There’s more to the world of Color Guard than people know.
Color guard is a form of performance arts as well as a sport. There are 32 members of the guard. They compete with the marching band in competitions all throughout the fall season, after fall they break off from the band and compete in another form of guard called winter guard, winter guard requires another audition.
Ms. Wiggington, the color guard director, states, “I wish people understood the dedication the kids have to have to do it because it’s not natural for you to be to manipulate a piece of equipment and for you to do it at the level tupelo color guard does it. It’s exciting and very hard, I feel people just look at it and go “oh look what they do” but it’s really hard and I’m proud of the kids and that they buy into it and want to be the best they can and I wish everyone understood how hard it is.”
So not only does the director state the hard work that goes into color guard, but also emphasizes the students’ efforts and dedication. Josie Kelly is a co captain of the color guard and has been in the activity for 5 years, color guard has impacted her school experience and personal growth. “It kinda makes it a little bit hard because color guard takes up the majority of my time, but I’ve learned to balance both of them, that being my homework and my color guard practices. It makes it a little bit stressful, but you get used to it after a while. Color guard has been such a big part of my life, and I would encourage those who have any interest in dance or creative arts to join it because it makes such a big difference. You meet so many people you wouldn’t have met otherwise, and I’ve made so many friendships and connections because of it.”
Color guard doesn’t only affect the people in it but also affects the parents of the color guard members. Delia Steele shares her experience with her child in the guard. “The hardest thing about having a kid in color guard is scheduling. Traveling every weekend, long days, but scheduling is the hardest because once guard starts there is no stopping.”
Steele goes on to add to that by expressing how the color guard has helped her daughter. She says, “There was a time my daughter invited the family to her birthday parties and was home alone with us all the time, so I think the one thing about color guard is it gave her a community, and somewhere she fit in. It gave her friends who have become more like sisters, and the diversity in the girls is very unique across all sports. She gets to see their different lifestyles compared to hers, and the friendships she’s made are the biggest thing about color guard for me as a mom.”
Addie Mae McCoy is a freshman and this is her first year in color guard, but her 3rd year in guard itself. She shares how color guard has become a main part of her life. “Color guard has helped me make so many new friends after I transferred here, and has really shown me a new part of myself.”
