The OH Color Guard has been an important part of the marching band for decades, and over the years, the program has become increasingly more popular: comprising 30 members this past fall, and every year they seem to get increasingly more advanced. This year was no exception, but they are starting something new this winter: Winter Guard.
Rather than stopping after the fall marching band season is over, the color guard will continue to practice through the winter as well as compete at local circuit competitions. Having a full-out winter season like this is brand new to OH but that does not mean that the guard is new to year-round rehearsals.
“Over the last couple of years, we have been testing the waters with informal Spin Clubs, where we would have optional winter-season rehearsals to keep skills fresh, as well as attending local winter guard contests,” said Head Color Guard Coach Lauren Rogers.
With opportunities like Spin Club already in place, some may ask the question “Why now?” for the guard there is an easy answer.
“There was just so much interest in guard, to begin with [this year] and other schools around us have had winter guard so we wanted to get into a competitive field with them,” said junior Morgan Pawlisz, one of the Co-Captains of the Color Guard.
This more competitive and high-commitment group will help the guard prepare and get ready for the fall season where they compete with the marching band. Over the winter they will work on a separate show, performed to artist Leona Lewis’ cover of the song “Colorblind” by the Counting Crows. By practicing year round they will not get rusty during the long off-season before June when they return for Band Camp.
“I’d like to improve the starting point for skills in future seasons, which means that we are looking to raise the bar of expectation for all members,” said Rogers.
Another good thing about practicing during winter is that the team will be indoors. Over the summer and during the fall, the team is at the mercy of the elements with things like sunlight, strong winds, and extreme temperatures often affecting their performance. But in the winter they can practice their technique without uncontrollable variables.
“By us spinning all year round we can master skills inside without worrying about wind [[…]] and it’ll just keep our skills very sharp and not people leaving a flag in the closet for six months,” said Pawlisz.
Despite the lack of a break between seasons, the whole color guard is still excited to keep training.
“It’s nice being able to do guard through the winter rather than sitting there waiting for the fall season,” said junior Rebecca Dutton, another color guard member.
For many students involved, Guard is a great way to participate in the arts at OH without playing an instrument or being active in art classes. It’s also like any other athletic activity, a team, so being a part of the group helps students build connections with other members and gives them something to look forward to.
“Whether they are building self-confidence and perseverance, or learning the value of hard work and how to face challenges, our members build skills that carry into their everyday lives,” said Rogers.
At the end of the day, the guard is a group of close-knit hard-working individuals who put a lot of time and effort into honing their skills, and the new winter guard season is giving them more opportunities to keep spinning year-round.
I am a senior at OH and so excited to be a Managing and Opinions Section Editor this year! I love working on 42Fifty, but I am also very involved in band and numerous honor societies here. Looking forward to doing great work this year!
