Winter Guard is a sport that pulls color guard aspects from normal marching band and includes intricate dancing to songs. Performers throw flags, wooden rifles and swords. Routines are intricate and move the audience as they watch in different competitions. As the season starts, students go through rigorous tryouts to get the chance to be a part of this different sport.

Challenging three to four minute routines are performed in a gym to songs or poems. These routines contain more than what meets the eye, the hardwork and dedication to execute intricate throws that add emotion to the story that is the show.

Winterguard is more than tossing a flag or wooden rifle. Technique is key and paying close attention to the movement of the participants instead of the music or dance moves is the real show stopper.

“Focus on seeing how we’re moving; there’s a lot more than just tossing a flag, you’re arms go in really weird ways and there’s a lot more to it that also affects the story that is going on that you may not notice,” said Mackenzie Moore, senior.

Emotion put into performing makes the Winter Guard show an exceptional performance; it creates a connection between the performer and the audience.

“What I’m excited for is to move the audience with our shows; I always put so much emotion into performing when I do it, so whenever I perform I can just feel the emotion in the audience,” said Sydney Rost, junior.

When it comes to tryouts, coaches will help you improve and train you, so you can be a part of the experience.

“Our coaches never make you quit the team because you’re not good; if they see something in you and they see that you’re trying to improve your skill and ability in it then they will let you be on the team and they’ll help you improve throughout the season to keep improving and keep getting better,” Rost said.

From freshman to seniors, no matter if it’s their first year or last, in the end all of the Winter Guard performers join to create a show that will hit close to home. The OHS Winter Guard team comes together as a family and creates memories that couldn’t be created anywhere else.

“I’m really excited for making friends and the fun experiences,” said Brooke Tatro, junior.

Each year brings new choreography and in this upcoming season winter guard will be performing routines that have been in the works for years.

“The show that we’re doing this year, our coaches have planned for a very long time, they’ve had the idea for a while and I think it will be really interesting to see how it turns out,” Rost said.

Winter Guard isn’t all what it seems. Hardwork and dedication is just the half of it, the other half is just excitement and fun. In the end, it is worthwhile for every performer.

“It’s a lot of hardwork and there is a lot of stuff that goes into it and it’s an amazing sport to be a part of; it’s fun and it’s creative and it makes you improve so many skills that are useful to you on the outside,” Rost said.