Power to the flags

At+halftime+at+the+most+recent+home+game%2C+color+guard+wows+audiences+with+their+competition+routine.+Since+last+year%2C+color+guard+has+been+moved+up+2+competition+divisions%2C+and+has+still+performed+exceptionally+well%2C+placing+second+in+their+most+recent+competition%2C+alongside+the+first+place+band.

Jessica Streich

At halftime at the most recent home game, color guard wows audiences with their competition routine. Since last year, color guard has been moved up 2 competition divisions, and has still performed exceptionally well, placing second in their most recent competition, alongside the first place band.

Colorful weaves of fiber whirl under the bright Friday night lights, while incorporating props, dancing, and the marching band. Both a sport and an art, color guard successfully seizes the audience’s attention during halftime shows and competitions.

 “Color guard is the definition of multitasking,” junior Katherine Randall said. “When we’re out on the field, we have to pay attention to where we’re supposed to be, keep our feet in time with the band, spin our equipment, look up at the audience and perform.”

Practicing for about three hours multiple times a week, in addition to 15-30 minutes a day outside rehearsal, the members of  color guard are determined to prevail. The amount of time they devote to color guard shows their passion and love for the sport.

“I love color guard so much I’ve centered my high school career around it,” junior Katherine Randall. “When I first saw a color guard show, I noticed this majesty to the way they danced and spun their equipment. It made me look at it and say ‘wow, I want to do that.’”

Many people do not know much about color guard; however, once these girls discovered the sport, they instantly felt inspired. It lured them in and they immediately fell in love with the sport.

“I first discovered color guard after going to one of my cousin’s competitions,” junior Olivia Dow said. “The colors on the field and the smiles on their faces gave me a warm feeling. Once I talked to people on CHS color guard, I felt attached and that I just had to do it.”

That excitement compensates for the small amount of participants at CHS. Many would see this as a setback, but it just motivates the girls to work even harder.

“We only have nine girls on our team where most teams have 20-30 girls,” sophomore Kyleigh Kelle said. “It’s really hard for us since everybody’s doing other school activities. However, we dedicate so much to this sport and we would all agree that it’s worth it.”