Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Winter Guard teams from Marian Catholic High School won first place honors in two separate competitions recently.
First, a primer on guard lingo and classifications:
Winter Guard, as described by WGI (Winter Guard International) Sport of the Arts, was formerly an indoor color guard competition, but is now an indoor guard and percussion ensemble competition. The Scholastic Division is limited to high school affiliated groups and is broken down further into four Classes; Regional A (beginners), AA (intermediate), Open (advanced), and World (seasoned groups). The Independent Division is not bound by high school affiliation and competitors must be 21 or younger, however, the World Class in the Independent Division has no age limit.
The Marian Catholic Winter Guard, which participated in WGI competition last year in Dayton, OH, in the Scholastic Division, Open Class, won first place honors, and has been elevated to World Class this season. At the Lake Central High School Invitational, both the Marian Catholic World Class, and the Class AA teams won first place from among dozens of participating schools.
At the Naperville Central High School “Stepperette” competition the next day, both teams again placed first in their classes from among even more schools.
The twenty-two members of the Marian Catholic World Class guard are Seniors Paige Greene (Crete), Kim Karlin (Dyer), Kara Morrison (Glenwood), Jackie Nauracy (Schererville), Katie Obbagy (St. John), Amanda Tiberi (Chicago Heights), and Jessica Anderson (Crete). Juniors are Morgan Anderson (Richton Park), Colleen Finlon (Chicago), Olivia Mlakar (Crete), Kelly Piacenti (Homewood), Karie Schaberger (Oak Forest), Khadijiah Willis (Chicago), and TraShona Fowler (Flossmoor). Sophomores are Jaclyn Suzy Clarke (Chicago), Jenna Kot (Calumet City), Shannon Nash (Dolton), Krista Perez (Chicago), and Jenna Santacaterina (South Holland). Freshmen are Marissa Brink (Chicago Heights), Fauve Liggans-Hubbard (Matteson) and Ronay Thomas (Country Club Hills).
The twenty member Class AA guard members include Senior, Diana Yates (Schererville), Juniors Julia Alvarado (Hazel Crest), and Kristina Flens (Dyer). Sophomores are Cydney Taylor (Matteson), Janay Brent (Matteson), Treasur Cunningham (South Holland), Emily Dejanovich (Chicago), Raven Reyes (Olympia Fields), Maiya Shackelford (Park Forest), and Danie Williams (Park Forest). Freshmen include Kharis Burns (Country Club Hills), Nicole Cristelli (Chicago Heights), Ileana Garcia (Matteson), Catherine Hester (South Holland), Jazelle Martinez (Sauk Village), Natalie Palm (South Holland), Erica Prskalo (Chicago), Jasmine Weaver (Calumet City), and Alyssa Williams (Olympia Fields).
Guard Director, Lamar Branson, along with assistants Joshua Smith, Brady Sanders, Debbie Wiles-Isoda, Lionell Moore, Andy Toth, Anna Clarke, Virgil Hernandez, and Marlieta Matthews are working with both guard groups for upcoming competitions at Lincoln-Way North High School February 13, the Dayton Power Regional February 27-28, and the Indianapolis Power Regional March 13-14.
“I am excited about the future of the Marian Catholic Color Guard program,” Branson said. “The girls are hard working, compassionate, and embody the values held by the Marian Catholic community. I am thrilled to enter this new class, and excited to show the community what we’re about.”
