#TeamTexas AYOP 2016 - Mickey's Majorettes

Welcome to the Sunday before the big event! We have all been working and counting down to get ready for AYOP and it is the day after tomorrow. In one week, it will all be over and the new 2016 National Champions will be awarded.

 

We hope to see the names from this next group on many of the Top 10 postings. Today we are going to introduce the four ladies that will be attending AYOP from the Mickey's Majorettes. Mickey's Majorettes is taught by the wonderful Patti Mickey, and they are based out of The Woodlands, Texas.

 

Good Luck this week Mickey's Majorettes! All of Texas is rooting for you!

 

Pictured from Left to Right:

• Kristin Baker - Texas Christian University Feature Twirler
• Olivia Pacheco - 2016 Pre-Teen Beginner Texas State Pageant Winner
• Rachel Hutchinson - 2016 Junior Miss Majorette of the Southwest
• Isabel Obias - 2016 Senior Miss Majorette of Texas

#TeamTexas AYOP 2016 - Stingerettes

As we mentioned in a previous post, Texas is sending 72 twirlers to AYOP! Wow! That is exciting and will be so much fun to follow everyone and their success.

 

This next group is contributing the most members to that number AND they are the ones traveling from the most southern part of Texas. The Stingerettes from Corpus Christi have 13 competitors attending the 2016 NBTA Nationals. The Stingerettes are based out of the Nancy Eisenhauer School of Twirling and are coached by Nancy Eisenhauer, Kim Berger, and Keely Davis.

 

The Stingerettes are not only State & Regional champions in individual competition, but they hold many years of State & Regional Team titles. For AYOP, the Stingerettes are sending two different competition teams including an Advanced Dance Twirl Team and a Half Time Show Team.

 

We know the Stingerettes will do a great job representing Texas in their Team, Pageant, and individual events. Good Luck Stingerettes! We will see you at Notre Dame.

 

Pictured Standing Left to Right

• Miranda Wright
• Piper Vegh - Flour Bluff High School Twirler
• Stephanie Garza Kayla Flournoy - King High School Twirler
• Kaylynn Lambert - 2016 Pre-Teen Miss Majorette of Texas
• Cayla Watson - 2016 Junior Miss Majorette of Texas & Flour Bluff HS Twirler
• Amber Sorenson - Advanced Pre-Teen Pageant Royalty
• Sophie Carnes
• Coach - Keely Davis Pictured

 

Kneeling Left to Right

• Delaney Laza
• Megan Garcia - 2016 Pre-Teen Intermediate Texas State Pageant Winner
• Paige Farrah
• Mia Oliveras - 2016 Juvenile Beginner Southwest Regional Pageant Winner
• Cara Watson (front)

#TeamTexas AYOP 2016 - Twirl ATX, Austin Twirling Academy

Welcome to travel weekend! All of our great Texas Twirlers are finishing up their last practices on Texas soil and are Notre Dame bound. We want to wish everyone safe travels as you venture your way to South Bend.

Our next team hails from the capital of our great State. Twirl ATX, Austin Twirling Academy, is located and operated in Austin, TX. This team will be sending students to AYOP for the 3rd time in their 3 years of operation. Twirl ATX is coached by co-directors Ashley Wood & Whitney Coons, and coach Sara Rudin.

This year Twirl ATX is sending four competitors. Meet the 2016 Twirl ATX AYOP team:

• Ellie Maynard (top): 2016 Beginner Tiny Tot Texas State Pageant Winner
• Griffin Maynard (bottom): 2016 SW Regional & TX State Men’s Solo & Rhythmic Champion
• Shaylee Sjolander (right): 2016 Novice 10 yr old SW Regional & TX State X-Strut Champion
• Jeannie Pruett (left): 2016-17 Henry MS Twirler, TX State Novice Strut & Solo Champion

Good luck this year Twirl ATX! Enjoy the experience and leave it all on that bright, shiny, Notre Dame floor.

#TeamTexas AYOP 2016 - Texas Gems

Only T-minus 5 days until the kickoff of AYOP! We know all those traveling are busy packing, preparing, and trying to get in as many hours at the gym as possible. These next two girls are no exception!

Tonight's post takes us to good ol' San Antone to meet two ladies from the Texas Gems. The Texas Gems, based out of San Antonio, was started and coached by Major Margaret Mann. Margaret has teamed up with her daughter, Melinda Mann White, and two former students, Tori May & Heather Harmer Hayden, to make up the awesome coaching team that is the heart of the Texas Gems.

For 2016, the Texas Gems will be sending two competitors to America's Youth On Parade! On the left we have Alessandra Marotta, and on the right we have Ashley Sneed.

Alessandra is currently the Feature Twirler for Central Catholic High School and will be competing in events for the Intermediate Junior division.

Ashley Sneed just finished representing San Antonio as Miss Alamo City at the Miss Texas competition and will be competing in events for the Advanced Senior division.

All of Texas wishes Alessandra and Ashley good luck and we can't wait to see you all in Indiana!

#TeamTexas AYOP 2016 - Team Aleman & Team Archer + Blair's Elite

Good morning Texas Twirl fans! This week we have a fun post because we will actually be looking at three twirlers from different areas of the State. These fantastic twirlers are all traveling as the sole representative of their coaches. We wish all three of them the very best of luck, and we cannot wait to cheer on Analeia and Alexis in their respective Tiny Tot pageants!

Analeia Aleman (pictured on the left)

• 2016 Tiny Tot Miss Majorette of Texas
• 2016 Tiny Tot State X-Strut Champion
• 2016 Tiny Tot State Solo Champion
• Taught by her aunt, Brianna Costello Martin, and her mom, Christina Costello Aleman
• Analeia is very excited to represent Texas at AYOP. She is practicing hard everyday and looks forward to seeing everyone in South Bend. Good Luck to all!!

Alexis Archer (pictured in the middle)

• 2016 Tiny Tot Beginner Southwest Regional Pageant Winner
• 2016 Tiny Tot Novice Regional & Beginner State X-Strut champion
• 2016 Tiny Tot Beginner Texas State Solo Champion
• Taught by Cindi Archer and Sharon Arber and is from Plano/DFW

Tricia Still (pictured on the right)

• Senior and Feature Twirler at Kilgore High School
• Twirls with Blair's Elite Twirling Academy (BETA) in Kilgore, TX
• The owner/director of BETA is Blair Maxwell

#TeamTexas AYOP2016 - Texas Tech Twirlers & BT Performers

AYOP is just around the corner. Who else is getting crazy excited? So much to do, so many more hours to spend in the gym, and only a week to do it.

 

Our next group we are featuring is in full on focus mode right now. The Texas Tech University Twirlers, out of Lubbock, TX, are geared up to defend their 2015 National Title as the Collegiate Half Time Show Twirl Champions. The Texas Tech Twirling line is coached by Bethany Tolley, who also coaches the BT Performers. Between the Twirling Line and the BT Peformers, Bethany will be supporting 10 twirlers this year at AYOP!

 

The BT Performers that will be attending AYOP include (pictured on the Left).

• Sydney Webster (white & red) - 2016 College Miss Majorette of Texas, the Texas Tech Feature Twirler, and 2nd Runner Up at the Miss Texas pageant (as Miss Lubbock).
• Kirby Stanek (red) - 2016 Pre-Teen Miss Majorette of the Southwest

The Texas Tech Twirlers that will be attending AYOP include (pictured on the Right):

• Shae Willingham (Soph) - 2016 Beginner Senior Southwest Regional Pageant Winner
• Claudia Hernandez (Senior) - Texas Tech Head twirler, competing in Intermediate 16+
• Lyndzie Allbright (Senior) - competing in Intermediate 16+
• Adrianna Chaves (Junior) - competing in Advanced 16+
• Allyson Padron (Junior) - competing in Advanced 16+
• Reagan McWilliams (Junior) - competing in Intermediate 16+
• Paxton Parliament (Soph) - competing in Beginner 16+
• Tiera Johnson (Soph) - competing in Advanced 16+

Along with individual events, Texas Tech Twirling Line will be competing in the Collegiate team events, and Sydney will be competing in the Collegiate Solo & Down the Field competition. We know all of Texas cannot wait to wear our awesome pink #TeamTexas shirts to support these great twirlers on Collegiate night! Wreck 'Em Tech!!!

 

#TeamTexas AYOP 2016 - Twirling Sweet Sensations

The countdown continues! Two weeks from right now we will have all finished up our first day of competition at AYOP at Notre Dame University. So many big events on that first Tuesday, including the Beginner & Intermediate Pageants, which will be a huge deal for our next group...

The Twirling Sweet Sensations out of Schertz, TX will have three students representing the State of Texas in the Beginner & Intermediate pageants, and a total of 7 students attending Nationals. This group is lead by Director/Coach Michele Pangrac, Asst. Director/Coach Mary Ann Srulowitz, and Dance Director Lori Michelle.

A fun fact about this group is that they are one of the only Texas groups competing in team events. The Twirling Sweet Sensations will be competing in the Beginner Junior Small Dance Twirl and Halftime Dance Line events. They currently hold the State & Regional title for both team events, and we wish them a ton of luck on the floor competing on the National stage.

(Top Left) Melinda Branson
*Steele High School Twirler
*Texas State Novice Solo Winner

(Top Right) Hannah Belle-Kacher:
*Intermediate Junior Texas State Pageant Winner
*O'Connor High School Feature Twirler

(2nd Left) Bethany Williams:
*Texas State Beginner Pre-Teen Solo Winner

(Middle Right) Julie Griffee:
*Beginner Senior Texas State Pageant Winner
*Steele High School Twirler

(3rd Left) Makayla Wood:
*Calvary Christian Chapel Academy Feature Twirler

(Bottom Right) Abigail Neuman:
*Intermediate Senior Texas State Pageant Winner
*Steele High School Feature Twirler

(Bottom Left) Ellyn Clay:
*Texas A&M Corpus Christi Twirler