Medina colorguard director also leads group from Rochester where some members have disabilities

Heritage Hurricanes prove crowd favorites at competitions

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A member of the Heritage Hurricanes waves a flag during Saturday’s Colorburst event at Medina High School, which included 25 winter guard teams from Western New York and Pennsylvania.

The Heritage Hurricanes are an all-abilities colorguard with members from Heritage Christian Services and other community members in the Rochester area.

Melissa Jaeger, front, directs the Hurricanes. She helped found the group in 2018. She works at Heritage as a day program manager.

“It gives them an opportunity to perform and create friendships in a different community,” she said.

Jaeger also is director of the Medina winterguard teams – the varsity, JV and a Colorguard Group with students in grades 3-6.

Jaeger lives in Rochester and drives to Medina three times a week to lead the school teams. Her brother, Matt Jaeger, is Medina’s high school band director.

Melissa Jaeger graduated from Medina in 2008. She said color guard teams help create friendships and bring people together.

“Winter guard is a fun a creative outlet,” Jaeger said. “It’s a way to stay and be active.”

The Heritage Hurricanes have 18 members. The group practices once a week. They perform in the exhibition class at Medina and also the North East Color Guard Circuit Championships, which will be April 6 at Gates-Chili.

Jaeger thanked Medina for welcoming the Hurricanes since the group started in 2018.

Heritage staff members and volunteers from the White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps and other local winter guards assist the team at practice and during their performances.

The crowd gave the Hurricanes loud applause during the performance and at the conclusion.