Dark, angry and mean, these are all words that perfectly describe guard’s performance at the MCCGA Championship in Springfield, Missouri on March 24-25. Winter Guard chose “Through the Branches” as their show theme this year. Each girl had fiercely sharp makeup and adorned their costumes with black feathers to transform themselves into birds. Guard won a gold medal for their act in the scholastic open category.

“It was very rewarding, and all of our hard work paid off,” junior Abigail Hoffman said.

Now that they have moved past the championship, Winter Guard will continue on to the WGI National Competition in Dayton, Ohio on April 12-14. There is a lot of preparation and hard work ahead, but guard does have one main focus.

“We are working on our lower body because that is our weak spot,” Hoffman said.

While they admit to having some work to do, the girls have set their minds to perfecting the routine.

“Our goal is to make it as clean as possible,” junior Brittany Meyer said.

Guard members are confident in their chances to win nationals.

“We are in a very good place to go to Nationals,” senior Samantha Best said.

Making it to nationals this year is a big step for the team, having not made it past semi-finals last year. Everyone is dedicated, everyone is willing to give 110 percent. These girls want one thing.

“To win,” Meyer said.