This past season winter guard waved their flags to victory when competing against 45 high schools across North and South Carolina at the Scholastic Regionals, bringing home a gold medal and winning 3rd place overall as of March 22. After a long winter of preparation, the West Forsyth winter guard team can truthfully say their hard work made for quite the snowball effect of success.
Inspired by 90’s film “The Borrowers,” the team performed as if living in a super-sized world, using props such as jumbo sewing materials and an enormous storybook to set the scene. In December, the auditioned team began learning choreography three days a week and then began participating in weekly competitions in early February. Due to the winter guard’s astounding success this season, they will be competing within a higher division in the up and coming year.
“As the director, I am extremely proud and impressed with the ensemble’s growth and improvement throughout the season. I would like to thank Band Director, Tom Shoemaker, and all the families and friends of the members who showed their support throughout the season. With the advancement into the Scholastic AAA class, the group will continue to improve equipment and movement techniques and rise to the challenges of the higher classification,” said coach Wesley Payne.
The team members agree that while strenuous, the experience as a whole was enriching, cooperative and worth it in the end as lifelong bonds were made.
“I’m really proud of our results this year. We put lots of hours into new, difficult work, and it all paid off so well,” said senior rifle leader Callen Johnson.
“Although it was a lot of hard work, it was fun to meet new people and see the show come together. All those hours paid off when we won first place, and now we have that gold medal forever,” said junior Ireland Hernandez.
To nurture the guard’s growing recognition and headway, new talent is needed. Auditions for the 2026 fall color guard season are being held at West on April 15-17 from 4:30-7:00. Whether or not you have previous experience, all current and future West students are more than welcome to try out.
