On April 1, the Lightridge Color Guard Team achieved a gold medal finish in state competition, finishing with 76 points on a hundred point scale.   Although closely associated with the marching band, the Color Guard is an independent unit and continues competing throughout the year. 

Senior Cameron Cowboy, the Color Guard captain, explained the competition’s point system, 

 “The scale is out of 100 points,” said Cowboy.  “We got 76, it’s really difficult to get into the higher ranges.” 

The team is made up of a high number of freshmen and sophomores, and because of this tensions were running high.

 “Everyone was really nervous,” said Cowboy.  “We didn’t have a lot of people who had experience in large competitions.  Last year we had a really impactful and great performance, we were nervous that we wouldn’t place as high this year.”

 Despite their nerves, once the team achieved their first place finish they were, according to Cowboy, “really proud.”

The team experienced difficulty with a unique judging layout. 

“You are also performing lower than the judges and you have to look up to them when you are performing,” Cowboy added. 

Another problem encountered by the team was the lack of information about their competition.

 “These groups are ones we’ve never seen before,” said Cowboy. “We can’t know how good they are because we warm up while they perform.”

“The Lightridge Indoor Color Guard has very quickly established a culture of hard work and success,” said Color Guard coach Sarah Anderson. “This was evident in their season-best performance at the Atlantic Indoor Association Championships. To be the Class Champion in their second year of existence is an amazing accomplishment!”