Color Guard Ready For World Guard International Championships

Fresh off the heels of winning the World Guard International Power Regional more than two weeks ago, the Newtown High School Color Guard is working to bring home an even bigger trophy. 

The group will travel to Dayton, Ohio Wednesday for the World Guard International Championships.  The impressive victory in the Power Regional, which were held in Brunswick, NJ, earned the group the highest international ranking -- ninth -- in school history, and has them setting their sights on a loftier goal.

According to Guard Director Bob Findley the group had ranked in the low 20's and high teens in the past, but never cracked the top ten. Earning the biggest win in the schools history by defeating 25 other guards from the northeast in the Scholastic National A Division of the Power Regionals also raised their confidence level.

"It was really exciting because it was the biggest win for the school in years and it was the biggest win that I have ever been involved in," Nicole Scalora, a junior captain said. 

Scalora has a leg infection that is keeping her on the sidelines for practice, but she vowed to be back. She, like many of the Guard members, began at an early age.  After seeing her sister perform in the Marching Band and Guard, she joined in the fifth grade.  She became a varsity member of the high school guard as a freshman.

"People used to look at being in the color guard as being kind of weird," she said.  "'You're the people who spin batons' they would say. "

The group's most recent success coupled with a seventh consecutive win in the Musical Arts Conference Championships held in Connecticut has garnished members a reputation.

"We are getting more recognition now," Scalora said while watching her teammates practice.  "We used to be underestimated but now we are a little more accepted."

Findley is in charge of the staging and visual design of the performance while guard staff member Janos Pergely is the choreographer.  Pergely puts in place the dance steps and movements.  The dance moves are coordinated with a combination of skilled actions involving use of rifles, sabers, flags and batons.  The entire routine runs four and a half minutes and is set to the music of The Fountain and Twilight.

To make sure all the components of the routine come together properly, two other members of the guard staff Michele Liscio and Victoria Whittington push the team during practice.  Liscio makes sure the members are not just going through the motions.  She places a heavy emphasis on adding a high level of dramatic intent to the routine.

There are eight preliminary rounds and four semi-final rounds before the group can advance to its first ever finals appearance.  Five judges hand out point totals for each routine.  The judges will be looking at composition and excellence, grading the group on equipment, movement of dance and assemble of show analysis. 

The other guard captain is Sarah Smith.  She joined the Guard when she was in the sixth grade after seeing a friend become a member, and since then, has been hooked.  Smith said she was thrilled with the Power Regional win.

"We were really shocked," she said.  " We began crying when we found out our score. It was really amazing."

Smith and Scalora are helping the guard staff prepare for the International Championships.

"I think it is about keeping the team upbeat," Smith said.  "The show is very long and it easy to get out of breathe.  So I'm just trying to push them in practice to get them ready."

The 19-member team has no seniors, and the Junior Guard from the Reed School and the AAA Guard from the Middle School took 2^nd and 1^st place respectively at the Musical Arts Conference event as well.  That has Guard Director Findley thinking they have a chance at staying really good for another six years.