Winter Guard tosses their way to championships
Before their WGI world championships performance, the Rock Hill Guard sits around in a circle cheering each other on. “It feels really special to be the first group to go and represent not only our school but our town,” Schmidt said. “It’s a very surreal feeling.”
“One, two, three, yee-haw!” the team says as they break from a huddle before a performance.
On Tuesday, April 11, 15 winter guard students departed from Rock Hill at 7:00 p.m. to travel to Dayton, Ohio, to compete in the Winter Guard International World Championships.
After a 16-hour drive and a three-day competition, this event is not for the faint of heart.
“I was freaking terrified,” junior Carly Schmidt said about Rock Hill’s admittance into the championship.
The competition will last from April 13 through the 15. In addition, the competition premiers an indoor showcase of the arts of the winter and color guards.
The contest consists of six preliminary rounds, allowing all contestants to advance in their skills.
Running on caffeine, the team continues on its journey. Although the scores are live on WGI’s website, the team must wait for awards until after the other schools complete their performances.
The road is long and uncertain, but the team is grateful for the opportunity to compete at such a high level.
“Before each performance, we do this weird thing where we listen to a song from ‘Hotel Transylvania’ to get us pumped,” Schmidt said.
Most of the girls on the team have practiced and performed together for the past three years, but the current group, including freshmen, has been bonding since November of 2022.
“Being a strong spinner for my team motivates me throughout the season,” junior Bowie Savoie said. “I know I’m not letting my team down, but I know the best way to keep myself and my teammates motivated is to always work together towards higher achievement and performance.”
The team unites, and garners spirit through pep talks, encouragement, and odd rituals.
Competition
Since Rock Hill opened in 2020, the winter guard has trained hard to perfect their art. Once the season starts in November, the team spends every Tuesday and Thursday evening learning and crafting intricate choreography.
(Rachel Watson)
This can include tossing everything from flags to sabers and guard rifles.Over the years, the guard participated in various competitions, including the North Texas Colorguard Association (NTCA), on April 1, 2023.
“I think [the] NTCA championships are always most memorable because it’s at the point where everyone has gotten good at their show,” Savoie said. “It feels exhilarating because it’s a pretty competitive atmosphere where everyone pushes to have their best run, but it’s also really fun.”
These local competitions have led up to this moment. However, they had not determined where their preliminary performance would take them.
This trip was exhilarating, as this is the first time– not only in Rock Hill but in the history of Prosper ISD– that guard has advanced into the semi-finals of WGI.
“It feels really special to be the first group to go and represent not only our school but our town,” Schmidt said. “It’s a very surreal feeling.”
What is WGI?
WGI is a nonprofit organization that showcases 70 other regional events in the United States and competitions in China, Costa Rica, Thailand and more.
WGI Sport of the Arts was founded in 1977 and hosts indoor guard, percussion and winds competitions. They pride themselves on providing a competitive yet creative environment for organizations worldwide.
What is a Competition Day Like?
A typical competition day goes from 10 a.m. to around 11:30 p.m. This competition, however, is different as it spans over three days.
“It depends on the competition, but for the most part, we arrive at the school and have a quick two-hour practice just to get our bodies ready to go for the performance and to fix anything we need to,” Schmidt said. “Then we head to the competition, and once we get there, we change into costumes and head to warmups.”
On the other hand, during the prelims day of the world championships, they could sleep in more than usual.
After preparing for the preliminary performance, the team loaded up the buses and rehearsed at a nearby gym.
After their traditional two-hour rehearsal, they returned on the bus and headed to the Truist Arena in Kentucky, where they would perform later that day.
Upon arriving at the venue, the team could watch other performances.
Keeping Focused
Competing at WGI is a first for everyone, stirring up emotions.
“I’m honestly really excited to go,” junior Reagyn Harrington said. “This is something that is unprecedented in our school district, and with us being only a three-year team, we get to make a name for ourselves.”
Even after performing so many times, the winter guard still gets nervous before walking out onto the floor. However, many members have found ways to ease their anxiety.
“To calm down, I would listen to the routine music and process everything beforehand to feel confident,” Schmidt said.
The members juggle conflicting feelings while on their bus ride to championships. After the weekend has ended and the caffeine has worn off, the season will end, and the group will no longer perform together.
“I tried not to cry before performing because I don’t want it to be the last performance,” freshman Addie Thaler said.
Rock Hill Guard will perform in finals at 9:00 p.m. ET.
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