10 Feature April 23, 2021
A Pandemic Performance
Colorguard places top 3 at TCGC competition in Georgetown Bryan Ross | Co-Editor As the guard lines up to take the floor, the tension is palpable. While they’re still wearing masks, and the crowd in the stands is socially distanced, the energy in the moment feels the same. After last year’s Winter Guard season was cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current Winter Guard season started late for the same reason, the varsity Winter Guard performed at a live competition for the first time in 385 days at the Texas Color Guard Circuit Georgetown contest March 27. After the long wait, senior guard captain Jillian Tidwell said that the performance was more satisfying than it would’ve normally been. “It was a lot more satisfying to finally perform in front of an audience instead of just a camera because it's fun to hear the audience react to what's on the floor, and you don't get that with virtual competitions,” Tidwell said. “Of course it's the first in-person competition in late March, instead of late February, which made it a lot more satisfying to actually perform for the first time in over a year.” In addition to the pandemic, the guard also brought in a new director for the second time in the past three seasons, meaning the class of 2021 has had three different color guard directors during their time in high school. Jesse Skaar was officially hired as guard director May 8, 2020, so he has had to come into a new program midpandemic, which he said has been challenging. “Coming into a new program where you don't know faces is a struggle,” Skaar said. “Coming in I didn't have a rapport with
anyone. And on top of that, most students are learning from home, so I don't have that interpersonal communication that I would have if I had been here before the pandemic. So kind of running at first, just trying my best to develop those
with each other, so we didn't have this like connection to our director in the beginning,” Smith said. “But I also think with the pandemic it's like we're all going through it together, especially Mr. Skaar, so like with all of us going through this
Smith said. “Like yes, we know the basics and everything, but the work that Mr. Skaar gives us, it's with a new director, it's completely different work than we ever had with [our previous directors], so we're all learning at the same time, and it's a little
Senior Jillian Tidwell performs during TCGC Georgetown. Photo provided by | Anthony Davis relationships with all of my students during this pandemic and seeing what I could do to engage them online.” In some ways, the pandemic has made adjusting to a new director easier, senior guard captain Cassidy Smith said. “It was a little bit difficult, especially in the beginning, whenever we couldn't meet up
pandemic together it was kind of like, ‘okay, it's something new for all of us.’ I guess it wasn't as difficult to adapt to another new thing, which was a new director.” Smith said that having a new director can feel like being a rookie again. “It kind of feels like we're all starting at the same exact point,”
bit different. Obviously, we know a little bit more than the freshmen and everything, but I think even for the seniors this year, it feels like we're all a brand new guard, especially since the seniors left and everything. It's like a totally different guard than it was before.” Another challenge the guard has had to deal with this season
has been getting quarantined multiple times. The first time was right before the season started, which delayed the beginning of their season, and the second time was midseason. “This pandemic has really thrown curveballs at us and the band program, and every activity in the schools has faced this pandemic a little differently,” Skaar said. “So with all these different curveballs that get thrown our way, you just have to live, evaluate and adjust.” The guard placed third in their division at TCGC Georgetown and used the recording of their performance to qualify for the Winter Guard International semifinals, a virtual event. “Yeah so I'm not gonna lie, it wasn't our best performance,” Smith said. “We've done better, but I think most of us came off the performing area really strong, like we felt really good about ourselves, which is something that you don't usually do when you didn't do a great show. But I think that since it was the first time performing in a while, it felt really good to be back out there and even be in the same hallways that we were in previous competitions. It was really nice to be back there and it kind of felt a little bit normal.” Skaar said that regardless of tangible success, he hopes that the guard can end on the highest note possible. “I'm not concerned with placements,” Skaar said. “I am concerned that it's going to be their best show and that they feel like they've done everything through this year, and through this season to end on the highest note that they can. And that should be the best feeling out of everything.”
