Change is coming for East’s color guard team, not only are there new coaches, but also new members along with some senior members who are going to be leaving the team this year. The 2024-25 school year is going to be a year of big changes for the guard and you won’t want to miss any of it.

New Coach
This year started just like any other for color guard. The team started getting together and practicing early this summer, led by the new coach, Mikel Beem. This is her second-year coaching color guard and she loves it. Coach Kelly, as the team calls her, didn’t feel like she had a place she belonged in high school, until she joined color guard. There she not only got that sense of belonging, but also family, friends, and a purpose. Her coach also played a huge role in this feeling, believing in her when she didn’t. “When I heard that I could have the opportunity to be that coach and give some of the students at East High all the wonderful things I received, I couldn’t pass that up,” Beem said.

Seniors
In addition to the new coach, there are some senior Scarlets who will be leaving the team this year when they graduate. Who are these seniors? Jay Johnson and Sunny Wadle. Johnson has been on the color guard since their freshman year here at East. Jay is the team captain this year and is like a mother to their teammates. They are very sad to be leaving color guard this year and wish they could have more time. “Its [color guard] literally my whole life and I’ve been on it since my freshman year and I’m very sad about it [leaving]. I’m leaving behind all my kids…” Johnson said. Meanwhile, Wadle has only been on the color guard team for two years but it has been an experience they will never forget. The past two years has given them an opportunity to feel apart of something great here at East. They will miss being around the people that care about them and who they also care about.

New Season
With the new season, color guard always welcomes new members with open arms and this year is no different. So far, guard has gained four members and all of them show not only how diverse guard can be but also how hard the team works. Whether they have been on the team for only three weeks or since the beginning of the season, they work hard and also keep a fun, lighthearted environment. Guard is a very welcoming sport and are always open to new members. “Just know any sport can be [for] any type of gender. For example, football can be boys and girls, same with softball can be boys and girls, so can baseball,” sophomore Elijah Tetley said. A big strength that the guard has is its inclusion. The guard welcomes new members like family and never makes them feel out of place. “…For me an example is, I’m a dude, I’m a boy, and everybody included me even though, you know, its not really normal for a dude to do color guard.” Tetley said.

The future of color guard is in the making here at East, whether it be with the new coach who is here to bring anything and everything to guard, or the new members joining and carrying on the legacy that the senior members have left. This team is unlike any other and will continue to be just that, overcoming any obstacles that they may come across. The future is bright for color guard and we wish them the best. Go guard!