finally, we asked them what they are looking forward to the most this season, and they said their Hero’s Game. “We get to perform with both schools on the field!”

Now that we have heard more about twirling at HHS, let’s learn more about Faith & Lily!

Faith Zaverl, Senior
Faith has been twirling since first grade. She is a member of the Heart of Texas Twirlers where she is coached by Mary Ann Pozzi. The competition title she is the proudest of earning was when she won the 2025 Senior Beginner Texas Pageant. “I am really proud of the amount of work I put in leading up to that competition!” Her favorite competition trick is a one spin illusion, and her favorite field trick is a toss cartwheel. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by all of the Collegiate Twirlers. “They have so much discipline and talent!” After High School she plans to go to college for sports psychology.

Favorite color: Blue
Favorite TV show/movie: The Summer I Turned Pretty
Favorite book: Better Than the Movies

Must-have Game Day snack/drink: 
“I need to have an energy drink and some pretzels.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto: 
“I get to do this!”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“I love hanging out with my friends and new people.”

Something people may not know about her… 
“I take college classes while in high school and I will graduate from high school with and associates degree.”

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…
“Self-confidence! Competing and performing solo has taught me to believe in myself even when you are nervous.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Practice will always show up on the floor, it is just a matter of how much you put in.”

Advice to future high school twirlers…
“Remember you are doing this to have fun and the people watching don’t see the mistakes, they see how you shine on the field.”

Her funniest memory as a twirler…
“All of the delusional conversations after practices and competitions.”

Her favorite thing about football season… 
“The energy! It is purely adrenaline from doing what you love.”

What will she miss the most when football season ends… 
“I will miss walking on the field and having the rest of the world melt around me.”

Lily Varghese, Freshman
Lily has been twirling for six months, and she is coached by Mary Ann Pozzi. Her favorite competition trick is a 2 Baton Catch and her favorite field trick is a Finger Twirl Spin. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her co-feature, Faith Zaverl. After High School, she plans on going to college.

Favorite color: Blue
Favorite TV show/movie: Cobra Kai
Favorite book: We Were Liars

Must-have Game Day snack/drink: 
“Apples and water.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto: 
Jeremiah 29:11

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Read or hang out with my best friend.”

Something people may not know about her… 
“I love pineapple!”

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…
“Resilience.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
 “It doesn’t matter what others think as long as you’re having fun.”

Advice to future high school twirlers…
“It will be hard, but it is worth it!”

Her funniest memory as a twirler…
“Hitting Faith in the face with a baton (sorry)!”

Her favorite thing about football season… 
“Getting to be part of something amazing!”

What will she miss the most when football season ends… 
“Having the time of my life at games!”

We want to thank Faith and Lily for sharing their Game Day with us, and we wish them a wonderful remainder of their football season. Go Haws!

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.