Beneath the dazzling gymnasium lights, the Texas High Varsity Winter Guard steps onto the floor, their flags soaring in flawless unison. On Feb. 23, 2025, every contestant gathers in the gymnasium ready to perform.

This moment unfolded months of dedication and passion, a performance that proved to be more than just choreography—it told a story through movement, music and emotion.

After countless hours of practice and dedication, the Texas High Varsity Winter Guard saw their hard work pay off.

“A lot of tears were happening, I could see my captains from the floor when they were doing their retreat,” color guard instructor Herman Montoya said. “I think a lot of that has to do with the dedication and the love that the team has.”

After competing, the team reflected on their performance to see what they could improve.

“ I think the guards have been fully prepared, and we’ve been working on the show since before Thanksgiving break,” Montoya said. “ We’ve been focusing super hard on ensuring everyone’s consistent.”

The team tended to worry about how the events of their competitions would turn out. After all, you never know what a judge may think on a given day; however, through determination and consistency, the team triumphed over these concerns. 

“There’s always going to be surprises of people dropping out in accidents or stuff like that, but we’ve had a good consistency with our routines,” Montoya said. “That surprised me because last year we were always in last place, 10th place.”

Training like a machine, waking up at dawn and staying after hours practicing and practicing, prepared members of the Winterguard team for this special moment.

“We do a lot of practice. We had a lot of five to nines after school,” senior Shuntiarra Grundy said. “Mentally, we all had to walk in, try to get to practice on time, and all of that. Just trying to keep our heads in the right space.”

Communication with one another and commitment to the team set a foundation for success.

“A good show design is good, good practice puts in all the work,” Grundy said. “Everyone needs to be on the same page about the practice, and how much effort you need to put in everything.”

Setting a clear goal and staying determined to push yourself and achieve something meaningful enabled the Winterguard team to succeed in their competition. The journey may not be perfect, but every step can teach you something valuable.

“Our goal was to place in the top three,” Grundy said. “Overall, I feel good about my run. I did have one little slip where my flag got caught, but I still performed through it.”

The Texas High Winterguard’s emotional execution set them apart from other teams. Their facial expressions demonstrated commitment and heart.

“Their emotions made them stand out, and they were all locked in,”  senior Justin Gentry said. “You could just tell [that] they were committed to the show, so I feel like if we commit to the emotions of the show we can be [in] first place.”

The team will refine their timing and synchronization to elevate their future performances.

“Things I want to improve are just maybe emotions, more expression on my face,” Gentry said. “Also artistic decisions, like with my body, making sure everyone matches each other.”