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Most people think that a family is based on blood, but to the FHN’s color guard, a family is more than that. 

They’ve created a family through all the coaches and members that they surround themselves with. However, like a family, there are always changes. This year there was a change in coaches and like changes in a family, nobody knows how the changes will affect them.

“At first I was extremely nervous and scared,” senior Color Guard Captain Lauren Willerton said. “Me and McKenna, we were somewhat prepared to have our leadership roles be taken away and not be official captains and we were prepared that no matter what happens we’ll still be able to lead the team. But with our new coaches they were chill with keeping captains for this season.”

The Guard coaching staff completely changed except for Katie Myers, their cleaning technician. Two of the new coaches are Jarred Carey and Brady Eaton. Carey and Eaton know that this team has what it takes to be a great ensemble and has goals for them that will push them more than they have in the past.

“I think coming back from the pandemic has given a lot of challenge,” Carey said. “Over that time, students experienced a lot of downtime and not really being held accountable.”

The Guard overall has thought that the coach change has been good. Willerton has enjoyed the organization the coaches have and how it has helped the Guard overall. The Guard also has goals for themselves and the coaches for the future.

“I think a goal would be to expand the guard,” junior Guard Captain McKenna O’connor said. “And then try to get a lot of people introduced to weapon on the guard like rifle and sabre which they’re already doing.”

Color Guard is an activity that goes through the fall and winter seasons. During the winterguard season, the Guard members do a routine dance to music. Along with this they use weapons like rifles, sabres, and flags to add emotion throughout the dance. Then they perform this dance in front of audiences and at competitions.

“A lot of people think that it’s just flag twirling but it’s more of dancing and then using a flag to make your body look bigger and better,” sophomore Color Guard member Mikayla Brewer said.