Starting in early November, FHN’s winter guard team worked nonstop. Normally, hours upon hours of practice on school nights paired with competitions over the weekend would tire a team out. However, the members of guard always came in with a smile on their face, whether it was a three-hour practice or a two-day competition. Not only are they enthusiastic, but also accomplished, consistently scoring over 60 points in their competitions.
“We did pretty good at our first competition,” freshman Katelyn McDowell said. “We’ve managed to increase our score at every competition.”
Although the team is doing well, there’s always room for improvement. The members that are returning next year are striving to improve their techniques, stamina, and overall energy during performances.
“This season, especially with the energy in the team, we’re doing a lot better,” junior Esther Lin said.
Guard can seem like a fairly complicated and challenging sport to the average onlooker. While it’s true that waving and tossing heavy flags is no easy feat, new team members were able to grasp the techniques quickly with the help of their coaches and upperclassmen.
“I’ve really improved,” McDowell said. “I’ve had a lot of help, especially from the captains. It’s gone by so fast, but I’ve learned so many things.”
Even though guard’s achievements this past season were outstanding, there are still some things the team members and coaches are hoping to improve upon next season. Their most pressing issue was team coordination.
“[We need to improve on] working as a team,” McDowell said. “We can get our parts individually down pretty good, but when we come together as a team, we mess up sometimes.”
Guard also had a problem with undergoing frequent injuries. It is only natural that a sport dealing with heavy objects and complex movements results in the occasional bruise or bump. However, team members and coaches alike want to focus on being more careful.
“[The worst part of guard] would have to be the injuries,” Lin said. “I’ve gotten a whole bunch of bruises, and my pinkies are crooked [from getting jammed on the flag].”
