Hello Texas Twirl Fans!
The sights and sounds of football (and band) season are all around us, and we just love seeing the twirlers sparkle and shine each week. We also loved following this week’s Friday Night Lights Feature as they took over the Instastory, and we are excited to learn more about them!
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 Vista Ridge High School Feature Twirlers!
Photo credit @jasonmoodytx
Vista Ridge High School, located in Cedar Park, Texas, is the home of the Rangers. It is also home to the Vista Ridge Twirlers, Hailey Wood and Annie Addison.
We wanted to know how they earned their twirling positions, and they said it was more about a conversation with the band director. According to Hailey, “the High School band director my freshman year had been my middle school band director, so I had known him for a while. (Fun fact, we actually share the same birthday!) He had followed my twirling through middle school so when it was time to talk about High School we had a conversation about what options might be available. This allowed me to twirl at the 8th grade band night game, where I met the VRHS Principal. He was so excited to have a twirler! With both of their support I twirl on the sidelines and in parades and stadium pep rallies. This year Annie came in as a freshman and is able to join me on the sidelines after halftime.”
One thing about Ranger Nation is that they take their traditions seriously. The one that gets the entire student body involved is when the Marching Band plays SAIL. “At pep rallies and after halftime of every game, the band joins together and plays the song Sail by AWOLNation. All the spirit groups have a dance they do, the student section goes crazy, and the band jumps around and has so much fun. The best part is during the drum break when we all stare at each other and shout out words that rhyme with ‘sail’. Sail, Hail, Rail, Mail...”
With so many games, pep rallies, and even fireworks and a parade for Homecoming, there is a lot to look forward to this season, but the thing both Hailey and Annie are the most excited about is getting to share the sidelines. As Hailey tells us “Annie and I have both been a part of Twirl ATX for many years. We have spent many long days training in the gym together and supporting each other at contests for awhile, so it is very fun to get to put that on the field. It is so great to be able to cheer each other on!”
Now that we have learned more about twirling at VRHS, let’s learn more about Hailey & Annie!
Hailey Wood, Sophomore
Hailey is an Elite level competitor that has been twirling since she was four years old. She is a member of the Mickey’s Majorettes, where she is coached by Kayli Mickey-McIntosh, Patti Mickey, and Tori Elyea, as well as being a junior coach for Twirl ATX and a member of the Ambition Baton Club for team. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was being named the 2025 NBTA Junior Grand National Twirling Champion. “It was truly a dream come true!” She is also proud to be a 3x member of Team USA and looks forward to competing in England this coming summer. Her favorite twirling tricks are illusion walkovers and “all the rolls!” In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Emily (Perkins) Lisenby and Savannah Miller. After High School, she hopes to major in graphic design and hopefully be able to represent a University as a collegiate twirler.
Hailey is an Elite level competitor that has been twirling since she was four years old. She is a member of the Mickey’s Majorettes, where she is coached by Kayli Mickey-McIntosh, Patti Mickey, and Tori Elyea, as well as being a junior coach for Twirl ATX and a member of the Ambition Baton Club for team. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was being named the 2025 NBTA Junior Grand National Twirling Champion. “It was truly a dream come true!” She is also proud to be a 3x member of Team USA and looks forward to competing in England this coming summer. Her favorite twirling tricks are illusion walkovers and “all the rolls!” In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Emily (Perkins) Lisenby and Savannah Miller. After High School, she hopes to major in graphic design and hopefully be able to represent a University as a collegiate twirler.
Favorites
Favorite Color – Cinderella Blue
Favorite Movie/TV Show/Book – “Spiderman: Far From Home”, “Project Hail Mary” (movie & book), and “Danny Phantom”
Favorite Color – Cinderella Blue
Favorite Movie/TV Show/Book – “Spiderman: Far From Home”, “Project Hail Mary” (movie & book), and “Danny Phantom”
Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
"Clif BLOKS, grape Gatorade, and Z Bars."
"Clif BLOKS, grape Gatorade, and Z Bars."
Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“Treat every day like Elle Woods after after Warner told her that she wasn’t smart enough for law school.”
When she is not twirling, she loves to…
“Do Asiatic Instinctive Archery, write poetry, and do Diamond Art.”
“Treat every day like Elle Woods after after Warner told her that she wasn’t smart enough for law school.”
When she is not twirling, she loves to…
“Do Asiatic Instinctive Archery, write poetry, and do Diamond Art.”
Something people might not know about her…
“I have a thing called POTS. Basically the autonomic system that manages the flow of blood from my heart to my brain doesn’t do its job all the time, which can leave me dizzy and nauseous. This has been a big challenge as a baton twirler, but thankfully with the help of my neurologist we have found ways to improve my symptoms and keep me twirling safely!”
“I have a thing called POTS. Basically the autonomic system that manages the flow of blood from my heart to my brain doesn’t do its job all the time, which can leave me dizzy and nauseous. This has been a big challenge as a baton twirler, but thankfully with the help of my neurologist we have found ways to improve my symptoms and keep me twirling safely!”
The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“Pain tolerance! (JK). It has taught me how to be able to carry myself with confidence.”
“Pain tolerance! (JK). It has taught me how to be able to carry myself with confidence.”
The most memorable advice from her coach…
“Think about the positives before the negatives.”
“Think about the positives before the negatives.”
Advice to future high school twirlers…
“Game days are loud (especially the band and student section) and often chaotic, but just make sure to have fun and enjoy the experience. Also, say hi and get to know the sidelines photographers. They take wonderful photos!”
“Game days are loud (especially the band and student section) and often chaotic, but just make sure to have fun and enjoy the experience. Also, say hi and get to know the sidelines photographers. They take wonderful photos!”
Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“It wasn’t funny at the time, but now it is a great story. The night before I won Junior Grands at AYOP in 2025 I dislocated my rib during solo offs. I competed in Grands not knowing the pain was a rib dislocation, and still won the Grands title! I always tell myself if I can do that, I can do anything!”
“It wasn’t funny at the time, but now it is a great story. The night before I won Junior Grands at AYOP in 2025 I dislocated my rib during solo offs. I competed in Grands not knowing the pain was a rib dislocation, and still won the Grands title! I always tell myself if I can do that, I can do anything!”
What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“Getting to cheer on and being cheered on by the VRHS Band and Colorguard. Love y’all!”
Annie Addison, Freshman
Annie is an Intermediate level competitor that has been twirling for six years. She is a member of the Twirl ATX, where she is coached by Whitney Coons, as well as Jassandra Sadler and Ashley Wood. The competition placement she is the proudest of earning was being named the 2025 Beginner Preteen Texas State Pageant Winner. Her favorite twirling tricks are fishtails and toss front walkovers. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Annetta Lucero. After high school, she hopes to be a feature twirler at a college/university and study to become an elementary school teacher.
“Getting to cheer on and being cheered on by the VRHS Band and Colorguard. Love y’all!”
Annie is an Intermediate level competitor that has been twirling for six years. She is a member of the Twirl ATX, where she is coached by Whitney Coons, as well as Jassandra Sadler and Ashley Wood. The competition placement she is the proudest of earning was being named the 2025 Beginner Preteen Texas State Pageant Winner. Her favorite twirling tricks are fishtails and toss front walkovers. In baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Annetta Lucero. After high school, she hopes to be a feature twirler at a college/university and study to become an elementary school teacher.
Favorites!
Favorite Color – Purple
Favorite TV Show, Movie, or Book – Fruits Basket
Favorite Color – Purple
Favorite TV Show, Movie, or Book – Fruits Basket
Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink…
“Orange Gatorade”
“Orange Gatorade”
Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“Always be kind, the smallest smile could make someone’s day better.”
“Always be kind, the smallest smile could make someone’s day better.”
When she is not twirling, she loves to…
“Watch anime and play the french horn.”
“Watch anime and play the french horn.”
Something people might not know about her…
“I can recognize and name all the flags of the world.”
“I can recognize and name all the flags of the world.”
The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…
“The ability to never give up and commit to something even though it can be hard.”
“The ability to never give up and commit to something even though it can be hard.”
The most memorable advice from her coach…
“It was the Regionals competition in 2023 and I was having a tough time with my back neck rolls, so I was really frustrated at myself. My regional solo did not go well and I started to cry as I came off the floor. Coach Whitney pulled me aside and said that “It’s okay. It’s just twirling. It’s supposed to be fun!” I really cherish that moment because it was the day that I realized twirling wasn’t just about being the best and being perfect, it’s also about having fun and just enjoying yourself in the moment. I went on to win my open solo at regionals that year because of the small sweet words she gave me that day.”
“It was the Regionals competition in 2023 and I was having a tough time with my back neck rolls, so I was really frustrated at myself. My regional solo did not go well and I started to cry as I came off the floor. Coach Whitney pulled me aside and said that “It’s okay. It’s just twirling. It’s supposed to be fun!” I really cherish that moment because it was the day that I realized twirling wasn’t just about being the best and being perfect, it’s also about having fun and just enjoying yourself in the moment. I went on to win my open solo at regionals that year because of the small sweet words she gave me that day.”
Advice to future high school twirlers…
“Whenever you get out on the turf or sideline, have a big smile and just have fun with it. Toss the baton high and show the people what you got.”
“Whenever you get out on the turf or sideline, have a big smile and just have fun with it. Toss the baton high and show the people what you got.”
Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“At a fourth of July parade my baton was slippery because it was raining really hard and I was marching as well while twirling in the rain. I did a high toss and it slipped out of my hand and flew into the crowd, which they threw back to me. I laughed but felt terrible since I was worried I could have hurt someone!”
“At a fourth of July parade my baton was slippery because it was raining really hard and I was marching as well while twirling in the rain. I did a high toss and it slipped out of my hand and flew into the crowd, which they threw back to me. I laughed but felt terrible since I was worried I could have hurt someone!”
What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“Being able to perform for my school and also cheering on my team. It’s a very fun time!”
Thank you to Hailey & Annie for sharing their game day with us. We wish them the very best rest of their season, and we know they will continue to shine together. Go Ranger Nation!
“Being able to perform for my school and also cheering on my team. It’s a very fun time!”
Thank you to Hailey & Annie for sharing their game day with us. We wish them the very best rest of their season, and we know they will continue to shine together. Go Ranger Nation!
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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