The Winter Guard took third in competition with a score of 81.90 in World Guard International (WGI) Regionals this past weekend in Dayton, Ohio.
It was the first time the group has appeared in the Dayton Regionals.
On March 5, the 25 teens of the all-girl winter guard took fourth place with a score of 77.20 in the preliminaries and went on to improve their position to third place for the finals on March 6.
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This year’s show is entitled “Hope,” set to the music of Michael Giacchino. The emotional theme is hope for a cure. The drama unfolds from the first moment and continues as THS student Jessica Plude played an original piece of music she composed on the piano.
The theme carries all the way down to the flooring, which is black with hints of gray. The colors of hope are displayed through the flags that mimic the pink for breast cancer and other illnesses. The guard is directed by Raymond Rhodes.
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“What makes our winter guard so incredible is these amazing students, our dedicated staff, and the support of all the parents,” said Pat Drzal, a winter guard parent and president of the Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band Parent Association. “Participating in our first Dayton regional was so exciting, as we competed against some of the finest guard groups in the region, many of whom finished in the top 10 at last year’s finals.”
Last year, the THS winter guard placed seventh in the Scholastic World division at the 2010 WGI World Championships in Ohio. They are currently ranked fourth in the country.
The Winter Guard is similar to Color Guard which performs with the THS Golden Eagle Marching Band in the fall program. Both Winter and Color Guard are traditionally the visual representation of the music.
They use flags, sabers, rifles, swing flags and occasionally other pieces of equipment, as well as a mix of ballet, jazz, modern and contemporary modern dance during their performances.
The Winter Guard competes as a separate unit in indoor arenas and gymnasiums during their competitive season which culminates in April with local championships held at Trumbull High School and Winter Guard International (WGI) World Championships.
“This is one of the most unique sports in the world, and the technique and athleticism of the guard members is impressive,” Drzal said. “The fan base is incredible, both here in Trumbull and around the world. If you haven’t seen a performance, you should.”
The drama continued even after the group’s last performance as they attempted to make it back to Trumbull. The rains that fell here over the weekend were snow in Ohio and made for very icy conditions which closed roads.
According to Drzal, who helped chaperone the trip, the group searched for a hotel for the night but there were no vacancies. They tried sleeping on the bus to wait for a break in the weather. After much delay, the travelers made it back safely early Monday morning after an 18-hour bus ride, weary, but proud of their accomplishments.
The Winter Guard will be hosting the Musical Arts Conference (MAC) Championships on April 2. The guard competes locally in the MAC circuit and has won numerous championship titles in both the fall and winter competitive seasons. For more information visit their website at www.thsgembcorp.com.
