Sheridan Hokanson is a junior involved in Winter Guard, a sport that requires confidence and focus. As a sport, it’s similar to the Color Guard in marching band, but it has unique differences.
“If you’ve ever seen the marching band perform with flags, that’s the color guard,” Hokanson said. “We just take all of those flags and activities, and we bring it inside and put on a dance-like show.”
Winter Guard requires the use of flags, prop rifles and sometimes sabres. This gives anyone in Winter Guard options in how to perform and adds to the complexity of the performances.
“Weapons are meant to be more of a powerful type of dance, whereas the flags are supposed to look pretty and provide color,” Hokanson said.
She was first inspired to join by proximity.
“I was really close friends with a member on the team, and they kind of roped me into it,” Hokanson said. “I really loved it, it’s a super great way to have a physical activity without having a super high intensity activity like running.”
She recommended it to anyone interested in joining,
“We truly just want you to join,” she said. “Then if you’re really committed to wanting to do it, I highly recommend to just stay with it. It gets easier.”
Freshman Rhianna Marney also performs with Winter Guard. While she enjoys performing, she said it’s not something you can just pick up.
“You really have to practice,” Marney said. “It’s not something you can just know how to do, especially with the tosses — they’re the hardest part.”
Winter Guard isn’t just about throwing things either; there are deep themes that can be conveyed through intricate motions. The current show is about unrequited love.
While themes certainly add a lot to the show, her favorite part is engaging with others.
“Being involved with other people adds a lot to the experience,” Marney said.
She especially has a passion for trios, a unique part of Winter Guard.
“Trios are basically three people doing different things while in a group,” she said. “There’s a dancer, a flag person and a rifle person but all the equipment is being passed around between the three people.”
Winter Guard contains special aspects that allow for the sport to shine through the ingenuity it requires.
“It’s super creative and fun, and there’s tons of different outlets that you can go with it,” Hokanson said. She continued. “Similar to track, you know, if you do pole vaulting versus distance running or sprinting, it’s just different things that you can do in a performance, and it creates a super cool variety.”
