Medina opens winter guard season after two-year hiatus due to Covid pandemic

Provided photo: Medina's varsity guard performs “Wake Up” during the season-opening competition on Saturday.

Courtesy of Medina Mustang Band Boosters

ORCHARD PARK – Medina opened its winter guard season on Saturday, competing in Orchard Park.

The guards performing now have not performed in the past two years. Therefore they haven’t had the opportunity to deal with the stress of competition despite now being involved in higher, more skilled divisions.

Medina’s varsity guard consists of 18 students in grades 9-12.  This year their show is “Wake Up.” The group asks, have you ever considered that the dreams you dream and the passing thoughts that you think are not all your own?

The show at Orchard Park consisted of 16 guard units in seven different classifications. Medina performed in the SA (scholastic A) class with three other guards and came in 4th place with a score of  54.96. Victor and Orchard Park tied for 1st place with 59.98 while Jamestown came in 3rd at 56.86.

Winners in the other classes were Hinsdale Starliners in Novice with 35.89; Victor Cadet in cadet class with 45.39; Gates Chili RA at 48.32; Lancaster in A1 class with 53.09; Gates Chili 1A with 59.34 and Luminosa in SR class at 55.35.

Medina’s next competition is Feb. 12 at Victor followed by Batavia on Feb. 19, Lancaster on March 5 and Medina’s home show on March 12.

Winter guard is a hybrid art form that combines elements of music, dance and military-like precision marching in a competitive arena into a total entertainment package.

Winter guard started about 30 years ago and involves the manipulation (spins, tosses, flips) of equipment (rifles, flags, sabers) while moving around the performance space.