Like many, my color guard journey began in the high school marching band, and in my career, many opportunities arose to experience guard to the fullest.
This included local competitions in the Fall, and in the Winter with SAPA (Southern Association for Performing Arts) and WGI (Winter Guard International) competitions, alongside teaching/instructing for various schools (including my high school).
Many memories were collected within those years, including spinning flag and rifle alongside a drum line with SAPA in the Scholastic A (SA) class of 2014, spinning flag and rifle in the inaugural WGI Winds season also in the SA class of 2015, then finishing out as the rifle soloist my senior year with a silver medal for Scholastic AA class in SAPA for winter guard.
After graduation, I moved on to teaching locally starting with Jackson County HS in Jefferson, GA where my passion for educating began. After my involvement with the fall colorguard there, I moved on to coaching for Union Grove HS in Henry, GA. Here I was heavily involved in writing choreography and teaching technique; all while spinning with Reverie, an independent winter guard organization out of Marietta, GA.
2017-2022 I spun with Reverie, growing and developing through the Independent Regional A (IRA), A, and Open class guards, starting with IRA in 2017-18. Reverie IRA or RIII was a small but dedicated group, bumped up from IRA to Independent A class by SAPA and proved proficient in IRA. This gave us a chance to perform alongside our sister team Reverie A that same season.
In 2019, I was invited to participate in the NFL Super Bowl Halftime Show with Maroon5 with Reverie and the Reverie Alumni. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be on the field, with my closest friends, and on national TV!
After a break due to the pandemic, I returned fully to spinning for the 2021-2022 seasons with Reverie on the open guard. These seasons brought on many challenges, amazing rewards, incredible education, and lasting friendships.
2021 consisted of masked spinning and hope; the return of live competitive winter guard. Growth was our focus this season and in that, I rekindled my love for the sport and experienced personal growth as a person and performer. This season came to an end at SAPA Championships, being awarded gold in Independent Open (IO) class competition with our show entitled “Bread and Roses”.
Between the 21-22 seasons, I spent my time writing choreography and participating in Reverie clinic pieces for schools in Alabama and Georgia.
My final and age-out season of 2022 was the most rewarding. Returning to SAPA and WGI in full swing and spinning with those I deemed family.
Pushing forward on the best flagline I’ve ever spun with, the 2022 season finished with Silver in IO at SAPA Championships and finished as Finalists in IO at WGI Championships with our show “Just for a Moment”.
I am now independently coaching and proudly on staff as the new Color Guard Director for Winter Springs High School in Seminole County, FL. I am excitedly looking forward to growing their program as well as providing technique and overall performance coaching in the Central Florida area.