On Friday, Lake Highlands High School Highlandette lieutenant Kathryn Elmore was named to the famed Rangerette drill team at Kilgore College. In addition to learning and practicing new dance routines, the grueling week of tryouts included a modeling session, talent show, and personal interviews with the judges.
“It was stressful, but fun,” Kathryn told me when she returned from Kilgore. “The first thing we did after learning we’d made it was get measured for our uniforms and meet our new roommate. It will be an exciting year, since it’s the 75th anniversary of Kilgore College and the 70th year of the Rangerettes.”
“I was impressed with the whole process,” said Kathryn’s mom, Kim, who traveled to Kilgore with her. “The competition was strong – the girls trying out were the crème of the crop. We feel very blessed; it’s a sweet group of girls and she’s already bonded with them.”
There to congratulate her was recently retired Highlandette sponsor Shannon Carlton (shown in the photo with Kathryn). She also was welcomed by Rangerette director Dana Blair, 1980 graduate of LHHS. Dana served as Dette captain her senior year and was a Rangerette herself.
“They told us to get our passports ready,” Kathryn said. In addition to starring in the Kilgore Ranger football halftime shows and their traditional performance at Dallas’ Cotton Bowl, they be guest performers on Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas, which sets sail from Galveston March 14 for a week-long cruise. “I’m proud of Kathryn – she set a goal and worked hard to achieve it,” said Kim. “It’s a talented group and they have respect for each other. We plan to go to every football game to cheer the girls on.”
The girls report back to Kilgore August 14 to move into their dorms and prepare for the first performance. “Showoffs” will be held Friday, August 21 in Dodson Auditorium on the Kilgore campus and will feature the new team members and newly selected officers.
