Hello Texas Twirl Fans!
The end of September is here, fall has arrived, and the collegiate twirlers are bringing the sparkle and shine each weekend. We loved following this twirler and her Game Day last weekend, and we know you will enjoy learning more about this South Carolina girl turned #TeamTexas 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 Collegiate Twirler Spotlight is on the University of Texas Feature Twirler!
Photo credits to Ralph Arvesen
The University of Texas (aka the BEST UT!), is located in Austin, Texas, and is currently home of the #1 Football Team in the country! Hook Em! It is also the home of the sweet and talented University of Texas Feature Twirler, Gracie Williams!
Gracie joins an amazing legacy of Longhorn Feature Twirlers. “I’m the 35th Feature Twirler at the University of Texas!” The Longhorn Feature Twirler is front and center on UT Game Days and has so many amazing performance opportunities. “One of my favorite parts of my position is getting to perform to “Wabash” during the third quarter of football games and being part of all the fun traditions that come with Texas game days!”
We wanted to know the process about how Gracie earned this prestigious position. “Our audition process includes an initial video submission, followed by in-person tryouts and an interview in the Bubble, our indoor practice facility!” These auditions, and all the amazing opportunities Gracie gets throughout the year, are coordinated by UT Feature Twirler #29 and current UT Twirling Coach, Whitney King Coons.
It is really not a surprise why someone would want to attend UT, but we asked Gracie what brought her to the ATX. “I chose Texas because it really had everything I was looking for in a college! It’s an amazing school academically and athletically, has so many opportunities, and is in such a fun city. Being able to continue twirling while pursuing my academic goals made it the perfect fit for me!”
Being from South Carolina, this decision meant leaving home and going to school out of State. “Coming from a small town in South Carolina, I really wanted to step outside my comfort zone and experience something new! I loved the idea of moving somewhere completely different, meeting new people, and getting to explore a new city. Texas felt like the perfect place to do all of that while still getting the college experience I had always wanted!”
Now that she is in Texas, we wanted to know what the best part is about attending UT, and Gracie said, “Definitely being in Austin! I love that there’s always something to do, whether it’s trying new restaurants and coffee shops, exploring the city, or just finding random things to do with friends. I feel like there’s always something new to experience here!”
Attending a major university like the University of Texas surely comes with great traditions, and Gracie assured us that UT has traditions as big as Texas. “I love Smokey the Cannon and lighting the Tower burnt orange! There’s nothing like hearing the cannon go off after a touchdown or seeing the Tower lit up after a big win!”
Another great thing about twirling at UT is being a part of the Showband of the Southwest! The Longhorn Marching Band marches 400+ members and is a huge part of Game Day. This creates a special bond and their own set of traditions. “After practices, the entire band gathers around the ladder to play “Texas Fight,” and every section has its own fun little traditions they do with their group.”
Finally, with being the #1 Football Team in the Country, there has to be so much to look forward to this season, so we asked Gracie what she is the most excited for, and she told us she is excited for the away games. “Getting to travel with the band and experience game days in different stadiums is so much fun, and I’m especially excited with all the hype surrounding Texas football this season!”
Now that we have learned more about twirling at UT, let’s learn about Gracie!
Gracie is an Elite level twirler from Pendleton, South Carolina, who is majoring in Kinesiology. She has been twirling for 13 years as a member of the Carolina Superstars, and is coached by Hazel Cartee. The competition titles she is the proudest of winning include the 2023 Junior Nations Cup X-Strut Champion, 2024 Senior Congressional Cup Twirl-Off Champion, and 2026 Senior Miss Majorette of the Southwest. Her favorite twirling trick is a reverse horizontal 4 spin, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Ally Duda and Steffany Lien. After college she hopes to attend physical therapy school and become a pediatric physical therapist, “with the long-term goal of opening my own pediatric PT clinic!”
Favorites!
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite TV Show: Austin and Ally
Favorite Movie: The Proposal
Favorite Book: Postcards from Summer
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite TV Show: Austin and Ally
Favorite Movie: The Proposal
Favorite Book: Postcards from Summer
Must-Have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Cheez-Its, GoGo squeeZ, and Gatorade!”
Favorite Quote or Life Motto…
“You must either modify your dreams or magnify your skills.” — Jim Rohn
“You must either modify your dreams or magnify your skills.” — Jim Rohn
When she is not twirling, she loves to…
“I love just spending time with friends whether it’s exploring Austin, trying new coffee shops and restaurants, finding fun little adventures to go on, or just hanging out!”
“I love just spending time with friends whether it’s exploring Austin, trying new coffee shops and restaurants, finding fun little adventures to go on, or just hanging out!”
Something people might not know about her is…
“I have an older brother and sister!”
“I have an older brother and sister!”
The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“Definitely time management! Between school, practices, performances, competitions, and everything else going on, twirling has taught me how to balance a busy schedule and make time for the things that are important to me. It’s also taught me a lot about being responsible and staying committed to something even when things get busy!”
“Definitely time management! Between school, practices, performances, competitions, and everything else going on, twirling has taught me how to balance a busy schedule and make time for the things that are important to me. It’s also taught me a lot about being responsible and staying committed to something even when things get busy!”
The most memorable advice from her coach…
“Mrs. Hazel has always reminded me that at the end of the day, twirling isn’t just about winning titles or being the best. It’s about being a good person, being someone others can look up to, and being the best version of yourself both on and off the floor. I think that’s something that has really stuck with me throughout my twirling career because there’s so much more to this sport than just the competition side of it!
“Mrs. Hazel has always reminded me that at the end of the day, twirling isn’t just about winning titles or being the best. It’s about being a good person, being someone others can look up to, and being the best version of yourself both on and off the floor. I think that’s something that has really stuck with me throughout my twirling career because there’s so much more to this sport than just the competition side of it!
Advice for future collegiate twirlers…
“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and go after what you want! Also you’ll end up at the place that’s meant for you! Collegiate twirling is such a unique experience, and it’s so much more than just performing on the field. The friendships, opportunities, and memories that come with it are some of the best parts. Enjoy every second of it, because getting to represent your university doing something you love is such a special experience!”
“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and go after what you want! Also you’ll end up at the place that’s meant for you! Collegiate twirling is such a unique experience, and it’s so much more than just performing on the field. The friendships, opportunities, and memories that come with it are some of the best parts. Enjoy every second of it, because getting to represent your university doing something you love is such a special experience!”
Funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Honestly, some of my funniest memories are just from being at twirling camps with my friends! Between all the random things that happen during practices and the time spent together outside of twirling, there’s never a dull moment. Some of my favorite memories from this sport have come from those friendships and all the little moments in between!”
“Honestly, some of my funniest memories are just from being at twirling camps with my friends! Between all the random things that happen during practices and the time spent together outside of twirling, there’s never a dull moment. Some of my favorite memories from this sport have come from those friendships and all the little moments in between!”
What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“Definitely game days and getting to be on the field with the Longhorn Band! There’s nothing like the energy of DKR on a Saturday, and I think I’ll miss everything that comes with it, from early morning rehearsals and getting ready with everyone, to performing in front of thousands of Texas fans. It’s such a fun experience, and the season always goes by way too fast!”
We want to thank Gracie for sharing her Game Day with us, and we wish her and the Longhorns an amazing rest of their season. Hook 'Em Horns!
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.
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