Winter guard members fill the Multi-purpose center as they prepare to dance to a beat. They get in position, hearts beating fast with anticipation, to twirl their flags around.
The new color guard director, Herman Montoya, decided to bring winter guard back after two years since it stopped due to COVID-19 and quarantine.
“This isn’t the first year, but I am definitely bringing it back and making sure it stays here,” Montoya said. “It’s actually really important for the color guard and for the future program that is being built.”
Countless hours and dedication go into preparing and practicing for these competitions as well. This can be tiring for students practicing all week long and attending school, but the winterguard members make this dedication for the joy of the competition.
“The guard rehearses two hours, three days a week,” Montoya said. “Sometimes we have one to two Saturday rehearsals which go from 8 a.m. to about 5-6 p.m.”
Even on the way to competition they are still preparing for it whether it’s makeup and clothes or practicing. It’s really fun since it’s like new people [and] new friends. It’s just us coming together. — Maleiah Rachal
“We come to school two hours before we need to leave and we have rehearsal up until that point,” senior captain Marlie Watson said. “We have to do our makeup on the way there and hair on the way there and whenever we get there we change.”
Despite the commitment it takes to be a winterguard member the team still finds a way to have fun.
“It’s really fun since it’s like new people [and] new friends,” freshman Maleiah Rachal said. “It’s just us coming together.”
Even though the team hasn’t won any awards, they won’t give up and are attending many competitions this season.
“We actually just competed at Independence High School which was our first contest,” Montoya said. “We will also be competing Feb. 24 for our next contest at Pine Tree in Longview.”
