FOR SOME, IT TAKES YEARS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR PASSION IS.
Macie Moore knew hers in the ninth grade.
“Back in high school, I was a line member, then a Lieutenant, then a First Lieutenant and then the Captain,” she said. “I held several leadership roles, and I have so many great memories. It made me step out of my shell and become a confident person in front of my peers.”
The new Bridge City Strutter Director fell in love with dance and always wanted to come home to lead the Red and White’s award-winning dance team. That was her dream since high school.
Which was three years ago!
The 21-year-old Moore would not be denied. Upon graduating from Bridge City, she made the world-renown Kilgore Junior College Rangerettes, where she danced for two years.
“Being a part of the Rangerettes opened up a whole new world for me,” she said. “I learned so many styles of dance. We performed everywhere from England to Virginia. It was a great opportunity for a girl from Bridge City, Texas and opened up so many doors for me career-wise.”
She knew she was on the clock, however, knowing legendary Strutter Director Cathy Riley was ready to retire.
“I called and begged her to give me a little more time,” she said. “She knew I really wanted this.”
Moore would finish her Bachelor ’s Degree from Lamar University with head-spinning speed and accuracy.
“I’ve always planned on this being my permanent position,” she said of the Strutters’Director job. “This is where God has placed me, and it’s been a very smooth transition. I love sharing my passion with the girls. It never feels like a job and I can do this forever.”
For Moore, leading strutters has so many layers to it. She is a to teach life lessons.
In ninth grade, the Bridge City Strutters were performing a routine during a pep rally and something wasn’t right for Moore.
“I’ll never forget, it was our ‘ Thriller ’ routine for our Halloween pep rally,” she said. “I blanked out during a performance. That never happened.I had to come off the floor. I cried to let me perform at the football game that night, but Ms. Riley knew something was wrong.”
She was sent to Texas Children’s in Beaumont and was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. “It threw me for a loop because I don’t do well with change,” she said. “I didn’t want to stick out from everyone else, having Diabetes. I really struggled emotionally.
“But without Diabetes, I wouldn’t be who I am today. It really built me into a strong, independent woman. That’s what I preach to these girls. There are going to be trials and tribulations in their lives. But if you can get over them, nothing can stop you.”
Moore’s life-lessons hit different because of her age and experience.
“I’m really transparent with the girls and I feel like they can relate to me because I’m really not that much older than them,” she laughed. “Even though they think I act like an 80-year-old woman, I’ve been through what they are going through very recently. I can show them techniques and what they are supposed to look like.
“To think, I was a senior in high school as their pre drill instructor when they were in the eighth grade. Now they are seniors, and I am their Director.”
Life happens fast, doesn’t it?"
Read More...Read Less
The state semifinals are here. A trip to AT&T stadium and a chance for a state title is on the line. We take a look at the Austin and San Antonio schools vying for those spots and preview their matchups.
GILMER HARMONY VS POTH
Friday, December 9th, 7:00PM | Cypress' Cy-Fair FCU Stadium, Cypress Texas
Don't let Harmony's 5 losses fool you they are deserving to be in this state semifinal. Poth meanwhile has been consistent over the last few years but is looking to get back to the state championship for the first time since 1968. Poth, whose offense has been great all season, won a defensive battle against Tidehaven last week with 4 turnovers while quarterback Zane Raabe and the Pirate offense did just enough. They will need another game like that from their defense this week if they want to get to AT&T Stadium.
CUERO VS WIMBERLEY
Friday, December 9th, 3:00PM | Alamodome, San Antonio Texas
Cuero played in what was arguably the game of the year last week where they defeated Silsbee in a 3 overtime classic 58-56. Quarterback Mason Notaro threw for 247 yards, rushed for 75 more and had 4 total touchdowns in the win, while running back Tycen Williams led the way on the ground for the Gobblers with 158 yards, and another 71 on the ground, with 5 total touchdowns. They'll be faced with facing a Texans offense that has heated up as of late, including last week in their 49-30 win over the Vikings. In that game running back Johnny Ball could not be stopped as he had 303 yards rushing and 5 touchdowns. Both offenses are going to score, so the key to this game will be which defense can make the stops at the right time. Cuero has won 5 of the last 7 matchups against these two, including winning 2 of the last 3 games in the postseason in that span.
TYLER CHAPEL HILL VS BOERNE
Friday, December 9th, 7:00PM | Alamodome, San Antonio Texas
These two teams are coming off two very different games, behind the arms of Sophomore quarterbacks, in the Regional Finals. For Boerne they rolled past Calallen in a 49-19 win behind Sophomore quarterback Jaxon Baize's 233 passing yards and 3 touchdowns and TJ Dement's 146 rushing yards and 1 touchdown and 61 receiving yards. Meanwhile Tyler Chapel Hill won a thriller against Kilgore 24-21. Sophomore quarterback Demetrius Brison totaled 315 yards of offense and 3 total trouchdowns in the contest which was just enough to get past Kilgore. Boerne's offensive line could be the difference in this one as they have given Baize all day to throw all season long. But if Boerne's defense can't stop the speed of Chapel Hill it could be a long day at the office.
PORT NECHES-GROVES VS LIBERTY HILL
Friday, December 9th, 7:00PM | Katy's Legacy Stadium, Katy Texas
Liberty Hill faced some adversity early on in their game last week against Corpus Christi Flour Bluff losing 2 of their 3 leading rushes in the game. That was no problem for the Panthers who tallied 545 yards of offense while their defense came up huge to help them secure a 63-43 win. Meanwhile Port Neches-Groves avenged their regular season district loss to Fort Bend Marshall with a 29-21 win over the Buffs. Liberty Hill came into the season with only 3 returning starters on defense and has done a great job of developing those new players on defense this season. How the Panthers defense handles this Port Neches-Grove's offense that is humming will be the story in this one.
KATY VS VANDEGRIFT
Saturday, December 10th, 7:00PM | Alamodome, San Antonio Texas
Vandegrift has been on a roll since their 3 point Week 1 loss to Dripping Springs. Last week they got their revenge on the Tigers defeating them 27-24. The Vipers defense came up huge in the game after stopping a Tiger 19 play drive in the 4th quarter on 4th and short. Quarterback Brayden Buchanan was as good as ever throwing for 150 yards and a touchdown while running back Alex Witt added 165 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. Meanwhile Katy used a huge second half to cruise to a 56-34 win over C.E. King. Running back Seth Davis ran for 301 yards and 6 touchdowns to lead the way for the Tigers. That will be the key to the game. Can Vandegrift stop the run game of Katy. I think Vandegrift's offense is going to put up some points. But if their defense can't stop the run, it won't matter how many points the Vipers put up.
NORTH SHORE VS WESTLAKE
Saturday, December 9th, 3:00PM | Rice Stadium, Houston Texas
Hands down, these 2 teams have been the 2 best teams since the 2018 season. Each team has 3 state championships in that time while Westlake is currently on a 54-game winning streak and is looking for the 4th straight state title. The last time these two teams met, also in the state semifinals, Westlake came out victorious. Both teams rolled last week with Westlake defeating Brennan 47-7, while North Shore defeated Atascocita 38-7. This game is going to come down to the defenses for each team. Both teams have offenses that have some "holes" though I use that term loosely. Westlake has shuffled quarterbacks this year while Sophomore phenom Kaleb Bailey suffered an injury earlier in the season. Even with that being said, these offesnes have put up ridiculous numbers this year. But now each squad will be playing what is arguably the best defense they've seen all year. For Westlake that means going up against what may be the best secondary in the state while for North Shore, who has relied on the run with the absence of Bailey, that is a Westlake front led by Texas commit Colton Vasek. Whichever offense can get rolling early will be the difference in this one. It's hard to pick against a 54 straight win team though.
Read More...Read Less
LSA Cheer
The Lutheran South Academy (LSA) Cheer Team performed at the TAPPS State competition this week after months of preparation.
“We did really well,” coach Amy Bahr, who cheered and attended LSA, said. “We competed in different categories and talking to the girls, we all agree that we walked away feeling accomplished and it being a great trip.”
The Pioneers took third in the Individual Stunt Competition, which was a first for the program. The group included Payton Govea, Sydney Giugliano, Natalie Flores, Juliana Capozzi and Taryn Williams.
Three of LSA’s cheerleaders earned all-state honors – Taryn Williams was a first-teamer, Leah Samour was a second-teamer and Natalie Flores was an honorable-mention selection.
The team earned a Superior Rating.
“We start prepping in August for this event,” Bahr said. “From working on technique and skills to choreography to adjusting for injuries, everything is coordinated. When we get to the competition season, we want everything to look organic and natural, but is has taken countless hours for every move to be planned out.”
While the cheer team wraps up their season hyping up the basketball teams, LSA will be back to the drawing board in a few months.
“Just getting on stage… the adrenaline of performing in front of hundreds of people is a great experience,” Bahr said. “That’s what keeps us coming back.”
Read More...Read Less
TRENDING
GAMES
Join the #VYPETEAM
Get up to date news from all over the country!
FROM THE WEB