Color guard teams display skills at Lincoln-Way
56 squads from around the Midwest faced off at regional competition
When the musicians in the high school marching bands settle into chairs for concert season, their counterparts in the color guards move to another venue as well, taking their routines indoors for winter guard season.
Last weekend that season culminated locally at Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, as the Winter Guard International Chicago Regional competition drew 56 color guard teams.
Along with LincolnWay’s varsity team, the competition drew squads from Lockport Township, Andrew, Stagg and Marian Catholic high schools along with the Independence Winter Guard team based in Tinley Park. They joined a field that drew from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska.
Lockport Township High School placed first in finals competition, and the hosts had plenty to be proud of as well, placing second out of 21 in preliminaries and 3 out of 11 in finals.
“It is especially significant being the host as we are representing our school and community on this national stage,” said Lincoln-Way Winter Guard director Tammy Edders.
The Lincoln-Way squad, which draws members from each of the district’s three campuses, had been practicing for hundreds of hours at choreographed staging, dance and twirling flags, rifles and sabers, readying for event.
“These students have so much to be proud of,” Edders said. “Nobody knows the setbacks every team goes through throughout the season.
“These kids held it together and we couldn’t be more proud of them,” she said.
Katherine Keeley, the varsity captain for LincolnWay, said she loved performing and hearing the crowd cheer her team on, but the camaraderie she felt with her teammates was also rewarding. Their practice sessions were two to three hours Mondays, Fridays
and Saturdays, and they submitted videos of how they are doing to Edders each Wednesday.
“I just love how we have such a great bond between our team,” said Keeley. “We spend so much time together, so we’re all one.”
In addition to the hours the 17 teammates spent practicing together, the students also went to dinner and recently spent a weekend together at a ski resort. Keeley, who is also in marching band, said they also enjoyed meeting their competitors at the event.
“This experience is important to students because it teaches them how to work together towards one common goal,” Edders said. “It also teaches them how to handle adversity and push themselves out of their comfort zones.
“Life isn’t easy and I believe color guard gives our students the tools to be successful adults.”
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.