Katy High School Winter Guard Brings Home State Championship

Katy Texas News
Posted April 6, 2011

The ladies of the Katy High School Winter Guard went to Pearland Friday night with one goal: bring back a state title, which they did. Their last state championship was more than 10 years ago.

Andrew Lee, band director in charge of Guard and Drumline, was visibly moved by his team’s success. “The girls worked hard for this,” he says. “They earned it.”

“I love these girls, and I prayed they do their best and congratulate themselves on an amazing season,” adds guard director Michelle Jordan. The team has been practicing afterschool since marching season ended in December. They competed in three shows prior to finals with two first place and one second place finish.

Most people are familiar with Color Guard work in the marching band with flags, rifles and sabers. Winter Guard competitions are held in gymnasiums with only guard members performing on a painted floor to taped music. While the Novice division is one of the lower levels of competition with teams using body work and flags with some rifle work, Katy went above and beyond and competed with saber work as well.

Greg Horne, father of former guard director Meghan Horne, wrote the show. He picked the music, “The Ascent” by Yanni. Greg and Meghan both flew back from Boston to work with the girls during weekend rehearsals.

Since this is a Texas Color Guard Circuit event and not UIL sanctioned, Katy had members from freshmen thorough senior classes and an eighth grade member from West Memorial Junior High. All of the members had to maintain academic eligibility to participate. As Winter Guard started after football season was over, two marching band members participated as well.

All six Katy ISD schools had teams competing this year with Taylor’s JV squad taking a second place trophy in the Novice Division with Katy. Taylor’s Varsity took second in Scholastic A which competes at a higher level and has different judging criteria than Novice. They will be competing in Dayton, Ohio for a chance at a Winter Guard International title April 7-9.

Please mention you found this on www.KatyMagazine.com.

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