The 2021 Tri-Valley High School Winter Guard is currently positioned in the top three in the state in their class despite a challenging season.
This year TVHS has 16 students in grades 7 through 12. All but two of those marched in the 2020 Fall Guard.
“The 2021 Winter Guard season has looked very different than a normal year but we are just grateful that we get a season,” said TVHS Color Guard Instructor, Carrie Schott.
Besides the challenges that quarantines have brought, this season has been fully virtual. Videos of their performances are submitted to the judges and within the next week they receive their rating. This year there are three contests (Marion Harding Show, Worthington Kilbourne Show, Springfield Holland Show) and the state championship scheduled for April 10. So far, the Winter Guard has received two excellent ratings for the first two contests, the third is this coming weekend.
The 2021 program is titled “An Autumn Countryside”. A 50 by 70-foot tarp printed with corn stalks is used to cover the floor, 2400 decorative leaves, apple baskets and flags with apples and fall leaves all add to the theme. Schott explains, “At one point the members pull out a flags and it has leaves wrapped in it. They toss the flags and the leaves gently fall to the ground. It is a pretty cool effect!”
“Last year our season came to an abrupt halt with COVID two weeks before state championships where we were looking to medal in our class. To watch the hundreds of hours of work that these kids put in and not get to finish the season was disheartening. We knew that whatever kind of season that we were able to have this winter would be better than nothing. This is such a great group of kids that are working really hard to overcome obstacles that they have no control over. I appreciate them and the support of their families,” said Schott.
