Join us on FISD's The Podcast with Claire Howard and Hayley Banwell, senior officers of the Wranglerettes. From prom preparations to recent Nationals success, peek into the world of these dynamic dancers. Discover what being a Wranglerette means to Claire and Hayley, how they balance their roles with academics, and hear about their impactful community service projects. Tune in for this lively discussion!
Join us on FISD's The Podcast with Claire Howard and Hayley Banwell, senior officers of the Wranglerettes. From prom preparations to recent Nationals success, peek into the world of these dynamic dancers. Discover what being a Wranglerette means to Claire and Hayley, how they balance their roles with academics, and hear about their impactful community service projects. Tune in for this lively discussion!
Speaker 1 Much. Speaker 2 I was just at my beach house in Galveston with my family for the week, so it was a lot of fun to just hang out with them and relax. Speaker 1 Nice. Yeah. I didn't really go anywhere. Speaker 3 I went to the rodeo twice. I got to see the Jonas Brothers. Speaker 1 Which was really great. So I would have loved to go see the Jonas Brothers. I mean it. The other one. Speaker 3 That you see. Zac Brown. Speaker 1 Band. Okay. I've been. Yeah, I've seen them twice at the rodeo and loved it. I went this year. One of my nieces, she goes to school at Baylor. She loves Lainey Wilson. So we actually went to Lainey Wilson, and that was her first rodeo experience. So. Super fun. I learned a lot of songs that night since I didn't really know many going in. Speaker 1 But yeah, it was so cool, so awesome. I love her. Her kind of weird style. Yeah. Yeah, kind of funky. Well, with that, I will say welcome to season three, Episode 12 of Fire Season the podcast where Kelsey goals. That's me and Dana Owen. She's not here, unfortunately. She was actually 68, so it's just going to be the three of us. Speaker 1 But we have the pleasure of interviewing interesting people and discussing anything and everything. Friends with Esty today we were visiting with Clare Howard and Hayley Barnwell to senior officers for the Wrangler at or Wranglers, as MOSCOSO likes to call them. Welcome. Speaker 2 Thank you. I'm so excited. Unknown Okay, well, let's start off. Speaker 1 So let's start with Claire. So tell me a little bit about yourself. Tell me your role with the Wrangler. It's any extracurricular activities, hobbies you have. Let me. Speaker 3 Okay, so I've been dancing for 11 years now. Speaker 1 I think. Speaker 3 I think. Yeah. And so I'm Marshall. So I'm the second and rank dance officer and on the team I pretty much just get to do our roll call and do our attendance and I do a lot of our like packing list type things. So I do a lot of some behind the scenes work, but also as a dance officer, I get to help clean and come up with routines for the Wrangler arts, which is really fun. Speaker 3 So that's what I do in practice. And then outside of practice, I'm also a teacher in the Little Mustangs Preschool. Speaker 1 So I have over six feet. Speaker 3 So I spend my first two periods in the drill room and I spend third and fourth with little children. Speaker 1 So your whole morning is just full of joy. Wow. That is also. Well, okay, so what about you? Speaker 2 I'm grand marshal this year, which is the head dance officer for Wrangler. It's and also the same as Claire. I do a lot in practice with cleaning the dances or teaching things, but my main role is grand marshal. So just kind of make sure everything's running smoothly and everyone else is kind of doing their jobs and just kind of overseeing it all. Speaker 2 And then other than Wrangler, I stay pretty busy with school. Speaker 1 I'm pretty serious with my schoolwork. Speaker 3 She takes like all AP classes. Speaker 1 Oh my goodness. Speaker 2 So it keeps you busy with regular arts in school. Speaker 1 Yeah, sounds like it. Wow. Now, okay. Did your boss mentioned part of your responsibility is cleaning? Yeah, but I think you said you get to clean like. Like it's a good thing. Yes, Please explain. Okay. Speaker 2 Cleaning dances is different than, like, cleaning the floors, but it's kind of hygiene. Speaker 1 I was totally picturing getting divorced. Yeah, You know. Speaker 2 With cleaning dances, it's just making sure everyone looks the same. So specifying little things, making sure like arm, feet of that, like the same. So that's like our big role as dance officers is helping our directors clean the dances for competitions in Spring Show. Speaker 3 Yeah. So we'll like step out and look and try to find things I like don't look the same in people and we just like, help clean those fine details with them. Speaker 1 Yeah, well, you know, who's like, very clean is the Rockettes. I want you take them. Oh, my goodness. I went to see them at Christmas time in New York this past December. And literally perfect, like not one thing. I don't think one hair was out of place on any of those girls. So impressive. Is that like the ultimate like, is that the peak of dancing or what would you say? Speaker 3 We like to reference the Ranger acts a lot and I think that's really because Miss goes us. She was a Ranger. Yes. And that was the first drill team to ever be created. Speaker 1 So like. Speaker 2 Yeah, that's like our version of the Rockettes, I guess who we like model after and who our team is kind of created like based on, I. Speaker 3 Guess because the Ranger hats were created to keep people in the stands at football games. So it that's really where like Texas drill teams were created and MOSCOSO was one of them. So she really brings back a lot of those traditional aspects to practice with us. Speaker 1 That is so cool. I did not know that well. Awesome. Okay, so you kind of shared some of your, some of your responsibilities that you have with dance. So tell me, how do you balance that with your academics especially? You may be bossy in some of your other activities that you do. Speaker 2 I just have to stay really organized. I really like using my calendar on my phone so I can make sure I'm not like double booked for things. And it also reminds me of like when I have something coming up, so I have pretty bad memory. So I need to be like constantly reminded when something's happening and just keeping like a running to do list to make sure I stay on top of everything. Speaker 3 So I'm kind of like the opposite. I kind of made my senior schedule to where I literally don't have homework. I think I only take two classes and one of them assigns homework, so I don't really have a ton of homework. So when I do, it's just like I usually like to write it in a planner. I'm a big visual person, so like getting to write in my planner and making it really pretty is really important for me. Speaker 3 Pretty funny as it is, I do find myself spending more time making it pretty than actually writing in it. But of course that's okay. And but yeah, so I don't really have a bit too busy of a schedule academically, but when I do have homework, I just like write it in a planner and it helps. Speaker 1 Now the audience outside of school too, or is it just in school? Speaker 2 Actually, we group dancing on the same team, like up until freshman year, and it was really fun. It starts star surprise it's in Friendswood, but once you join Wrangler, it's you're actually not allowed to compete on an outside team. So we're able to devote all of our time to Wrangler, right? Oh so yeah, we're only we can take classes, obviously, but we're not allowed to compete with a separate outside team. Speaker 1 Okay, well, that makes sense, I guess, because you all really are busy year round. Yes. Like, y'all don't really have an off time because you all go from football straight into your competition season and then. Speaker 3 Straight into spring show. Speaker 1 Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So there would be like no time to do that anyway. Speaker 3 And as officers, we practice before and after school, so some days we'll have 657 practice and then stay till like 6:00 for officer practice after school. Speaker 2 Oh, most other drill teams, you're allowed to do both and I have no idea how people do it. Speaker 3 I like I couldn't imagine it. Speaker 1 No, you just wouldn't sleep. There would be no time. Yeah, well, so speaking of dance and being busy, y'all just got back from nationals, right? Yes. Okay, so tell me about that. How to go? I'd say we. Speaker 3 Did pretty good. We actually came out second overall of the entire competition. Speaker 1 That deserves a year of. Unknown Wow. Wow. Oh, and our dance officers also came out second overall. Speaker 1 Yeah, that's our social. Speaker 3 Officers actually are the national champion social officers this year. So that was really exciting for them. Speaker 2 Yeah, we made it to finals for all of our dances and then we competed in Officer Dance for the highest scoring officer dance of the day, which was really cool. Anything else to add about it? Speaker 1 So tell me how, what is the social officers like? What does that entail? What does that competition do? Speaker 3 So this is it's one of my favorite dances to watch is so it's pretty much like a character dance. So this year they did mean girls and each of our social officers were different. Speaker 1 Oh, my gosh. It's a character. Speaker 3 From the movie and it's just a bunch of fun songs and like lines from the movie and they get to play like character parts. And all these different schools will have different themes. Like last year they didn't. Speaker 1 Mr. So they had Bold Twister. Speaker 3 Queen My gosh, that's awesome. And teams will do like Peter Pan, Hercules and all these different things. So you just get to see all these like dancers acting really funny and like portraying a character that you don't typically get to see like in a normal competition. Speaker 2 Is fun to watch. Speaker 1 I love that. I love that. Okay, so obviously those would be like really memorable things. But is there like one memory in particular that stands out to you from your time in Ringler? Speaker 2 It's my favorite memory. Every year is just really like anything involving Spring show, but especially doing finale, which is are and I guess it's the last dance we do of Spring show. And it's a tradition. So we do the same dance every year. And I don't know exactly how long it's been going on, but I'm pretty sure art directors did it in high school. Speaker 3 Yeah, Wrangler at both Miss Kennedy and this goes up performed the same dance will be. Speaker 1 Performing Oh my goodness. Speaker 2 So it's super fun because we've been doing the same dance every year. You're on the team. Speaker 1 And. Speaker 3 It's the last. Speaker 2 Time, like on Saturday night that you perform together as a team. And so it's super special moment. Speaker 3 And we like to say it's that finale feeling because it's just you get this like sense. Speaker 1 Of joy. Speaker 3 When the music comes on and it's just really like exciting to do. Like I look forward to it. Every year is probably one of my favorite dances, and I think something that also just makes it so special is when we're learning to dance our dance officer candidates actually teach it to the team, so it's like really like student led and like led and you get to really collaborate with each other. Speaker 3 And it's not just like our director is teaching us another dance. We get to like, be with each other and learn from each other, which I think just like adds another special element to it. Speaker 1 So okay, so I feel like I've remembered from Spring Show. Do y'all hang something at the end? Speaker 2 Yes. There's like a sign that goes up in the back. Speaker 3 Oh, yes. Speaker 2 And it's like the new girls have to come on the stage and, like, set it up in, like, seconds before the curtain. Speaker 3 So I think it's approximately like 15 to 20 seconds and starts to put boxes down in this big sign up. Speaker 2 It says they have to set up the I guess the like hanging piece is already kind of there. They have to move it on top. Then they have to set like weights on top of it and tablecloths to cover it. And like class said, they have like 15 seconds to do it. Speaker 3 We have to practice it a whole bunch because usually the first time we like open the curtain and it's not ready because you have pretty much until the curtain opens about 5 seconds into the dance to put it up. And so our slide show will end and the curtain will close and this music will be going for about 10 to 15 seconds. Speaker 3 And then it has to be ready. Wow. Speaker 1 And is that okay? Do you hang a hat? Is that what what goes on that I remember the seniors hanging something up because it made me cry. I don't know. Did they do something last year? You know, this was now this is probably like four years ago. Oh, okay. Then I don't remember. It's not an annual thing. So maybe maybe it was too emotional for the crowd because I know they're sobbing and I'm like, that is the saddest thing I've ever witnessed in my life. Speaker 1 No, some. Speaker 3 Drill teams, like, have their seniors, like, take off their boots on stage or hats, but we don't do that. Speaker 1 Okay. Well, do you feel like it's going to be like, how do you think you're going to feel in that moment with your life performing? Speaker 3 Our senior group, I would like to say, is a very emotional group when it comes to each other, because it sometimes works out where the seniors aren't each other's like best friends and like they're not their main friend group. But with us this year, like, this is our main friend. Yeah, they were all so close. So you see us hanging out with someone, it's usually other rats and it's like we've all grown up together. Speaker 3 So it's just like we hold a very special bond together. So I feel like dancing together for the last time. It's just going to be really sad. Speaker 2 Yeah, I'd be so sad. Speaker 1 Yeah. So what's. What's after this? What's post-graduate? And what are your plans? You're going to continue dancing. What? What's your plan? Speaker 2 I hope to continue dancing. I'm going to attend U.T. Austin. Speaker 1 I'm really excited. Speaker 2 And I'm going to try out for their POM squad, but it's really hard to make. So just trying to stay hopeful. But Claire's actually like, for sure, dancing in college, so it's really cool. Speaker 3 Yeah, I'm actually committed to Sam Houston State University as a member of the Orange Pride Dance team. Speaker 1 Also. Speaker 3 They win Nationals like almost every year at India College nationals in Daytona. So it was really special to be a part of that. Speaker 1 Yeah, and. Speaker 3 Like, I'm really excited to do that and I'm going to be majoring in dance too. So I'm really going to be dancing. Speaker 1 For the rest of my life. Oh my gosh. So what are you wanting to do with that? Like, are you wanting to perform or are you wanting to teach? What's your. Speaker 3 Plan? My plan. Speaker 1 Is to be a performer, but that's a very risky. Speaker 3 Profession, so we'll see how that goes. But I also kind of want to come back and be the Wrangler. Speaker 1 Director one day. Hayley cringes every time I see something. Speaker 2 We all know it's going to happen one day. Speaker 1 It's just funny. I love that show. I love it. So what was the process like? Did you have to try out like early on? Because you obviously already know that you've made it. Speaker 3 So typically for like recruitment for a dance, it's a little bit different. I had a little bit of a different experience for this team. So typically you'll attend like tryout clinics and you have to fill out forms and submit videos and then like the coach will like send you an offer if she wants you on the team. But for me, I think I met the Sam Houston coach, Soph, going into sophomore year, a clinic that we had at school one day, and she invited me to come to a clinic and I came. Speaker 3 And then last year and this year she actually was my solo coach and she choreographed for me. So she she gave me my offer pretty much last year. Speaker 1 So I know. Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 3 So it was really exciting for me just like, be offered this position. And I was like, I'm truly grateful for it. Speaker 1 I don't know, what would I do with that? That's amazing. Now, Hayley, when you said you're going to U.T., you are hopeful to make the dance team, but you I don't know that you mentioned what you're wanting to pursue. Do you know. Speaker 2 I'm majoring in health and society, which is in the liberal arts college, but it's kind of like a pre-med major, even though I'm not. Speaker 1 Like, Of course you are. I'm not sure that's what I want to do. Speaker 2 I feel like likely my major will end up changing, but that's what I'm going in. Speaker 1 As for now, awesome. Okay, so what are life lessons you've learned in dancing or being an officer? Speaker 3 Oh, my gosh. Ringler. It's has really taught me to be on time. It's kind of a little bad because I do get a little scared of time now. Speaker 1 I mean, she's already there. It's just a little bit. Speaker 3 So I do plan on getting everywhere 15 minutes early and it like it's really save me sometimes. I like Ringler. It's really teaches you how to be on time and to be accountable. Speaker 1 So like. Speaker 2 Before. Speaker 3 This, I was not someone who was very like punctual, but now you can always count on me being 15 minutes early, if not more. Speaker 1 That's a great that's a great habit that's being installed, for sure. Yeah. What about you? Speaker 2 I learned to really, like always, be prepared for everything just as much as they stressed to be on time. They also stress to have everything when you need it. That's like, clear so much earlier with the packing lists. Cause we do this thing called demerits and you get all this, you're late, or if you don't have what you need. Speaker 2 So it really installs into you like being prepared, like double checking. You have everything, making sure you're going to get there on time, like wearing the right practice wear in the morning. Speaker 3 And I think with demerits it also just teaches us to be accountable for ourselves in our own actions and like not placing blame on other people. So like sometimes it can be seen as demerits or a bad thing, but I've really like, seen it as a way just to make sure, like I'm accountable for myself and my actions, which I think will help me in the future too. Speaker 2 Yeah, because if they add up, then there's different like consequences. Speaker 1 Going to ask you to tell me some of those. Speaker 2 So being taken out of a dance, I think that's the biggest thing. If it gets to be like way too many, you can be taken off the team. Speaker 3 But that obviously I have not seen that happen ever. Speaker 1 Actually, most people. Speaker 2 Because we are so stressed about getting them, most people rarely get demerits. Speaker 1 Well, that's good. That means y'all or y'all are rule followers. Overall, I'm sure you're disciplined in the classroom and that's the expectation. Okay. So tell me about some of the biggest challenges you faced, either in dance or just high school in general? Speaker 2 I have to think about that. I think being a senior, there's a lot of like added responsibilities, like we have added responsibilities and wrangler rights. You've added responsibilities in school. You're kind of just trying to balance everything going on right now, but also plan for your future and plan for college so that can feel really stressful at times. Speaker 2 New so many things going on at once. Also, this is more specific to Wrangler arts, but as a dance officer, your senior year you have like way more responsibilities. And so it's a huge transition to go from being a junior officer to a senior officer. So that's really interesting to navigate In the beginning of the school year. Speaker 3 I'd also have to agree with Hailey on that, but I think my experience is a little different because I'm also a musical kid. So yes, I for to be in the musical. So having to tackle, trying to do college dishes, decisions and musical and being a senior dance officer all at once because I did also go for other schools, dance teams as well. Speaker 3 And like getting those rejection letters, like while trying to like have all these other feelings of trying to figure out what I'm doing with my life and also trying to stay accountable for them. Doing in school was really hard. So just a lot of like, what's to come in like fear of the future. And that was really like an impending doom, like a cloud, a gray cloud over your head. Speaker 3 This or my head this year that like he just was kind of my biggest struggle, but like now it's kind of like chilled out that I know what's going on. Speaker 2 Yes, the beginning of the school year is way more stressful. Everyone's like trying to figure out where they're going to college. Now it's kind of slowly, I guess, calming down a little bit. Speaker 1 There's a lot more answers to those questions that you started with. Yeah, well, that's that's great. So we just talked about challenges. And speaking of challenges, let's talk about attendance. Okay. So we're trying to push the importance of attendance right now with our parents and our students. We actually had a brainstorming session last week with our administration, and we're just wondering from student perspective, what do you think we should do to try to encourage students to get in class a little more frequently? Speaker 2 This is kind of random because I know we don't have finals, but a lot of other schools that do have finals, you have to be in your classes a certain amount to exempt the finals. And so that's a really big encouragement for students to stay in class. And since we don't have finals and we don't have those exemptions, I think there's really like not that big of an incentive to stay in class. Speaker 2 But if kids know that it'll get them out of a big test they don't want to take, that could really encourage them to stay in class. Speaker 1 Okay, so you heard it here. Haley wants everyone to take finals at Friendswood High School. We're putting that responsibility on her. Okay, I graduated so you're going to burn the place for the ground on the way. Okay. What about you? Oh, I don't really know, because. Speaker 3 I am someone who's kind of bad. Speaker 1 With their kids. Still don't. They don't see it as. I'm being completely honest. Speaker 2 It's hard as a senior to get a class. Speaker 1 To really. Speaker 3 See when they talk about senior itis. It really is real. Speaker 1 I remember vividly. Speaker 3 Yeah, it took me a while. I find myself like I'm like, Oh, I'm like just reading a book in that class. I don't have to go. Speaker 1 No, I need to go. Yeah. Speaker 2 Convincing yourself you don't actually have to be there. Speaker 1 It's so easy when you're a senior. It is. I know it's hard. We're trying to, like, brainstorm all this right now. And even just, like, getting excused absences. So, like, we have a no, and all you have to do is turn the note in. But, like, people just don't turn the notice. Speaker 3 Yeah, I literally I will have a doctor's note in my backpack and I forget to turn it in for weeks. And I'm like, okay, well, that's happened. Yeah. Speaker 1 So how could we encourage people to just turn notes in? Like, should we have like a big should we decorate like your list? So we have a big decorative spot where you turn the notes in and you feel like it's. Speaker 3 A partially like nobody wants to go down to the attendance office to like, I never go by the attendance office to turn in my notes. Like, that's never a path in my day. And I'm never thinking, Oh, I need to go turn in this note. So if you like, it's just like out of the way. Speaker 2 If you're like checking back into school, the attendance person, like, directly asking for a note would help. Yeah. So I think a lot of people don't realize you can turn in notes at the little attendance desk by the junior lot people thing. You can only do it in the front office. So just students knowing there's more than one option to turn in those notes. Speaker 1 Okay, you heard it here. Get those notes in. Okay. So I do know with attendance, though, it does affect if you're able to go to prom. Speaker 3 Yes, right. Yes, it does. If you have I think it's like eight or nine absences in one period, you get make it hours. And if you have make any make up hours at all, you're not allowed to attend prom. And if seniors like that also affects your graduation and like senior Field Day and other things like that. So I think to make those up, you can either just like stay, go before or after school and help teachers in classrooms or I think you can also go to Saturday D Hall and just sit there. Speaker 3 I think it is harder. Speaker 2 Than you would go to D hard to make them up. Speaker 3 I think I've had friends who like they just go there and sit there, watch Netflix or do homework that they have and just get make up hours. Speaker 1 Yeah, just so they can go to prom Now. Are you all planning on going to prom this year? Yes. Yeah. Okay. So have you found your dress yet? No. No. Do you have an idea of kind of what you're looking for? Because now everyone. Speaker 3 On, like, tick tock is roasting people for having, quote unquote, Easter dresses. Speaker 1 Easter dress? Yeah. Speaker 2 It's it's the more like floral ones instead of like the sequins and the feathers and, like, the more. Speaker 3 Like, chill satin pretty dresses that more of a bridesmaid dress than, like, a big extravagant dress. Speaker 1 That's personally. Speaker 2 My that's just like I was looking for some on this website, and it was literally bridesmaid dresses I was. Speaker 1 Looking at because they're all gowns and stunning and pretty. Yeah. Speaker 3 So I'm like, Oh, that's really pretty. And then I see on TikTok, everybody's bashing people for it. I'm like, Oh, I like that. I'm like, I don't want. Speaker 1 Feathers on my dress. You don't want to see Big Bird? What do you know about That's my better look like the Easter egg. Speaker 3 I didn't not having like, a big neon sequined neve sparkly, feathery dress. Speaker 1 Yeah, Yeah. Now, do you have, like, a color you kind of think you're going for? Speaker 3 Okay, so it's really weird for me. We found that look for the past, like two years for winter ball, which is our wrangler at dance, chose green dresses and for the past two proms because I also went as a sophomore, I picked blue dresses. So I'm trying to break that. Speaker 1 Because I wear a warm color this time. So I picked a. Speaker 3 Black dress for winter. So we're going to go somewhere different this year. Yeah. Speaker 2 I don't really know what I'm looking for. It. Last year it was super last minute. I think I got like the week. Speaker 3 Before, same. Speaker 2 So I'm trying not to do that this year. I really need to decide, but I think I'm just going to go more off the dress and the color. Speaker 1 Have you all seen where people are? I can't remember what they're calling it, but like where they drape the fabric over like your shoulder and they do like the different seasons, which is. Yeah, yeah. It's like your color matching. Your color. Speaker 2 Matching. Speaker 1 The Odyssey. Like what kind of holidays are a winner of fall? Yeah. Yeah. I wonder if, like, they would do that when you go shopping. I, like, tell you this is what's the most flattering for your skin to your hair is all of that amazing. Speaker 3 And you can also like do things like tell if you like look better in like gold or silver. Speaker 1 Jewelry? Yes, I. Speaker 3 Do. I won't be doing that. No, look, I'm a die hard gold guy. Speaker 1 She she gold. Speaker 3 Gold, everything. And I don't want to be told I'm silver. Speaker 2 So if I was told I was silver, I was just ignore it. Speaker 3 I wouldn't know. Speaker 1 I think you just have to go with what you like. Yeah, it's like, totally life changing, which I don't think it would be between gold and silver, but, yeah, you know, I think you just got to go with the thing that you're drawn towards, for sure. Okay, So our proposals. So the thing I was thinking about this, you know. Speaker 2 Not at our school, but other schools, I think it's a bigger thing. Speaker 3 But I like to say, you know, friends, what's really lame when it comes to school spirit, stuff like that. Like nobody wears like their moms at homecoming, nobody does proposals. Speaker 2 It's like those homecoming proposals. Speaker 3 I mean, we do have homecoming until this year, so. Yeah. Speaker 1 Oh, my gosh. Well, that's kind of a bummer. Speaker 3 I mean, like, I wish we did that stuff, but if. Speaker 1 You were if you were to get proposed to what would be the ideal. Speaker 3 Anything that involved food. Speaker 1 Ingredients, I. Speaker 2 Have to agree. Great answer. Yeah. Speaker 1 Love it. Speaker 3 If you bring me food, I will go to prom with you. Speaker 1 You heard it here. Now, do you all have tea? No, no, not right now. No, not right now. Speaker 3 But probably not. Speaker 1 Yeah. No way. Sometimes I truly think that, like, instead of going through a breakup later on and you go back and you hate the pictures because the guys in it, if you just go for it with your friends in the beginning, like you'll love it forever. Speaker 3 Friends for the past two years. Speaker 2 Yeah, I've gone with friends last year too. Speaker 1 Yeah, that's the way to do it. That's the way. Okay, so I'm going to plug really quick our day of service, which is April 19th. Now, normally the Wrangler ads have been like awesome participants in this day, but you have practice this year. Speaker 3 I actually had a show on that day. Speaker 1 So that days you're like preparing. Speaker 2 Yes, Early, sir. Unable to participate this year because of our show that day. Speaker 3 But like as regular it's we are really big in like service so we make up more than the rest. Speaker 1 Yes. Sorry, I was going to ask, so what are some of the things y'all have done this year, like service wise. Speaker 2 This year, a few of the things we've done, we do like a monthly philanthropy, so these are just a few. But we did a beach cleanup around Thanksgiving. We did a canned food drive, and then during Christmas, we also participated in the Blue Santa Toy Drive. And the way we get donations for these things as we have like our Thanksgiving events with the team or the Christmas events. Speaker 2 And it's kind of like to get in, you need to donate a toy or donate a can, like on your way in, you drop something and then you go hang out with your friends. Speaker 1 Yeah, I love that. Speaker 3 And then we also just like we're big, just like we participate in a lot of like community events. Like if it's a Friendswood event, you will typically see some form of wrangler that's there. Speaker 1 Yeah, yeah. Speaker 3 Like we even they even did like the reopening of Dave and Buster's. They, their group of Wrangler vets were there too. Speaker 1 So one know you made it which Yeah. Speaker 3 So like you'll see at us like under the oaks at the fish camp will be performing and helping So we're just like all. Speaker 2 Of the community directors love for us to get out and perform in the community. Speaker 1 Yeah, I mean, y'all are like, arguably, I would almost say the most visible group that I've dealt with. At least I. Speaker 2 Would love to see it. Speaker 3 Now, that's probably the best thing. Speaker 1 You've ever said. Yes, I'm seriously, you know, I mean, it is like y'all are y'all are everywhere and y'all are the first to volunteer to help with anything. And you're that goes for your directors, too. Like, they've always been so helpful and so kind. And we just appreciate and love everything that y'all do. Okay, so tell me this. Speaker 1 Like, what has it meant to be a wrangler at? Like, tell me what it means to you. You can go first. Speaker 3 Okay. So I like truthfully and honestly, I have to say, like the past few years have been the best years of my life. And when it comes like dance, at least because when I was younger, sometimes I didn't have the most fun idea. And so, like, coming to this place and like, finding my best friends who truly love doing the same thing that I do. Speaker 3 And it's just our drill room is our safe space. I can go in there and it's just like it feels like home. I like to say it's my spawning point because everybody's like, Why are you just in the drill room? I'm like, Well, like during lunch if I just, like, need something, I go to my locker and then I'm like, Oh, here's my friend's idea all here together. Speaker 3 And it's like, we all just love being together and in our own space. So it's just like building a family because it's like it's not just like a normal team where you could say, Oh, you have some friends on this team. We truly are. Each other's like best friends. We have the weirdest inside jokes and it just makes you die laughing. Speaker 1 So it's just like. Speaker 3 It's really just a place that like, I feel safe. And then so, like, that's really just meant something to me. The past three years. Speaker 2 We're all so close because we spend so much time together. I'm just like forever going to be grateful for all, like the friendships that I've created on the team and the connections and memories that I've made it like has. Sorry. The same as Claire said, it's been like the best two years of my life and it really made my high school experience. Speaker 1 That's so awesome. So is anyone like from y'all's friend group or any of your going to the same college? Speaker 3 We have two girls going to SFA. Speaker 2 Yeah, three girls going to Baylor. Speaker 1 Baylor. Speaker 2 Maybe one other girl going to u T with me. We don't really know, but other than that, we're like, pretty spread out. Speaker 1 Yeah. I'm like, so is the is the group cha going to just stay poppin? No. While you were hopefully already. Speaker 3 Planning trips to come visit because all of us are in Texas except for one girl and we're planning to fly her out from Arkansas. Yeah, we're all going to hang out. Speaker 1 Oh, I love that, though. Yeah, I think really this is advice that was given to me is relationships will last if you put the effort into them. So as long as you just make that effort in, like even they're going to get caught up in a totally new world and kind of a new life in a way, when you go to college, if you just like stay connected and just reach out, even with a text, it's it's like you'll have those friends for ever. Speaker 1 Yeah. Okay. So with all of the things that you've talked about, all the things you've learned, all of the years you've spent, what advice do you have for the little girls out there who are dreaming about being a wrangler one day? Speaker 3 I just I'm. Speaker 2 Sorry. Speaker 3 I just really say, like, go for it. Like, you put your everything into it. That's what they love to see. And like hopefuls of Wrangler, that's is really just the passion you have for it. And like the one in the fight, you're willing to give. So for like little girls out there, just really give your all and like, start taking like all the dance classes and all the dance. Speaker 2 Classes, especially a lot of local studios do drill team prep ones. Those are so helpful cause it really is a unique style. So learning that before you get to high school also this is kind of a plug for us and the other Wrangler shows, but we do do privates for like upcoming job trainers. So if you want us to teach you, I think it's really helpful. Speaker 1 Yeah, yeah. I was going to ask about that show because I know my one of my nieces, she dances at Tara. Yes. And they have like it seems like pretty young. They look like high school, maybe college age girls working with them. But how do you how do people get in contact if they want to do these lessons? Speaker 1 You can. Speaker 3 Literally just email miss goes or Miss Kennedy. Speaker 2 And they. Speaker 3 Will set you up with one of us and you can have privates. I've done them for the past two years, you know, and all the girls love working with us. It's just like you get to work with someone actually on the team and learn the ins and outs of what it's really like. Oh yeah. So it's like this detail you may not get from just like an outsider. Speaker 3 Who is they? Maybe just on another drill team one many years ago. But like you're getting current information like from actual Wrangler. Speaker 1 That's when I feel like the little girls too. Or just like, love working with y'all. Like in particular, like they I'm sure they kind of idolize in a way or. Speaker 3 Something me and Haley did this year. I think the senior officers do it every year. It's part of our auction during the fall for it's for. Speaker 2 Our pregame. Speaker 3 Pre-game dinner. There's a silent auction. It's like you get privates with the senior dance officers. I had this little girl and she came and took privates with us. Speaker 2 She was so cute. It was so much fun. Yeah. Speaker 1 So it's been ideal. Do those in your like in your normal space? Speaker 3 Yes, we do. That. Speaker 1 Okay. Okay. Awesome. Well, good. Well, I'm glad you mentioned that, because plugs And speaking of plugs, is there anything else you would like to plug while you're here on FICA podcast? Speaker 3 So we have our annual spring show coming up. It's on tape. Speaker 2 I've got the dates and the times that I know them. Oh yeah. Speaker 1 I love them. She says, Sit down. So it's on. Speaker 3 April 17th, 19th and 20th, and on the 20th, which is Saturday, we have two shows. We have a matinee at 2:00 or two. Speaker 2 30, I think two. Speaker 3 30, 230. But you can also check our website. It says it first. You're on there and then all the other shows are at seven or goes, I would like to say 657. Speaker 1 Yes. Speaker 3 So we have four shows, one on Wednesday, one on Friday, two on Saturday. Speaker 2 Yes. The tickets go on sale April 3rd at 10 a.m.. And this year you're going to be able to like pick your seats and pick where you want to go. Speaker 1 Oh, wow. Speaker 2 And it's also at the junior high. That's a change from normal to construction. We had to move there, but I still think it'll be an amazing show. The theme this year is Camp Wrangler, so it's kind of like the Wrangler. Let's go to camp. It's going to be really cute. I also just recommend everyone going, even if you are like, Oh, they're just going to do a lot of dances because it really is a full production. Speaker 2 We do skits, we have tons of traditions. There's like a whole storyline to our show, so it's super fun. And I think. Speaker 3 This year, like along with like video skits, we're going to have like live acting from Wrangler, which is really funny. And there's just it's not even just Wrangler that's dancing. There's like the dance wellness classes that dance dance one and advanced dance. So you just get to see oh, in cheering color guard usually perform too. So it's just like seeing a whole bunch of people perform is really cool. Speaker 2 Also, our moms are going to be performing this year to senior mom. Speaker 1 Our moms here performing have already learned the dance they're doing. I don't think so. They're all very nervous about it. Yeah. My goodness. Well, moms all are going to Kelly already. Awesome. Speaker 3 Most of the moms are nervous. Except my mom. She likes to. She was a dancer, so she. She's living for this. Speaker 1 Yeah. She's like, This is my moment right here. Yeah, I'm mother. Speaker 3 She's been waiting for this. Speaker 1 Okay, well, one more question, I guess about tickets. So you said they go on sale online. Is that like the whole S-E-X thing? I think that we normally sell tickets through, and then can they buy tickets at the door or only online? No, it's only on. Speaker 3 And I don't think it's e tix. It's some sort of like dance ticketing website, but it's going to be linked on our website that. Speaker 1 We'll make sure that y'all let us know when that's going out and we'll share it to friends. What I see social media and our newsletter and all that good stuff to. Speaker 2 Post on Instagram, like whenever the tickets go on sale. And you could probably also find the link through our website when they do. Speaker 3 And with that too, we are also having our raffle. So if you want to buy a raffle tickets, I think they're $10 apiece piece. I want to say yes, you can buy them from any Wrangler ads and you can be internet in our raffle and there's some really great prizes. And then also if you're a business owner and want to get some sort of promotion, we have this thing called standing ovation ads and it's a slide show that is shown before the show and during intermission. Speaker 3 So it's about an hour, hour and a half of time that the audience will be seeing these ads go through. And I think you can buy them for $50, which isn't. Speaker 1 Too bad. Yeah. Speaker 3 Yeah. So if you're a business owner. Speaker 2 Yeah, just reach out to a wrangler. We have the link. It's $50, and then you just make a little odd for yourself and it just plays on on a loop on a slide show. Like on a loop the whole time. Speaker 1 Well, let me just tell you all, y'all are some businesswoman over here, like, Oh, we all have sold a few people on some things today. Let me tell you. Well, it's been awesome. Is there anything else which I want to talk about and share while we still have y'all or I think that does it. Awesome. Well, we are so proud of you and so excited for what's ahead. Speaker 1 And I can't wait to see this spring show. I know it's going to be absolutely fabulous. So thank you so much for coming on the podcast today. Unknown Yeah, so far, yes. Oh, have a good day.