Page 12 - The University Star
TRENDS
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Texas State represented in Austin Lady Wranglers By Erica Rodriguez Features Reporter At first glance, when not in uniform, the Austin Lady Wranglers might pass for a dance team from Texas State. That’s because 11 of the 12 women will be supplementing their Bobcat pride with a dose of Wrangler football spirit. “You have to be poised and have a good technique,” said Michelle Guidry, team captain and psychology senior. “It just ended up that the best girls were from Texas State.” The 12-member dance group cheering on the Austin Wranglers football team this season was selected last week. The numbers mark a dramatic shift from last year, when four of 17 dancers represented Texas State. Each of the women who made the team was selected as the top dancers from a group of 20 who auditioned to be on the team. The four-day audition period was described as a rigorous series of hip-hop and jazz dance routines learned and performed in the same day. Lori Ogle, management freshman, is among the new team members. “It was nerve-wrecking just because I’ve never done anything like this,” Ogle said. Though she was involved with her drill team in high school, she decided to take this past summer off from dancing. Ogle said she was convinced to tryout for the team by a friend and anticipates an enjoyable season. “We’re a really small group, so I think we’re going to have a lot of fun together,” she said.
— Photo courtesy of Sara Simon WRANGLING BOBCATS: After tryouts were held last week, 11 of the 12 Austin Lady Wrangler dance team members are Texas State students. The dance team performs Sunday.
A football-lover at heart, Ogle is excited to do more than just cheer for the Austin Wranglers. “I love football, so I really can’t wait for the games,” she said. Former Strutter Meredith Wahl, exercise and sports science senior, took a summer off from dancing as well, but she felt dancing for the Lady Wranglers was an experience she had to pursue. “I wanted to challenge myself and try something new,” she said. “And I love football.” Wahl believes this experience will help her pursue a future working in the dance industry and hopes to one day open her own studio. For now, cheering on the field at the Frank Erwin Center is what she looks forward to the most. In addition to cheering on the Austin Wranglers football
team, the Lady Wranglers will be keeping a busy schedule with community outreaches. “We do a lot of appearances throughout the year,” Guidry said. She hopes this year the team will help bring more attention to the football team through local events. The team’s first community event will be the Evening of Giving, a charity event taking place Sunday at Barton Creek Square Mall in Austin. The event starts 6:30 p.m. and consists of after-hours shopping and holiday entertainment. All proceeds will benefit local non-profit organizations. The Lady Wranglers are scheduled to perform 6:50 p.m. and again at 7:50 p.m. For ticket information contact Barton Creek Square Director of Mall Marketing, Monica Garcia at mogarcia@simon.com.
Texas State women who made the 2007 – 2008 Lady Wranglers dance team: Alisha Collins
Kaitlyn Carmichael
Michelle Guidry
Brianne Gess
Kara Marshall
Samantha Velasco
Deborah Rivera
Lori Ogle
Sarah Simon
Jenny Pullen
Meredith Wahl