In previous years, the De Soto High School band has included a color guard. However, last year, there was no color guard in the band at all, due to lack of students interested in participating. This year, the color guard is back.

Color guard is the visual portion of the band. They add to the display of the band with flag twirling and dancing.

The color guard performs with the band at all band events and competitions.

The team has been practicing since the middle of July and started rehearsing with the band at the beginning of the school year.

“The team works closely with the band. They are expected to be at all band rehearsals, they are expected to know their routines like the band would know their instruments and music,” head coach Samantha Houston said.

Some members of the color guard have different opinions on interactions with the members of the band.

“We interact with the band, but we have separate sections. They get yelled at when they do their stuff wrong, and we get yelled at when we twirl our flags wrong,” sophomore Brenna Armstrong said.

The color guard has been working to learn skills that many members have no experience with, including marching and learning to twirl and control the flags.

“It is something that is not natural and it’s not something that you can learn overnight. They’ve been working very hard at learning technique,” Houston said.

The team has been working on being in sync on the field as well as staying close off the field.

“The team is very good at helping each other out, sticking up for each other, if someone needs extra help, they are willing to help them,” Houston said.

“We always help each other out, count [steps] for each other,” sophomore Mackenzie Barnes said.

Despite the difficult techniques involved, the members of the team have been enjoying the experience.

“The best part about color guard is getting to be acknowledged for something that’s really cool,” Armstrong said.