Guard of the week- Lincoln Way East High School

 

This week's Guard of the Week is........

Lincoln Way East high school

from Frankfort, IL 

Between the beginning of the season and now, the guard has won WGI regional at walled lake and have one all of Their competitions except for one.  They are mostly close-knit and very great performers and dancers as you can see in there pic from this season show called "between Fine Lines"

They're mainly performers in their color guard but they definitely do know how to spin.  Just they're focusing on the body more. Both instructors are from onyx, so they talk more about performance quality guard's. Honestly, you can tell  their instructors are from onyx by the typical onyx aesthetic and I LIVE FOR IT!!

In general this team looks Fantastic and I cant wait to see them hit the WGI floors Again !!!!

Congrats Guard of The Week

Lincoln Way East high school

 

Check them out in Action 

(Contest winner) Austin's story pt. 3

 

 

If you have been reading all this week you probably know Austin kind of well in colorguard terms but, there is one thing I really wanted you guys to know about the people stories that I tell, why guard ?? So I ask Austin why guard?

"Ummm... Guard has really impacted my life...I was a troubled child because I wasn't accepted in my house hold because I wanted to do " flag twirling" instead of playing sports like my 3 other brothers and 1 sister... Being in colorguard gave me an outlet to express all my feelings and gave me confidence to keep striving towards my goals..."

 

Austin is like many guys out there who has been in guard, even me, we all are not accepted by our family and friends and sometimes are ridiculed for it. But, we still do it and manage to over come every boundary whether big or small, we all push through. That's the reason he is as great as he is today, and still is accomplishing his goals.

Congrats to Austin



"Eat lots of fruit snacks... And binge on Beyoncé".

    ~WGI_BOUND (Austin)

(P.S I didn't mention this before but he likes Almond joys and Brown gravy, so if

you get a chance to met himbring home some LOL)

(Contest winner) Austin's story pt. 2

Ok... Funny story

This is Austin last year

During marching season he was hit by a rifle and kept going

 

 YES, I SAID IT RIGHT HE GOT HIT AND KEPT GOING

 "one time during a run through I got hit with a rifle in my face and I didn't even know I was hurt.Until my director pointed out that I was dripping blood!!!! Lol ,I always get hurt in guard because I always want to try tricks all the time."

Advice: never let yourself fail like you could have done something better

 

also P.S. that takes some skill to get hit by the person standing next to you. LOL!! She probably didn't mean to. Either way,

                                   Austin is a trooper

(Contest winner) Austin's story pt. 1

This is Austin, The Contest Winner

 

 He has been in guard for 2 years and a sophomore in high school. With him being an sophomore, he has also gotten some great opportunities in guard including getting to spin with Carolina crown at a colorguard camp.

This was from crown's guard camp

When Austin started, he was in 7th grade. At that time, they didn't have a winterguard but,8th grade year hew was able to do it and did it his freshman and sophomore year. But, the real Funny thing is He only does winterguard.... Actually to be more specific he  plays tuba for marching band.

 

 

"I wanted to be in guard because I loved being able to perform and having a chance to do something outside the box and I was the only boy so everybody loved me,"



Pics from his winterguard show this year called "One Last Story"

 

 

Can't wait to here more about him and hopefully you guys reading can't wait as well so, stay tuned in all this week to learn more about The Contest Winner

Austin 





Guard of the week- Slippery Rock University Winter Guard

This week's guar of the week is..........

Slippery Rock University Winter Guard

 from Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA

 This independent A guard (just moved up for this season) is one of more technical guards within their circuit and has proven to be awesome outside of it as well with awards such as:

• 2014 TRWEA Collegiate Regional A Champions
• 2015 TRWEA Collegiate Regional A Champions
• 2015 WGI Pittsburgh Regional Independent Regional A Champions
• 2016 WGI Norfolk Regional Independent A Finalist (3rd place)
• 2016 WGI Pittsburgh Regional Independent A Finalist (7th place)

And still to continue on being successful in as they winterguard season continues

Their show this season is called "Sailing: A Nautical Journey" and is set to the song Sailing by Christopher Cross. With compete in the TRWEA circuit, their staff is amazing and beautiful. With the director being Bruno Zuccala; the 06 and 07 Equipment Caption Manager for WGI, marched and work with cavaliers drum and bugle core, toured in the japan marching circuit, and has 46 years of experience ( I did my research), and their captains, Sami Pasarello and Christine Aley,  I'm sure that all 25 performers of the winterguard together, will have one of their most amazing seasons ever!! And it seems like they are closer than ever for it
 

Guard of the week

Slippery Rock University Winter Guard

 

 

here is their guard this year in action

 

Guard Show Throwback Pt.3

This week's guard show throwback, we are going back  to 1982 with 4 more amazing guards that really rock the winterguard world

 

 

Ace colorguard(1982)



(by the way, the person who directed this show was

my band director for my whole high school career)

 

Cavaliers(1982)

 

 

Marcus Whiteman HS(1982)

 

 

Buccaneers(1982)

getting 360s/turnarounds

One of the hardest things to do in guard is to do 360s / turn around on your equipment. This is something not everyone can do in guard, but once you have it, it is literally like heaven on earth

 

 

But, its not everyone's cup of  glittery tea due to the fact that it so extremely painful to accomplish. But, say no more because I have 5 tips to help  you get your turn around/ 360s.

 



• Watch your turns

 When going for the turn of the toss, you want to use the majorette method:

1. stand in parallel releve (ballet term) with right foot in front, left foot in back
2. once tossed, immediately, fold your hands as if your bowing but do not bow
3. turn over your left shoulder with your feet in Sous-sus (ballet term) in a whipping motion

that's the method I used to get mine and I got it the first week I tried. If you don't understand this a little bit, there is this video I watched to get it as well plus, it helps to have a baton twirling friend. ( just worry about the feet part  and body part on the video not the toss part)

 

 

• Toss higher

It helps to toss high then turn rather than toss low and try to quickly turn just make sure your using correct technique when you toss

• Squeeze

While spinning, it does help to squeeze or tighten your stomach to balance yourself under a toss. So, whenever possible, squeeze. In general....

when in doubt, Squeeze!!!!!

 

• Breathe

Remember when you just started to toss and your instructor said breathe when ever you toss? Well, this is still a toss so your going have to breathe just like you do every time you toss so

 

• JUST DO IT

You will be fine, unless it severely damage you and if that happens, please don't risk it and go to the hospital. Other than that, all you have to do relax, calm down, and do like Nike.

I hope this post helps you as much as it helped me
if you have any post ideas, questions, comment, and concerns just email me : itsaguarthing72@gmail.com , kik: itsaguardtthingblog, or DM me on the Instagram page : @__itsaguardthing__