From left, bottom row, are Lauren Dombrowski, Sophie Little, Elizabeth Scheil, Grace Murphy, and Chloe Ly; top row, Anne Hubl, Summer Roy, Averyanna Morrison, Liz Walker, Kaleena Slankster, Rayn Erickson, Rebekah and Riley Gerhardt, Angel Cross and Tori Saylor. Not present, Keturah Delcamp and Jenna Baumgras. Photo provided

After an undefeated season, Clarkston High School Winter Guard earned Gold at the state championship at Saginaw Valley State University, April 7.
The Clarkston High School Winter Guard, comprised of 17 students from grades 9-12, was one of 124 units in the Michigan Color Guard Circuit (MCGC) competing in the Scholastic AA Division.
This group of diverse, committed and talented girls began practice at the end of Marching Band season, end of November, in preparation for regional competitions in late winter and early spring. This is the third season for the CHS Winter Guard and competition scores have shown steady progress.
They ranked first at each regional competition this season. The guard is coached by Sarah Weingartz and Skylar MacKensen, members of “Interplay,” a Winter Guard International team from Grand Rapids, and Hadley Smith, former CHS Color Guard member.
Creative visual design, show concept, and costumes were created by Alan Spaeth of RS Marching Arts in Chicago, Ill. They are under the local leadership of Michael Lewis, Ivan Manning and Emma Pendergrass. Winter Guard was funded by the Clarkston Schools Instrumental Music Association (CSIMA) and supported by parent volunteers.
Practices were two nights per week with all-day practices, camps, and competitions on the weekends. They dance, spin various pieces of equipment and bring the music to life with emotion, to make a deep connection with the audience, entertain, and execute a technically-precise show.
This Clarkston guard has a lot of heart and openly welcomes all who have a passion for the visual/performing arts, commitment to the rigorous schedule, willingness to take risks, trust, be “fierce,” and to be part of an outstanding team.
Intensive training during the winter season also pays off in the fall as the guard performs as part of the marching band on the sidelines and in the Michigan Competitive Band Association competitions.
The team and its leadership is a credit to themselves, Clarkston Community Schools, and the Clarkston community. It will be exciting to see how they climb the competitive ranks in years to come.
~Kate Salathiel, CSIMA member