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Manchester Hosts Statewide Color Guard Competition
By Kim Fink
 | | --Photo Courtesy Of Cheri Brister, Manchester PTA High School Vice Pres. Manchester High School's "Phenomenon" hosted 18 other teams for a weekend competition held at the high school. |
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The Manchester High School gymnasium was filled with the sounds of cheering and applause on Saturday as parents and students packed the bleachers for the first annual Mid-Atlantic Indoor Network Winter (MAIN) Guard Competition hosted by the Manchester Marching Hawks Parent Association.
The competition, open to all state color guard units, gives members an opportunity to showcase their talents independent of their marching bands.
Competition was fierce as 18 teams arrived ready to win, but for Manchester High School's guards, "Phenomenon," the pressure was off.
"Tonight we get to just have fun," said coach and guard member Crystal Palmer. "As hosting school, we don't get to compete. We're just an exhibition group tonight so we will perform and get our scores but they don't count towards placement."
Other coaches were not as relaxed as the show began and the first group performed.
"We've been competing an awful lot this year," said Joe Nikischer, coach of the junior group "True Colors" from Clifton, as his guards carried their flags into the gym. It was their 12th competition. Unlike most competing schools, Nikischer's group is coordinated by the recreation department of Clifton and has members of all ages. "We have performers as young as 5-years-old here today."
Competing groups were judged in five divisions: Junior (younger than middle school), Middle School, Scholastic A Division, Scholastic Regional A Division and Independent. The first performers started the show at 5 p.m. and the competition continued until 10 p.m.'s when the award ceremony closed the evening.
Local mom Cheri Brister helped coordinate the evening as she supported her 15-year-old daughter, Liz, who was performing with Manchester's "Phenomenon."
"She just loves color guard," said Brister. "She never gets nervous and she's even got a solo tonight. The girls are all wonderful and I think it's the friendship that keeps bringing her back."
Liz agrees with mom that her friends are important but also added that she has a great coach and she simply enjoys the sport itself.
"When I'm practicing for color guard, it helps me block out anything else that might be on my mind. I can put everything else aside and just practice," she said. "I love it."
Fellow guard member Nicole Henry said the thing she loves most about the sport is that it's "spontaneous and exciting." At age 17, Henry has been a member for four years and is this year's winter guard captain.
Manchester placed ninth in last years MAIN competition but regardless of their placement, these children are true champions.
"It's a competitive, hardcore sport. People don't realize," said one local dad. "These kids practice five days a week, regardless of the weather. They take bumpy bus rides for hours every weekend to compete. It requires dedication and heart and we've got plenty of that with "Phenomenon." These kids are winners."
Results and scores of this year's MAIN competition can be found at www.mainguards. com.
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