At the WGI Regionals competition on February 28, at Foothills High School, team members competed in their final performance of the season, showcasing months of preparation through a routine that blended dance, precision and emotion.
Color guard, often performed alongside marching bands, combines movement with equipment such as flags, rifles and sabers. For the athletes on the floor, however, the performance represented more than technique, it reflected their growth, challenges and connection as a team.
Freshman Elise Kaprolet explains that one of the most difficult aspects of the sport was overcoming fear, especially when performing high tosses. She describes “It can be scary at times when you are tossing a 6- foot pole in the air, but I just tell myself I can do it and not to doubt myself.”
That mindset carried into the championship, where the most memorable moment came after the performance had ended. As the team stepped off the floor, emotions quickly took over. Kaprolet recalled, “After our championship performance we all got together in a big group hug around our senior captain because it was her senior year, and it was real emotional but also really fun.”
For Grace Hjalmquist, the final performance stood out because it was her final performance. She explains, “Performing with my guard for the last time felt very happy and almost euphoric because we were all together doing something we loved.”
Hjalmquist says in the toughest moment a motto that helped her through hard times. Her motto, “Carpe diem, it means seize the day. I just like to, like, make the most out of everything.”
While the performance may appear effortless, Hjalmquist emphasized the mental challenges behind the scenes, noting that pushing through discouragement was often the hardest part of the sport. Growth, she added, comes from learning how to move past self- doubt and frustration.
Despite the challenges, moments of celebration made the hard work worth it. Freshman Zoe MaDan added, “My favorite moment was throwing the confetti in the air after scores were announced because it felt like all of our hard work had finally paid off.”
Benjamin Sampayan, the director of colorguard, highlighted the balance between enjoyment and effort within the program. He noted that while students build strong friendships and a sense of community, they also commit significant time and energy to refining their performances. As he said, “ Nothing worth doing is easy, and they put in the hours and energy to put on a strong performance.”
As the season came to an end, the championship performance marked more than just a final routine. It became a moment the team would carry with them, a reminder of the risks they took, the trust they built, and the memories they created together. Long after the music stopped, those experiences remained, shaping not only their growth as performers, but as individuals.
