On Apr., 1 the varsity Color Guard closed out their season with their state competition. It was their first time competing at the state level in the open class and they took home a sixth place trophy. Their lower than usual score can be attributed to their moving up a class this year, and despite this score their state show was still one of the best of the season according to vice president of administration, senior Erin Ryan.

“It felt amazing coming off the floor, knowing that we did our best,” Ryan said. “It was one of the best shows we’ve had, and just knowing personally that I didn’t have any drops made me beam. It was kind of disappointing that we didn’t get a high score, but we did pretty well knowing that the others have been competing in that class forever. We were just happy with our team’s performance. It’s always the last show that you remember most, and I’m glad it was amazing.”

This season, the show was centered around famous actresses who had made a mark on the film industry and how they would live on in their legacy. The song was “Fame” by Mree and the color scheme centered around royal purple and gold.

“The show this year was a very memorable one,” Ryan said. “It encouraged us all to leave our own mark on the world. I will always remember it because it was my last year and the most challenging one. Every competition, getting close to taking the floor, I alway feel nervous. It’s understandable though I guess, I’m always terrified of ‘what if I drop? What if I mess up?’ But once we take the floor, the nerves turn into an exhilarating energy and our energy becomes untied if we communicate on the floor. We finally got the understanding of what it’s like to perform as a team and not as individuals towards the end of the season which was great.”

The most challenging toss in the show was performed by Maddie Cuff, a senior and one of the varsity captains. It was a turnaround six toss, meaning that she threw the rifle up, it rotated six times, and then she spun around before catching it. Having been in Guard since the eighth grade, Cuff has dedicated five years to practicing and perfecting her performances.

“I think Guard’s really improved me as a person,” Cuff said. “I used to be really shy and really reserved when I was in middle school and at the beginning of highschool, but after joining guard and being surrounded by hundreds of people who are just so outgoing and fun and wanting to be your friend it really brought me out of my shell and allowed me to evolve into a better person. Honestly, because of joining, my people skills have improved so much. I feel like through this activity it given me an outlet to connect with people.Color guard has really become something I’m passionate about and if I get the opportunity to continue it after high school I would without hesitation.”

But while Cuff was able to toss her six at most every competition without dropping it, their season was not without its issues. Including when the other varsity captain, sophomore Ally Hall, got injured and was diagnosed with a concussion. Despite this challenge, Hall pushed through and preformed when she could.

“To not be able to do the one thing I had been working towards for two months just wasn’t an option for me,” Hall said. “I made the choice to try and perform with a concussion, which I don’t recommend. I did have to sit down in the middle of the performance because I got dizzy, and the only thing I could think was that I let down my team. When the show was over, I completely avoided them because I couldn’t imagine how mad they would be at me for ‘ruining the show.’ However, when it came down to it, nobody was mad at me, they were worried. That moment in my career is when I really remembered why I did color guard. It’s not for the trophy or for winning. It’s for the family and friends and the relationship we build together. When I recovered, I pushed myself even harder and it encouraged me to try my hardest and do my best in show. It was a struggle to get through, but I came out stronger than before and that all that matters.”

While there are no current concrete plans for next year’s shows, the Guard does have a general goal to keep growing and improving, according to Hall.

“There’s been a couple exciting rumors about what’s in store for next year, but until that’s confirmed, we’re planning on just trying to get the guard to grow even more and reach an even higher level than what we’re currently at,” Hall said. “The growth of the program has been amazing and I think we’re all hoping we continue to get even better and do better than ever before.”