Pride of The Southland's Head Majorette

By Matt Hollingsworth

Rhonda Cooley-Harold had been in the car for nearly four hours while she waited to hear back on her daughter Caroline’s tryouts. Caroline had been working for this moment all her life, and this was her opportunity to become Head Majorette of the Pride of the Southland Band.

Normally, Rhonda would have gotten food, but her stomach was in knots, and all she could do was stare at her phone, hoping for news. Finally, at 8:58 p.m., Rhonda received a text from Caroline’s twirling coach (Amber Young) saying “She made it.” Moments later, another text arrived, “Get in here now!”

Inside the building, Caroline stood with the UT Band Director, smiling with tears in her eyes. The moment she saw Rhonda, she ran over and simply said, “I made it, Mom. I made it.”

Caroline is one of seven women from Madisonville to become a majorette for the Pride of the Southland Marching Band. She is the first to become Head Majorette. She hopes many other women from our wonderful town will continue this tradition.

Rhonda later recalled, “I knew at that moment her dreams had come true… I was literally bursting with so much pride and joy.”

Caroline has worked for this moment for years. She began twirling all the way back in 3rd grade when she fell in love with it, and she’s been practicing for countless hours every week since age eight. She twirled on her school teams in intermediate school, middle school, and Sequoyah High School. Now, after all that work, she has the honor of leading her team every Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

Caroline is grateful for the countless people who have helped her to achieve this goal. First and foremost, she knows she would not be here today without the love of Jesus Christ, her personal Savior, and her entire family. She is thankful for Dr. Michael Stewart, her band director, as well as Lindsey Cupp Maples, the University of Tennessee Coordinator. She can’t forget the many coaches who helped her along the way—especially her coach Amber Young, who has been her mentor and college coach and prepared her to be a UT Majorette and Head Majorette and is like family to her. Amber herself is a former UT Majorette. Last but not least, Caroline is so thankful for her mother who has always been her biggest supporter. Caroline knows that, without her mom, she would not be where she is today.

Her mother, Rhonda, is the owner of Caroline’s Home Floral & Gifts in Madisonville. Caroline is on track to graduate UT in May 2025 and then will continue to graduate school, earning her degree in speech pathology. She will never forget this incredible accomplishment of becoming Head Majorette.