Undefeated High School Winter Guards Take State Championships

  • Two winter guard teams

    Published April 8, 2021

    Following an undefeated season from both schools, the Franklin and Summit high winter guard teams are bringing home gold medals from the Southeastern Color Guard Circuit (SCGC) Tennessee Championships March 27.

    Franklin High's winter guard won its first State championship in the Scholastic A division. Their performance, Here for You, included a new ending that had only been designed the night before the competition. Franklin High's team also received notice that they advanced to the Winter Guard International Virtual Semifinals and will find out April 10 if they will compete in the World Finals. The FHS winter guard is under the direction of Michael Horvath and Levi Brandenburg.

    "Our directors have been dedicated in the slow and stately work of making the best high school winter guard in Tennessee," said FHS band director Jacob Campos. "These students are incredible in that they made it through a rigorous fall schedule and then took that strong will to do things right and continued it this winter. All of those efforts combined with their incredible strength as a team led to an undefeated season all the way to the end."

    The winter guard at Summit High won the State championship title for the second time in the Scholastic AA division with its performance, Holding On. The SHS winter guard is led by Tristen Hamilton and Jeremy Hewgley.

    "I feel like this team is one of the most hardworking groups I have ever seen," said Hamilton. "They have persevered through so much this season and have really grown as performers and as people, and that's what is so amazing. Their love for color guard and desire to be the best they can be is not something easily taught."

    Several other WCS high schools placed at the championships. Brentwood High placed second in the Scholastic Regional A division; Independence High placed third in the Novice division; Page High placed sixth in the Scholastic A division; and Ravenwood High placed third in the Scholastic AA division.