Collegiate Twirler Spotlight - Texas Christian University Feature Twirlers

Hello Texas Twirl Fans!

The final week of October means we are almost into competition time, and football season is starting to wrap up. It also means our senior twirlers are beginning to have the “lasts” of their final football seasons in their current positions. We hope all of them are making amazing memories and enjoying every moment! 

]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 Texas Christian University Feature Twirlers!

Texas Christian University, located in Fort Worth, Texas, is the home of the Horned Frogs, and an absolutely stunning campus! “We have a flower endowment so the campus is always covered in beautiful flowers.” It is also the home of a great tradition of beautiful twirlers sporting the purple and white! The 2026-2027 Texas Christian University Feature Twirlers are Haylee Chiariello, Emma Mathe, and Bridgette McCollum!

We wanted to know how these Horned Frogs earned their spot on the field, and Bridgette told us about their auditions. “The audition consists of a video round and an in person audition. During the in person audition, you perform three routines (fight song, God Bless Texas, and Deep in the Heart of Texas), followed by a panel interview.” Haylee added that “auditions are held every year. More details will be announced in the spring!”

Making a decision about which school to attend is always a tough one, but not for these twirlers! As Haylee tells us, “The campus is so beautiful, and I was offered incredible academic scholarships. When I visited, I knew I would have a unique perspective and role on campus.” Bridgette agreed! “I was awarded a very generous scholarship and I fell in love with how beautiful the campus was and knew it was where I was meant to be.” While Emma loves the beauty of the campus, she also appreciates the atmosphere and the people. “I love the big city yet small town feel! The people who go to TCU are truly some of the nicest people, and of course, the campus is gorgeous.”

While Emma is a Texas girl, both Haylee and Bridgette are from Oklahoma. We wanted to know what brought them across state lines down to Texas. Bridgette was looking for something new. “I chose to go out of state because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and experience something new.” Haylee also wanted an adventure,but was still able to stay close to family. “My brother and I attend TCU together! It makes being out of state really feel like home.”

Even though we know the beautiful campus is a huge draw, we wanted to know what their favorite thing about attending TCU is, and they all agree it is the relationships they have made. “The people are my favorite!” says Haylee. “I love all my friends on campus!” Emma agrees and says the class sizes make it so much easier to meet people. “My favorite thing about TCU is the class sizes. They are so small so you become really close with people in your major.” It doesn’t just stop with the students though. As Bridgette tells us, “I love my professors and my classes. The professors really care about you and want you to succeed. My classes are always really fun and interesting.”

Of course, we had to ask what their favorite tradition was, and it was unanimous agreement that it is the Riff Ram Bah Zoo chant! Emma tells us that “We do the chant after every single touchdown!” Bridgette also added that the holidays at TCU are wonderful as well. “The Christmas tree lighting is also super fun and a really great tradition.”

Finally, we wanted to know what they were all looking forward to the most this season! Emma told us she is the most excited for this weekend. “’I can’t wait for our Halloween game!” Bridgette enjoyed last weekend’s festivities. “I love our Homecoming Parade!” As for Haylee, she is looking forward to everything! “Every game is so special – I am soaking up every moment!”

Now that we have learned about twirling at TCU, let’s learn more about the twirlers!

Haylee Chiariello, Captain
Hailey is a Graduate student from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She is a member of Vick’s Chicks where she is coached by Vicki Ray. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was being named Miss Sugar Land in Miss Texas and Top Ten and Prelim Winner in Miss Oklahoma. Her favorite twirling tricks are tumbling and rolls on the ground, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Sarah Harris Quillen, Megan McGeary Porter, Aly Akers Meadors, and Katie Schleis. “They are all incredibly graceful dancers and athletic twirlers!” 

Fun Facts!
Favorite Color – Purple!
Favorite Movies – Legally Blonde and The Devil Wears Prada
Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink – Diet Dr. Pepper is a must-have!

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
“I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls and I believe in miracles." - Audrey Hepburn

Are there any fun facts about your twirling position?
“I’m the very first Captain for the TCU Twirlers.”

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Go to the gym. Also, I spend time doing my devotionals and reading my Bible. My faith is everything to me: I love Jesus and I am so grateful for His blessings!”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I was the #1 ranked graduate for the class of 2025 at TCU!”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“Leadership. Leading with poise, grace, and positivity is essential to my role as a twirler and a leader on campus.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“Presentation skills, smile and walk with poise!”

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers…
“Study ballet for poise!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“At the Fiesta Bowl, a sports reporter was taking my picture and accidentally kicked my baton. It rolled down into a grate and fell down a hole. That baton disappeared forever somewhere way below the State Farm Stadium.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends?
“The people! The Horned Frog Band is truly a family to me and I will miss seeing all my sweet friends!”

Emma Mathe                                 
Emma is a sophomore Kinesiology, Pre-OT major and Child Development minor from The Woodlands, Texas. She has been twirling for 15 years and is a member of Texas Twirlers where she is coached by Sue Young. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was first place in her “senior show twirl”. “I completely choreographed it by myself and it was really special to be able to perform." Her favorite twirling tricks are down the field leaps and horizontal tricks, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Emma Carr, Nicole Jensen, and Adaline Bebo. After college, she hopes to go into occupational therapy grad school and work as a pediatric OT.

Fun Facts!
Favorite Color – Green (& purple ofc) 
Favorite TV Show & Movie – The Summer I Turned Pretty and 10 things I hate About You
Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink – Bucees rainbow sour strips & blue Gatorade  

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
Proverbs 3:5-6

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Hangout with friends, walk around campus, play pickleball, and shop.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I’m training for a marathon!”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is… 
“CONFIDENCE!!! Twirling has especially helped me be able to be confident in front of crowds.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“If you drop, smile bigger!” 

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“Never stop trying!!!”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler… 
“Our tik toks we made during band camp.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“I will miss the crazy long game days! They are long but so fun and I love seeing my family!”

Bridgette McCollum      
Bridgette is a sophomore from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, majoring in Political Science and Journalism with a Dual Degree, and minoring in Creative Writing. She has been twirling for 12 years, and is coached by Adaline Bebo Øygarden and Lynn Dell Harrell. The competition title she is the proudest of winning was when she was named the 2024 Intermediate Southwest Regional Pageant Winner. Her favorite twirling tricks are Slap Catches, Toss Aerials, and Toss leap walkovers, and in baton twirling, she has been most inspired by Laney Puhalla and Adi Bebo Øygarden. After college, she hopes to attend law school.

Fun Facts!
Favorite Color – Blue
Favorite Book – Catch-22 by Joseph Heller 
Must have Game Day Snack and/or Drink – Gatorade 

Favorite Quote or the Life Motto…
Matthew 7:7-11

When she is not twirling, she loves to… 
“Hang out with my friends or read.”

Something people might not know about her… 
“I am captain of TCU Club Gymnastics! My favorite event is the beam and my floor music is Beethoven.”

The best life skill she has gained from baton twirling is…   
“You cannot control every opportunity, every decision, or every outcome. But you can control how hard you work, how you treat others, and whether you keep going.”

The most memorable advice from her coach… 
“What is supposed to happen is going to happen” - Adaline Bebo Øygarden

Advice to future Collegiate twirlers… 
“The journey is not always linear but what God has planned for you will not pass you by. To the senior worried about not getting a position: Be open to the opportunities that come your way. The doors that close are even more important than the ones that open. Closed doors are God's protection. Trust Him and trust your gut. Always.”

Her funniest memory as a baton twirler…
“Emma and I challenge each other during practice and we try new tricks that can be silly.”

What will she miss the most when football/field season ends? 
“I will miss the walk to and from practice with my friends.”

We want to thank Kaylee, Emma, and Bridgette for sharing their Game Day with us, and we hope they have an amazing rest of their season repping the Horned Frogs. Rizz Ram Bah Zoo!

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.