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Home > Archive > May 1, 2008

DHS Color Guard Wins State Competition
By Cami Cox
Staff Writer
For the third consecutive year, the Dixie High School Color Guard took first place at the Utah Winter Guard Competition, April 5 at West High School in Salt Lake. Vying with other Utah high school color guard teams for the top honors, the Dixie girls emerged triumphant once again at the annual competition.
“It was way exciting. I was really happy,” DHS Color Guard co-captain Megan Reber said.
Though two members of the seven-girl team were ill that day, the show went on for the Dixie group, and they continued their winning streak for yet another year.
Winter guard performance differs from ordinary color guard in that it is performed indoors and involves choreography and some dance elements, as well as the use of flags and rifle props, DHS Color Guard coach Robin Walden said. The Utah Winter Guard Competition is the only state competition for Utah color guard teams, she said, and Dixie's is the only local color guard team that performs at the competition.
Dixie's team is unique among the competing high school color guard groups from up north in that most of the northern Utah teams have choreographers and advisers to put together their performance routines, Walden said, but the DHS girls do all of their own choreographing for the event.
“Our girls do it all and put it all together themselves,” she said.
Color guard is a year-round activity for the Dixie High girls, and they spend about 10 months out of the year training and performing.
“They have to sacrifice tons of different activities (and) time,” Walden said. “They're at practice every morning at 6 a.m. They have to completely dedicate themselves to this team.”
Most high school color guard teams perform in conjunction with a school marching band, she said, but the Dixie girls perform solo routines at halftime during many of the sports games.
The DHS Color Guard group has distinction at their school, Reber said, and they are known for getting along well as a team and also for being kind to others.
“They're well-known, well-respected. They just have a wonderful reputation,” Walden said.
“They are very dedicated, hardworking, expect a lot out of themselves, as well as each other, and always give their best, whether it's in practice or performances.”
Reber, a senior, has been involved with the DHS Color Guard for two years, and she said she likes the dance element of the activity (though dance experience isn't required to join the group), and she also likes performing for the student body.
“We enjoy what we do and work hard and have fun at the same time,” she said.
The DHS Color Guard is on a break right now in the wake of their victory, and Walden recently conducted tryouts for next year's team.
The members of the 2008 Dixie High School Color Guard are co-captains Reber and Elisa Spainhower, Kelsey Walden, Megan Johnson, Melody Zanacona, Macy Keith and Kaitlen Jensen. The DHS Color Guard will begin a new season of rehearsals and performances in May.

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