The performers on varsity color guard have been practicing since the end of January, training for the upcoming competition season. With Fall Color Guard coming up and Winter Guard on the horizon, performers are practicing their hardest to qualify.

Varsity color guard has a history of achievement. Just last year, the team ranked second place in class A at Cary Band Day, first place in Color Guard and Michaela Teasley won second place drum major. This year, the team won number one in their division.

“I was super excited, especially since it was our first competition,” said captain and senior Megan Bosely.

Captain and junior Kaleb Enright was also excited about their victory, while reserving that the team still had further to go.

“I was really excited because we practiced plenty of times. However, it wasn’t our best run, and I was also surprised. It was our first competition, and we were getting jitters out, but with how we performed, I believe we deserved first place, and at the same time we didn’t,” Enright said.

The varsity team has a total of 13 members, all working together to overcome challenges in order to succeed in their performance.

According to captain and senior Reagan Bullock, the hardest part is just keeping everyone together and being a good mentor to everyone.

Part of that process includes teaching new team members difficult moves.

“The hardest part is when it comes to big tosses, it takes a little bit longer for new people to do it. However, that’s to be expected,” Enright said.

Through their challenges, each member of the team has seen improvement.

“I was really excited because I worked so hard to practice and get better, not only for myself, but the team as a whole. So, if anyone has questions, I can help them, and I can also help myself all at once. But, I was so excited to be able to be in that position to help anyone if needed,” Enright said.

Of course, performers go into their competitions with a plan. These plans require themes, songs and choreography. Varsity Guard Faculty Leader Caleigh Crane is largely responsible for the complex arrangements of music and dance.

“I have a list of songs that I feel would make good show concepts that I am always adding to. When it comes to show time, I take many things into consideration from size of the group, skill of the group, performers in the group, etc. I base it on what I can see the students bringing to the table so to speak,” Crane said.

Crane’s planning sets the guidelines for her performers, but there is still room for performers to contribute their own ideas.

“Usually it is up to Crane for song, theme and choreography. But, there are some parts that I am by myself, so I come up with things to do when she is working with other people,” Enright said.

The anxiety that comes with performance of course must be taken into account by the captains, but Crane has her own words of advice.

“My biggest piece of advice for any performer is to go all out every time you practice. We all want to feel great after each performance, and sometimes nerves can hinder that. If you’re performing full out at rehearsal, those shows won’t make you feel so anxious and scared because you will have confidence in yourself and your abilities. We want each run to be better than the last. That means do it your very best each time to keep improving,” Crane said.

Enright adds additional advice to the team.

“The varsity team could improve in future competitions by breathing, relaxing, thinking through the counts and to not stress for what is coming next,” Enright said. “Always look up and feel the song, feel the emotions and let the words sink in.”

As future competitions grow larger on the horizon, captains have many hopes for the future success of their team.

“I just hope we can continue to place and even get bumped up a class,” Bosely said.

Each varsity guard member has aspirations in the coming year. For Enright, pushing Wake Forest’s color guard to improve further is his immediate plan.

“My goals and aspirations for future competitions would be to move up a level. Right now we’re in A3. I’d love to move up to A2 because it would prove that we practiced a lot and that our work is getting challenged and that we’re all improving.”

Bosely and Bullock, both seniors, are looking to go to college. This doesn’t spell the end of their color guard career, however. At East Tennessee State University and North Carolina State University respectively, both plan to join the color guard team for their colleges.

While some performers will be moving on from Wake Forest Color Guard soon, Crane looks to the team’s achievements proudly.

“I couldn’t be more grateful for where I am and what I am getting to do both for and with this program,” Crane said, “I can’t wait to see just how great we will become over the next few years.”