This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Dakota Winter Guard Puts Contagious 'Spin' on Competition

Sixteen members of Dakota's winter guard will perform their tosses, flips and spins at the Chippewa Valley High School Winter Guard and Drumline Invitational on March 19.

You're used to seeing them on the football field marching with the band. The girls with the flags–the color guard. But what do these girls do in the winter, when the stadium is covered in snow and the band retreats indoors?

Well, these girls let their hair down a bit by getting barefoot in a gymnasium to dance and spin flags, and toss rifles or sabres in the air to music. It's called winter guard and it has been gaining momentum at for 11 years.

Winter guard is a "Sport of the Arts." It's theater, dance and color guard all wrapped up into one performance. Storm, Dakota's winter guard unit, competes in the Michigan Color Guard Circuit (MCGC) AAA level, and will be performing at the Chippewa Valley High School Winter Guard and Drumline Invitational on March 19.

Find out what's happening in Macomb Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

These invitationals are qualifiers for the MCGC state finals, which will be held in April at Saginaw Valley State University. Storm's coach Andrea Cobello is confident that her girls will do well at both competitions.

"We are right where we are supposed to be," Cobello said. "I tell the girls their goal is to perform the best they can and I know that is what they are doing."

Find out what's happening in Macomb Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Dakota's Storm has 16 members, some spinning rifles, some flags and some just dancing. Their performance is choreographed to the song US by Regina Spektor. The performance begins with members acting as statues with colored flags–the statue portion suggested by the song's words. As the performance continues and becomes "contagious," as per the song, the girls' dull looking flags and rifles are slowly replaced with colorful flags. At the end, they have all conformed–joining the group known as "Us."

Members of Storm practice three times a week for eight hours. Junior Sammie Schmall is in her second year of winter guard.

"I love it," she said. "I play flute in the band. I like how you can express yourself more (with guard). I took dance for six years and I love to incorporate the dance with the flag. My least favorite toss is the helicopter toss. I  freak out and think I'm going to hit myself."

Amanda Peters is a freshmen in her first year of guard.

"I heard it was a lot of fun to be on so I thought I 'd try," she said. "It's awesome. I love the team and doing all the work."

Cobello, who has been involved in winter guard for eight years, has coached at Dakota for four.

"Every year brings a new challenge with new girls who have never even picked up a flag before," said Cobello. "We have clinics with the eighth graders and over time Dakota's program here has grown."

Dakota will compete among 38 winter guard units at several different levels at the March 19 competition. Seven indoor percussion units will also be participating in the invitational, including Dakota's drumline.

Dakota's winter guard members include: Brittany Apolzan, Jennifer Carbery, Laura Coan, Ashley King,  Emily Labudde, Jenny L'Esperance, Chelsea Nunley, Lizzie Pepper, Amanda Peters, Brooke Rogers, Katie Schatz, Sammie Schmall, Katie Schneider, Kaitlin Singer, Erika Wharfield and Emily Whidden.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?