By Brandi Miller

For the FCT

Montana Gray is about to begin a new chapter in her lives in a few weeks.  She, along with her classmates, will graduate and go their separate ways.  Gray knows where her first stop will be after high school, and that’s Itawamba Community College. Gray has received the ICC All American Band Scholarship for feature twirler.

For Gray, twirling has been a huge part of her life since her freshman year of high school. For the last three years she has spent countless hours practicing and preparing to become the twirler she is today, that resulted in the honor of this scholarship.

“Normally, if it’s not football season, I will practice until I can’t anymore,” said Gray. “But during football, it was three hours a day plus two more at home.”

Gray said at first she didn’t she didn’t really have an option when it came to twirling, but then once she started, it was hard for her to stop doing it because she loved it so much. Her love for her sport has shown as she performed many times with the RBHS band.

“We practice for hours, we compete, we perform, and we get injured,” said Gray.  “It is no less of a sport than football or basketball or anything else.  Not only does it take hand-eye coordination but also balance, dance, flexibility and endurance.”

While Gray said she is so excited and looking forward to being part of a huge band and meeting new people while at ICC, she will always remember her days as a RBHS twirler with great memories.

“I am going to miss always getting ready with Madison Fierro,” said Gray.  “Her mom always doing our hair, making us look pretty and the traveling to away games. Football games and pep rallies with Madison will always be some of my favorite memories.”

To make twirler at ICC, Gray had to try out, which consisted of many steps and a lot of practice.

“I had to take lessons from Heather Davis,” said Gray. “She is the one who made up my routine. I would have to go an hour or more to learn each part and make it look good. Then I applied to try out for the ICC Band. Heather recorded a video of me doing my routine, and we sent it off. It took a week just to find out if I made it. I was pretty nervous all that week.”

Gray said she wants to thank Davis for making her routine. She also wanted to give a special thanks to Renee Knoblock for fixing her hair for every football game and Fierro for being the best twirler and partner she could ask for.  She wanted to thank her mom, God, sister and friends for always believing in her.

While at ICC, Gray plans to major in surgical nursing.