Color Guard is a vibrant and interesting sport at CHS with an interesting history and beautiful performances. While many students may not even understand what it is, Color Guard is a hardworking team at CHS high school. While it isn’t taken into consideration as a sport each member performs impressive skills that require just as much strength and endurance as other sports at CHS. They master different skills and partake in the intense preseason conditioning that Marching Band endures as well. It may not be the first thing students think of when they think of sports at CHS, but that makes it no less important.
Color Guard originated as a way of rallying the troops of the military, it originally only consisted of one person, but as society has progressed so has Color Guard. Interestingly, COlor Guard has entered a new age consisting of the same rallying, but instead of troops it is for sports teams. One element of its history is preserved though, most Color Guards perform with imitation rifles reminiscent of their origins. Color Guard is far from where it began, now engaging in gravity defying spins and artful twirls with beautiful flags.
Currently this exciting sport is co-captained by Sofie Swift and Emerson Norton, who are both seniors. These captains want you to know that “it’s a cool and fun” sport that gives you a shocking amount of exercise. Impressive increases in hand-eye coordination were reported by Emerson, as well as more arm strength which is helpful in a myriad of ways according to them.
“Everyone is welcome! It creates a unique sense of community”, says Emerson. Fellow Captain Sophie Swift said,”That all students are welcome and will enjoy all of the pretty colors and flags.”
Even though the current captains started early on in their high school careers, both encourage people to join no matter what grade they are in. Many current members of the team started sophomore and junior year.
When asked what color guard accomplished this year, sophomore Anna Ryall says, “We definitely came together and figured out the choreography and how to work together.” Which is more than evident by the performance last Friday at CHS senior night! Go Knights!
