Karsen Conser (center), a Whitehouse High School graduate, is the captain of the Kilgore College Rangerettes. Other officers are Right End Lieutenant Kendal DeVillier, Nederland; Right Middle Lieutenant Kelee Norris, Longview; Left Middle Lieutenant Emma Strange, Flower Mound; and Left End Lieutenant, Kayla Parker, Pearland.Chuck Cox/Freelance

Every year, fans are treated to world class entertainment when the Tyler Junior College Apache Belles and Kilgore College Rangerettes perform.

The two precision drill teams will be on the same stage Saturday in Tyler.

The big show is scheduled when the two schools meet on the football field at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m., but there will be pregame entertainment as well with TJC celebrating homecoming.

The Rangers and Apaches match up in perhaps the most heralded junior college football rivalry and the competition between the “internationally famous” Apache Belles and “world-famous” Rangerettes is just as intense.

RANGERETTE CAPTAIN

The captain for this year’s Rangerettes is Karsen Conser, a Whitehouse High School graduate. It is only the fourth time a captain has been from Whitehouse.

Conser has been in dance for 15 years and decided she wanted to be a Rangerette her senior year as a First Lady captain at Whitehouse.

“I decided I wanted to try out for Rangerettes when I was in high school,” Conser said. “I saw a video of the Rangerette High Kick and was in awe of the precision and grace they brought to the field. That’s when I decided I wanted to be a part of that.

“Everyday I wake up and am still amazed that I have the privilege and honor to help lead such an incredible organization that has withstood 80 years. Each day brings new lessons and memories I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

Other officers are Right End Lieutenant Kendal DeVillier, of Nederland; Right Middle Lieutenant Kelee Norris, of Longview; Left Middle Lieutenant Emma Strange, of Flower Mound; and Left End Lieutenant, Kayla Parker, of Pearland.

Fifteen sophomores tried out for the coveted five officer positions in front of a packed house at Dodson Auditorium back in August in Kilgore.

Dana Blair is the director of the Rangerettes, while Shelley Wayne is the assistant director and choreographer.

The Rangerettes will be in England on Nov. 21-28 and will be featured performers at the Birmingham International Tattoo.

The Birmingham Tattoo is held annually at the Barclaycard Arena in the center of Birmingham, England. The military tattoo features massed military bands and displays. The event takes place for two performances in November each year. The event has been held since 1989 and has attracted performers from the United States, Europe and Russia as well as British bands from the Royal Marines, Coldstream Guards, King’s Division and Gurkhas.

The Birmingham Tattoo features traditional military music, field gun racing, dancers, dog display teams and one of the largest gatherings of standard bearers with around 120 standards on parade at each performance. Each year the event raises money at each performance for the Royal Star and Garter Homes who provide care homes for disabled ex-servicemen and women.

On Sunday, Dec. 8, the Rangerettes will have their annual Christmas Show.

The Rangerettes have performed at every Cotton Bowl Classic halftime since 1951 and are scheduled once again for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Dec. 28, 2019, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Revels is the Rangerettes annual spring show and the culmination of their performing season. Dates for Revels 2020 are April 15-18. Evening showtimes are 7:30 p.m., with a 1 p.m. matinee on Saturday. All seats are reserved and tickets are $25 each.

APACHE BELLES

At 2 p.m. Saturday, the Apache Belles, Apache Band and their alumni will take their traditional Rim Walk into the stadium, followed by pregame activities and crowning of the homecoming queen and king.

The Apache Belles are under the direction of Jasilyn Schaefer. Artistic director and choreographer is Christy Evans. Special performance and recruitment coordinator is Dynasti Jefferson. Schaefer, Evans and Jefferson are all former Apache Belles.

“Homecoming plans include the traditional Homecoming rim March with the Apache Band, and both Band and Belle alumni, traditional pregame show and a halftime show honoring the bravery and ingenuity of the American spirit celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing,” Schaefer said. “There will be some surprises and, of course, the precision and pageantry that the Band and Belles bring to the halftime field.”

The Apache Belles returned on Tuesday from accompanying the Brookshire’s Heroes Flight to Washington, D.C.

Schaefer said the Belles met and accompanied veterans from five different wars and “were privileged to hear their stories from their time in service.”

The Apache Belles also performed a show for the veterans at the National Air Force Memorial.

In 2010, Brookshire Grocery Co. embarked on a mission to escort a group of World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. The trip was fully funded and coordinated by Brookshire’s, at no cost to the veterans. “This was the 19th Heroes Flight and it left an indelible impact on the lives of our Apache Belles,” Schaefer said.

She added the rest of the fall semester is filled with community appearances and performances “along with our 20th appearance in the Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade as a featured performer.” The Apache Belles will also be hosting a one day dance intensive Nov. 20.

“The spring semester is spent cheering for and performing at our home Apache basketball games and preparing for our full length original spring show (April 16-18 at Caldwell Auditorium in Tyler),” Schaefer said.

TJC HOMECOMING

The TJC Alumni Tailgate Party is scheduled for Saturday in the UPS Customer Center parking lot on South Lyons Avenue near CTMF Rose Stadium. The party is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. Admission is free for lifetime alumni members or $10 per person for non-members.

On Friday, the Alumni Awards Dinner was held at the Rogers Student Center. This year’s honorees were: Distinguished Alumnus Award, Dr. J. Blair Blackburn, 1989, President of East Texas Baptist University; Valuable Young Alumnus, Cody Boyd, 2001, CEO of UT Heath North Campus Tyler; Acclaimed Career Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Performing Arts, Donna Bullock, 1976, Broadway, television and film actress; and Black & Gold Award, LaVerne Gollob, friend, advocate and supporter of TJC.

APACHE BELLE MEMBERS

Sophomores and members of the 72nd line: Cassie Bennett, Lindale; Hailey Borek, Austin; Heather Bridges, Conroe; Jenny Burch, Chandler; Makayla Bustos, Bryan/College Station; Lilly Capetillo, Mansfield; Autumn Cox, Navasota; Kendal Cross, Deer Park; Spencer Ford, Denton; Avangeline Graves, Corinth; Addie Howard, Huntington; Ashley Howell, Flower Mound; Tea Lopez, Rowlett; Emilia Medina, Tyler; Madi Murphy, Tyler; Kortney Osburn, Bryan/College Station; Marlena Redmond, Rowlett; Madison Smith, Carthage; Justine Spisak, North Richland Hills; Tori Staggs, Abilene; Taylor Struggs, Tyler; Mia Tatum, Jacksonville; Kyara Williams, Mesquite; Caroline Woodard, Tyler; and Breanna Yocum, Springdale, Arkansas.

Freshmen and members of the 73rd line: Shirlye Bañuelo, Garland; Megan Chambliss, Joshua; Gaby Contreras, Fort Worth; Avery Davis, Deer Park; Camryn Fiorentino, Tyler; Landry Fowler, Tyler; Charliesia Gill, Houston; Brianna Gomez, Houston; McKinley Gregg, Kilgore; April Johnson, Joshua; Misty Jones, Tyler; Tawnya Jones, Lindale; Jordyn Kerr, Denton; Gabby Leon, Texarkana; Evelyn Lira, Denton; Gabi Mantecon, Denton; Shaleigh Masters, Crosby; Katy McMichael, Weatherford; Thelma Medrano, League City; Hailey Ray, Chapel Hill; Ashley Sims, Marshall; Kendall Smith, Burleson; Meagan Smith, Hallsville; Grace Soules, Hallsville; Julianna Tamayo, Jacksonville; Emmalie Thompson, Victoria; Samantha Tolentino, Abilene; Chloe Walker, Robinson; Korleigh Webb, Fort Worth; Beatrice White, Belton; and Olivia Wright, Aubrey.

Belle Guards: Matt Jones, Tyler; Patrick McClain, Lindale; Alex Mejia, Tyler; and Cristopher Reyes, Jacksonville.

Athletic trainer is Tara Manuel of Beaumont.

TWITTER: @PhilHicksETFS