Franklin High School Winter Guard Completes Inaugural Competition Season

Members of the Franklin High School Winter Guard. Photo submitted by Pam Attanasio.

Submitted by Pam Attanasio.

Most people are familiar with the Franklin High School Color Guard, part of the award-winning Franklin High School Warrior Marching Band, that performs at football games and competitions in the fall. You are probably not familiar, though, with the Franklin High School Winter Guard, an indoor color guard that performs to pre-recorded music.

The Winter Guard completed its first competition season on April 13 at the Mid-Atlantic Indoor Network (MAIN) Championships held at South Brunswick High School.

Current and new color guard members expressed interest in competing against other indoor guards. Under the direction of Mandi Steinhauser, 8th grade English teacher at Franklin Middle School – Hamilton Street Campus and Color Guard Instructor for the marching band, with help from Betty Gupta (fellow marching band Color Guard Instructor), the FHS Winter Guard’s performances resulted in mostly 3rd- and 4th-place finishes.

At the championships, against other guards from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware, FHS Winter Guard placed 6th. From the first competition to the championships, their score improved by more than 25 points. Scores are composed of equipment, movement, design analysis, and general effect scores, along with deductions for timing penalties. The members practice once a week, for 2 ½ hours, roughly a quarter of the time their fellow competing winter guards’ practice.

Congratulations to all on a successful first competition season performing “Gone Away” and many thanks to Mrs. Steinhauser for the outstanding and dedicated leadership she provided.

Members include:

Nia Abdullah, Kaneez Ali, Holly Attanasio, Madison Castillo, Gwenaelle Du-Thumm, Shakina Fleurmond, Katie Hood, Raymond Liciaga, Elle Lisner, Brooke Owens, Alejandro Romero, Stacy Salas, Viviana Zamudio.

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