Traditions in Color Guard culture bring members together

“Love it, live it, spin it.”

To senior Color Guard captain Katie Cummins, that saying reflects the impact Guard has on the lives of its members and sums up what the culture in Color Guard is all about.

“Our lives are filled with Guard,” Cummins explained. “We only work so hard and do Guard because we love it and love spinning our flags and rifles.”

Cummins feels that the group of 38 members has a unique culture that is different from that of other groups in band.

“We all can laugh at each other and have a good time,” Cummins said. “I think we’re crazier and louder than any other section of the band.”

Junior Katlyn Hirokawa agrees, pointing to the group’s traditions.

“We have an infamous game that we play called ‘munga munga’ which involves a lot of hugging, screaming, and craziness,” Hirokawa said.

In addition, the group sometimes has dinners at the local restaurant BJ’s and sleepover parties at members’ houses at the beginning or end of the season, Hirokawa said.

Hirokawa said the team also completes a good luck ritual before they perform, in which their guard instructor gives them a lemon drop.

“It symbolizes that the lemon drop will be the only ‘drop’ we are allowed,” Hirokawa said.

Hirokawa feels that as a result of these bonds, the group gives off as welcoming atmosphere. As a freshman, Hirokawa remembers falling during one of the competitions and how the group consoled her.

“I started to cry after the show was over and all the members came over and comforted me, calling the fall, not an accident, but a ‘mini solo,’ and it made me feel so much better about the situation,” Hirokawa said.

Junior Elizabeth McAfee said that even little things bond the group together and shape its culture, like the time members spend hanging out together at competitions.

“We usually discuss our show, gossip about other shows, and attempt to get warm,” said McAfee.

Guard usually practices for several hours on Monday and Thursday nights, performs at the football games on Friday nights, and practices almost all day Saturday. McAfee added that even these seemingly ordinary practices have their own influence.

“I guess you could say every day is team bonding, because I can honestly say there isn’t a single practice I’ve walked away from without having a brand new memory,” McAfee said.
Senior Michael Woodruff said that because Color Guard begins practicing very early in the summer, the extra time helps to bring the group together.

“Starting earlier in the summer also helps the new members feel more connected with the older members and allows for a unified feeling of the Guard as a whole,” Woodruff said.

Woodruff, the only male member of Guard this year, said that he does not let this fact bother him.

“At first my peers made fun of me for [being the only male member], but I did not let it affect me, and they learned to respect my love for the activity,” Woodruff said. “I love Color Guard and I don’t care what others think because I know that I am who I am and will continue doing what I love.”