“Hey, watch out!” a shout echoed. “There are kids here!”
It was 7 p.m. on a Tuesday night, and Color Guard had invaded the student parking lot.
The team stood in two parallel lines, purple flags hanging loosely from their hands as they waited for the marching band to start playing and for their routine to start.
In previous years, Color Guard would split their practices between the football field and student parking. However, the threat of field construction has left Color Guard — as well as the marching band — stranded in the parking lot. This has prevented the team from practicing and performing field shows not only during this season, but also during the last three years when the field construction was scheduled to happen.
They have relocated their practices for parades to the school parking lot, and Color Guard captain senior Caitlyn Sullivan feels that the lack of a field has actually helped them improve their game by allowing them to focus more on parades and fine-tune their musicality.
All of a sudden, a drum started to beat. The girls straightened their backs and held their flags more firmly in their hands. The moment the band started to march, flashes of purple filled the air.
Color Guard’s relocation to the parking lot does appear to be benefiting the team, as they recently placed first at the Oct. 22 Color Guard tournament at Foothill High School. And at the end of November, they are planning to attend the Color Guard tournament in Arcadia in southern California, marking the team’s first foray into distant competitions.
This requires a great deal of teamwork. “I think we’re pretty close,” freshman Color Guard member Sowjanya Akshintala said. “If I have any problems, I can go and talk to anyone there about it.”
And there have been problems for Color Guard, such as the lack of a functional field.
“But it’s okay,” said Color Guard coach Daniella Johnston. “We do look forward to having a field competition again, but right now we’re doing what we can with what we have.”
Routine finished, Color Guard huddled together in the dull glow of the streetlights. When the drum’s final few beats died out, their giggles were the only sound left hanging in the air. Off to the sides, the traffic cones still stood, beat up but defiant.
