Behind The Flag

Excitement spreads as Rock Creek High School transitions from just uniforms to bright blue flags under the Friday night lights. Bringing the flair of the flag, a new addition was recently added to the band, the color guard. With about 8 students participating, the guard is excited to start their colorful journey on the field.

Daniel Smith, the band director, wanted to add color guard to the band curriculum to sufficiently meet the expectations and fill the missing gaps at competitions, and the added bonus of giving students the opportunity to have a role in the marching band that they previously were not able to experience.

“It helps students who don’t play instruments find a place in our program, but it also gives people who play instruments [that are not included in marching band lineup]…find a way there,” Smith said.

Sabrina Scheerer, the volunteer color guard coach, believes the guard is a crucial aspect of any band organization. The addition of the visual component of color guard gives the appearance of a more complete band.

“Without adding the element of the silks, the flags, the props, the different things that the color guard can use, you just lose depth to the band,” Sabrina Scheerer said.

Connor Feathers, a junior at Rock Creek, joined the color guard after being encouraged by Smith, the band director. Although Feathers admits to being a little anxious, he continues to work hard to ensure he is performing to the best of his abilities on the field and on the sidelines.

“The first game, I was miserable. I was nervous the entire time. Then, the second game I was more mad at myself that I messed up parts [of the routine],” Feathers said.

Sofie Scheerer, the captain of the color guard and a sophomore at Rock Creek, is also on the dance team and formerly had three years experience with baton twirling. As a captain, she recognizes the students are improving, However she notes that there are always some hardships with creating a new team.

“I feel like communication and commitment are some of the bigger challenges on the team, specifically for me I think just staying levelheaded and not getting super flustered,” Sofie Scheerer said.

Smith has noticed the dedication the color guard members have brought to practices and performances, pointing out moments where students sacrifice their time to ensure they get the practice time they need.

“seeing how willing students are to come here during advisor, or to stay extra after school just to clean choreography on their own without being asked,” Smith said

Beyond memorizing routines, color guard also serves as a workout and builds important skills. Sabrina Scheerer, the coach, highlighted the discipline and fitness that students gain through their participation.

“Like any sport, it encompasses discipline, fitness, endurance, lots of different qualities that it will build in these students, just like playing an instrument or doing another sport. I want to see them achieve whatever they want to achieve at,” Sabrina Scheerer said.