Attend any TCU sporting event, and one will likely see the TCU Rangers Spirit group, a collection of students from various walks of life who come together for a singular purpose — to help amp up the crowd support for the purple and white.
This year’s group has taken on a local flair, as three recent Aledo High School grads comprise a portion of the squad, including assistant coach Michaela Harris and members Logan Kasper and Payne Wellman.
The Rangers are responsible for in-game elements such as running flags, the Battle Flag, the iconic Frog Horn, U.S. and Texas flags, T-shirt cannons, section banners, field goal nets, and more.
Harris, an assistant coach with the organization, said she initially joined the Rangers because she has always loved the game-day atmosphere at TCU.
“The energy, the tradition, the way the whole community comes alive,” Harris said. “Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have known about Rangers if it weren’t for one of my sorority sisters who had been Mrs. TCU. She told me I’d be a perfect fit and encouraged me to try out. She was right. The second I stepped into the program, I knew it was exactly where I wanted to be.”
After COVID, Harris was looking for her purpose on TCU’s campus, and the Rangers were able to give her just that.
“My goal as a Ranger was to promote the organization in the best exposure I could through our social media,” Harris said. “This led to many silly Kermit photo shops and amazing opportunities and interactions with big-time media platforms and CFP Bowl Directors. I was even lucky enough to travel with the Rangers to cheer on TCU at the Fiesta Bowl and the National Championship, which is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that gave me some of my best college memories.”
Harris was a Ranger for three years, serving on the leadership executive council as Social Chair and then as President.
“My game day role was the Frog Horn, which is an indescribable rush of 120 decibels (yet it sounds like much, much, more) that really boosts the game’s atmosphere,” Harris said. “This organization became a huge part of my college experience, and it’s given me a community I genuinely care about.”
Aledo High School alum Payne Wellman said he credits Harris with getting him involved in the organization, as the two have known each other since he was in the 8th grade and she was a senior at AHS.
“When she found out I was coming to TCU, she reached out to me about the team, and it was an instant yes for me,” Wellman said.
The TCU junior said he tried Greek life and so many other activities that were just not right for him, even if at times it is challenging.
“We cover so many different sporting events on and off campus,” Wellman said. “But the thing that’s different about the Rangers is that we embrace challenge and turn it into the best opportunity we can. The rewards outweigh the challenges overwhelmingly.
“You get the best gear on the planet, best seats in the house to sporting events, as well as access to world-class facilities and amenities. But the biggest one being you get to represent the best University in the country.”
Wellman said it is exciting for him to be coached by Harris, a sentiment echoed by Kasper, who said being a part of the squad with Harris and Wellman feels like a reunion of sorts.
“Michaela is an incredibly kind and understanding coach, making it really easy for me to manage the balance between Rangers and theater,” Kasper said. “Payne is a truly bright light on the team, always making sure to ask how your day is going and to share a smile. They are both great examples of Aledo alumni that carry themselves with infectious goodness that spreads to others.”
Harris, who cheered at Aledo High School all four years and served as both JV and Varsity cheer captain, said coaching her fellow AHS alumni means a lot to her.
“It’s honestly special,” Harris said. “Coaching Logan and Payne feels full circle because we share that Aledo background. There’s a built-in understanding of work ethic, standards, and community pride.”
At AHS, Wellman was involved with the Ledoian Yearbook Staff, a member of the golf team, the superintendent’s student advisory council, the National Honor Society and was selected Mr. AHS his senior year.
The TCU Junior is studying Psychology and plans to obtain his Master’s degree and eventually become a licensed therapist.
The 2023 AHS alum said being a member of the TCU Rangers has affected his college experience in a positive way.
“It really does play a huge role,” Wellman said. “I tried Greek life and so many other things that just weren’t for me. This team has given me so much for the three years I’ve been part of it that you can’t get anywhere else at TCU.”
Kasper was in the Aledo Players, the Theatre club, and competed in UIL One-Act Play in high school.
The TCU freshman is pursuing his BFA in Acting with a double major in Strategic Communications, and said he is truly grateful for the opportunity to participate as well.
“This made my transition into college incredibly seamless as I was already secure in the fact that I had a group to fall back on,” Kasper said. “The Rangers were so incredibly welcoming, and it has made my college experience truly unique in the best way. I have always been really into school spirit, and this is an incredibly cool outlet for me to express that here at TCU.”
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