April 24, 2015
Life, Style, & Arts
National Guard Winter color guard makes
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semifinals at national competition
Madi McVan life, style, & arts In the fall they hold flags above the heads of football players sprinting onto the field. At halftime, they spin flags, rifles and sabres as a part of the marching show. But in the winter, when football season is over, the real preparations begin. Long after the football team and band have hung their uniforms, the color guard continues to practice, prepping for their competitions on state and national levels. The winter guard performed at the Winter Guard International competition in Dayton, Ohio, April 16 through 18, and advanced to the semifinal round. This was their first national competition. “I think they overcame a lot of barriers this year and just them being willing to overcome those barriers and fight for the things they didn’t have last year is what made them so successful,” guard co-director Kat Gilley said. Winter Guard consists of a routine choreographed to recorded music involving the spinning and tossing of flags, rifles and sabres. Performances usually take place on a gym floor, and points are awarded for talent, precision, creativity and show design. Practices for the winter show begin in December and the season lasts until April. “When we were practicing, we fed off of each other’s feelings,” sophomore varsity member Emily McKibben said. “We were using each other to our advantage. When
somebody would perform and they looked really good, we would watch them and try to do that.” The success at the national level not only brought the guard into the national spotlight, but gained recognition for the band. Color guard and band share the same facilities and perform together in the fall marching band show. “If the guard does really well, it reflects well on the band,” band director Garth Gunderson said. “For them to go to nationals, and have our name be out there nationally, it’s only going to help the band in terms of its reputation not only within the state but on the national scale.” The semifinals performance was the culmination of months of intense daily practices and emotional investment, so as the season ended “My favorite moment from nationals was when the kids came off the floor at semis and the emotions they felt and how proud they were,” Gilley said. “That was a cool moment.” While it is not yet decided if the guard will return to WGI nationals next year, it is certain that they will work to continuously improve. “I’m excited about taking them to the next level,” Gilley said. “They’ve set an excellent foundation for it, and so I think I’m most excited about just pushing them further.”
Anatomy of a Color Guard Color guard began as visual accompaniment to military bands, then evolved into its own sport. Many of the props used in
today’s winter guards reflect their history, while still applying to the modern shows and music.
1. Sabre: a sword-shaped tool with a heavy handle that is reminiscent of color guard’s military background. 2. Rifle: a plastic or wooden gun-shaped instrument with a strap that assists with spinning.
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3. Flag: a metal pole of varying lengths with a large cloth, usually decorated to convey the story the show is telling.
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4. Floor: designed to reflect the themes of the show, the floor provides a visual aid and marks the boundaries of the area where the guard may perform. 5. Costume: generally made of breathable fabric, costumes often serve as a prop in the routine, utilized in dance moves and sometimes changing throughout the show.
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