“We are all hard-working, well-disciplined, and well-trained. We have a passion for guard,” said senior criminology major and co-captain of Slippery Rock University’s Winter Guard team Amanda Peterson, 20.
SRU’s newly formed Winter Guard team is an additional expansion from the university’s Color Guard team most are familiar seeing perform with the SRU Marching Pride at the half-time portion of football games during the fall season.
Peterson has been a member of the Color Guard team for three years where she has also served as a co-captain.
“We do a lot more in Winter Guard,” Peterson said. “Winter Guard is all about us, whereas during the fall we work as a team with the band. A lot of people don’t know the hard work and dedication it takes to be in this organization.”
The team practices Sunday evening from 7:00-10:00 p.m. in Morrow Field House and from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Monday nights in the Swope Musical Hall band room.
The Winter Guard team was recently approved by unanimous vote from SRU’s Student Government Association (SGA) and was established by the growing interest from many Color Guard team members.
The Winter Guard team differs from SRU’s Color Guard team in performance as the Winter Guard team practices and performs for audiences indoors and does not perform during SRU sporting events, but in individual competition through Three Rivers Winter Ensemble Association (TRWEA) circuit.
As it is only the team’s first year on campus, they will be performing in one competition for the spring season, championships at Hempfield High School in Pennsylvania on April 6.
“We hope to compete in at least five competitions next indoor season,” said junior therapeutic recreation major and co-captain of the SRU winter guard team, Amber St. Clair, 20.
Zuccala said. “They rely on each other for success.”
