The Woodlands High School Color Guard at The 2022 World Championships

THE WOODLANDS, TX – The World Guard at The Woodlands High School are a beautiful and coordinated effort of talented students. TWHS World Guard will be competing this April at the Color Guard World Championships in Dayton, Ohio and we wanted to take some time to highlight some of those students that are involved as well as give more information about the color guard program.

Most people are familiar with the color guard performing with the band at football games. During the second semester, the color guard branches off on their own into winter guard season. TWHS has two winter groups - the A Guard, who competes regionally and at the state level, and the World Guard, who competes at national events. The WGI world championships take place each year in Dayton, Ohio, and the TWHS World Guard typically competes in odd numbered years. Because championships in 2021 were cancelled due to Covid, they are looking to make up the opportunity to compete at this international event. Scholastic and Independent units from all over the world come together to compete in one weekend of preliminary, semi finals, and finals events. The TWHS Guard competes in the “world” classification, which consists of the most advanced programs and performers. The guard most recently competed at World Championships in 2019, advancing to finals in World class for the first time in the school’s history, and are looking for another final’s appearance in 2022.

Click here to learn more about Winter Guard International.



The Woodlands High School Color Guard Members

We asked several color guard members to give us some insight into their experience in the color guard and thoughts about the upcoming World Championship. This is an exciting event for these guard members and a chance to represent their school in a sport that requires advanced discipline and skill.
 
Payton Gwynne
Senior Captain

“Color guard has been the greatest endeavor I have taken on. Next to school, my priorities have always been excelling and achievement in TWHS guard. I take so much pride in my team and all that we have accomplished not as individuals, but together as a unit. Color guard teaches discipline and allows for a level of personal growth that I truly believe is unique to this sport. That growth is what has given me the power and strength to fight through the 12 hour long rehearsals, to fight through the full year commitment, and to fight through and continue forward after Covid derailed our season sophomore and junior year. I have dedicated so many uncountable weeks to this activity and it would mean so much to me to have my senior year topped off with the competition we missed out on last year! I love color guard with my whole heart and I wouldn’t be the same without it!”

Alina Torres
Senior Lieutenant
 
“Color Guard has meant a lot of different things to me over the years: friendship, discipline, skill, and confidence, just to name a few. I started this sport in 7th grade, when it was just a club after school. Now, my senior year, I am ending it as a Lieutenant with a giant guard family. Color guard is a sport that combines dance and movement with spinning equipment (flags, rifles, and sabres). Unlike other activities with seasons, and offseason, color guard is a sport that happens all year. Auditions start at the end of April/beginning of May. We have a couple of camps during the summer, and we start the Marching season the last three weeks of summer. Marching season lasts until about mid November. Around this same time are auditions for the TWHS A guard and World Guard. Both teams are incredible and trained at a very high level. The Winter Guard season lasts until the end of March/beginning of April, and then auditions start up again that same month. This team works all year to train for what comes at the end of winter guard, and in the World Guard’s case, it’s the opportunity to go to Dayton for World Championships. Being able to compete nationally in this sport would be amazing for me as a Senior, especially because I have never been before. It would be a great cap to any Senior year, but really is a huge deal for any member of this team. As a Lieutenant, I have watched my teammates grow and learn so much. We work hard every year, but this year is so special. Every member puts 110% into this sport and the dedication is through the roof. Six years in guard has been a one of a kind experience. Through the years I have learned so much from the people around me. I still learn from my teammates every single day. Going to Dayton is not about a score or a placement, but the buildup of the hard work we’ve put into this sport. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity that anyone would be lucky to have.”

Ashlyn Kennedy
Senior Captain

“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to go to World Championships this year. It is my third year as a member of TWHS World Guard and my final season as a senior. This opportunity is huge for our team because due to Covid we have not had a 'normal' winter guard season since 2019. Participating in World Championships allows us to surround ourselves with people who are just as passionate about the sport as we are. This challenges us to build our program and make it even better than before. On a personal level, going to World Championships is important to me because we are given the opportunity to compete against the best guards in the country and push ourselves to be the best that we can be. We have all worked so hard, and as one of eleven seniors in our last season of high school color guard, it is so special to be able to bring that final show to Dayton, Ohio for World Championships. Though not well known in the community, our high school has one of the best color guard programs in the state and we are nationally ranked as one of the five top high school world guards for 2021. To be able to continue this legacy of excellence and push our guard to new heights means the world to me. “

Grace Phelps
Senior Lieutenant

“This will be my third year on the Woodlands high school World Guard. Each yeah our guard is pushed harder and harder to try more difficult things especially on Dayton years. This Dayton trip is an all new experience for me. Covid took away what was supposed to be my only year going so I assumed I wouldn’t ever get the chance to go. However, being given this opportunity to help raise money for these seniors and juniors who may not have ever been able to go is super exciting. The world guard experience has made me stronger both physically and mentally. It has also allowed me to push myself past the limits I thought my body couldn’t push past. It has given me an amazing family not only with my class and the classes below me but also the staff that works so hard to make us better everyday. Their amazing ideas and talents in teaching and creating have made my world guard experience one for the books. I can’t wait to hopefully spin with all of these amazing people in Dayton and just spin another season in general. “

Donations

There are expenses that the color guard will incur with travel to the World Championships. If you would like to donate to The Woodlands High School Color Guard to help offset these expenses, you can do so by clicking on the link below:

https://www.twhsband.org/world-guard-travel-donations.html