Friday Night Lights Feature - Klein Collins High School

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

October has come and gone, and November is here in full swing, which means we have come to the end of regular season High School football! How sad is that? We still have a few more opportunities left to see these twirlers doing what they do best, so what better way to wrap up this weekend than with a feature about this awesome twirler!

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 Klein Collins High School Feature Twirler!

Klein Collins High School, located in Klein, Texas (north of Houston), is the home of the Tigers, and this week’s Friday Night Lights Featured Twirler, Katherine Heier!

An interesting fact about Klein Collins is that while they do not have twirling positions with the band, Katherine has been fortunate to be able to twirl on the sidelines from time to time with the support of her Dance Team Directors! As an officer on her dance team, Katherine pulls double duty on game days and loves the opportunity! Plus, the KCHS dance team is fantastic! “My Dance team won first place in the Intermediate Pom division at UDA Nationals in Orlando, Florida!”

We asked Katherine what her favorite thing about Klein Collins is, and she said it is the sense of community. “Everyone supports each other, and there’s always something exciting happening!”

This sense of community feeds into some amazing traditions. Katherine’s is the mini pep rally on game days. “It’s the perfect way to boost energy, celebrate our teams, and get everyone hyped for the night ahead!” Another favorite tradition is their  annual Football Buddy Party. “Each dancer is paired with a football player for the season, and we kick things off with games, gift exchanges, and lots of laughs. Throughout the year, we get to cheer them on at games and build strong friendships between the teams.”

Finally, we wanted to know what Katherine was looking forward to the most this fall, and she said she was most excited for the homecoming game that she got to share with us. “I was most looking forward to the homecoming game because it was also senior night and Halloween, which makes it extra special and exciting!”

Now that we have heard more about twirling at Klein Collins, let’s learn more about Katherine!

Katherine Heier, Senior
Katherine has been twirling for 10 years. She is coached by Caroline Carothers Reed but has been adopted by the Twirling Sweet Sensations these past two years while Caroline moved to Washington State. The competition placement she is the proudest of earning was when she placed 11th in the Advanced Open Age 15 Solo at nationals. Her favorite competition skill is her turn section in her X-Strut.  “It’s my favorite trick because it challenges me and lets me shine during competitions.” Her favorite field trick is either a toss switch arabesque or a toss cartwheel. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by her coach, and former Miss Texas, Caroline. “Her dedication, skill, and encouragement push me to improve and perform my best.” After high school, she plans to study pre-physical therapy while continuing to twirl in college.

Favorite color: Pink
Favorite TV show/movie: The Summer I Turned Pretty and Dance Moms.
Favorite book: “The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han

Must-have Game Day snack/drink…
“Every game day, I make sure to have my must-have snack and drink: chicken minis and Dutch Bros. It’s a fun tradition that gets me energized for the game.”

Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“‘Everything will work out exactly how it is supposed to be.’ It serves as a constant reminder to embrace perseverance, stay positive through difficulties, and trust in the journey.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Volunteer and hang out with friends.”

Something people may not know about her… 
“I coach the local Little League cheer and dance team in my area.”

The best life lesson she has learned from twirling is…
“Time management — balancing practices, performances, school, and other activities has taught me how to prioritize and stay organized.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“It's not about how long you practice; it's about the quality of your practice.”

Advice to future high school twirlers… 
“Enjoy every moment, even the hard practices, because the memories and friendships you make are worth it.”

Funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“In my 5th-grade talent show when I slipped during an illusion and fell.”

Her favorite thing about marching season… 
“When the student section throws confetti in the third quarter — it’s such a fun, lively tradition that gets everyone hyped up for the rest of the game!”

What will she miss the most when football season ends… 
“The games themselves — the excitement, energy, and school spirit make every game unforgettable.”

We want to thank Katherine for sharing her Game Day with us. It was so fun to see how she has made twirling and dance team work together, and we wish her a great remainder of her season! Go Tigers!

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.