The football teams have reclused into the field houses after the first two quarters of the game and now it’s time for the marching band to take the field. The band enters the field being accompanied by individuals adorned in sequenced outfits and toting three different flags, these individuals are known as the colorguard. The rest of the band is trained to move from one place to another without moving their torso giving them a stiff appearance. The colorguard contrasts that standard by dancing smoothly and rhythmically across the turf. Twirling props and expressive gestures adds a vivid pop to the marching show that can create a curiosity to what colorguard really is.
Unlike the rest of the band, the colorguard is required to attend fundamental and show camps during the summer along with summer band. The members go to the Gene Howe or the Randall gym to learn their drill. Each camp provides a different method of learning the drill. The Fundamental Camp involves drill instructor, Junior Marquez’s show techniques. Show techniques consists of learning to handle each prop in the show and how to pose while doing so. Show Camp is the portion of the summer where members learn the actual show for that particular year’s marching band performance. This is the beginning of what a colorguard member experiences.
Before one is even classified as a guard member, they must put their skills to the test in auditions. Incoming freshmen and other candidates who weren’t in colorguard the year before go through a week of training with guard captains.
“We practice walking across the floor, a jazz walk, and dropping the flag with a beat,” senior and guard captain Aleshia Tiffin said. “For the tryout, captains make up a routine for the others to perform. It can be stressful to teach them all the things they need to know for the routine but it’s interesting to see them change as they learn.”
Once accepted into colorguard, members become involved in fundraisers such as car washes, garage sales, bake sales and peanut sales. They even participate in face painting at John Stiff Park during the Fourth of July festival.
“We have so many fundraisers because we have a lot of things to pay for,” Tiffin said. “We have to worry about tape for flags, the silk part of the flag, guard shoes and personal uniforms. Most of the fundraisers are successful. We got $2000 at our garage sale this year.”
The money they earn is put towards their appearance on the field during the halftime show. Tiffin said she gets a thrill when she walks out into the field to perform. Senior, Dulce Fernandez said she feels the same way.
“Being isolated in front of all those people puts me on the spot,” Fernandez said. “I feel like everyone’s looking at me when I make a mistake.”
Tiffin said making a mistake is more than just embarrassing, but it can be risky. The guard members experience injuries because of the heavy props they have to throw into the air and thrust around.
“I have bruised my browline and fractured my wrist because of my rifle,” Tiffin said. “Making those kind of mistakes make me want to get my routine down even more.”
Tiffin said guys are more suitable for guard because of their upper body strength and their composure but many are too embarrassed to wear the uniforms to be in colorguard. However, freshman Brandon Duran is not. Duran joined colorguard this year and is the only male on the team this year.
“One of my friends made me join,” Duran said. “I have enough friends on guard it’s not uncomfortable. They needed me anyways.”
Tiffin said colorguard has been branded as a “girl thing” possibly because of the closeness of the group. They even have secret sister which is much like secret Santa. Each member has to draw a name and that particular recipient gets gifts from the drawer every other week, only to have their identity revealed at the last game. Tiffin said customs like this bring the team together with a sense of camaraderie.
“We nit-pick at each other on stressful days but at the end we come together as one big family,” Tiffin said.
