When Evelyn Majerczyk ‘22 first joined Winter Color Guard, the Illinois Drill Team Association (IDTA) state-wide competition was not her main priority, she said. However, she was beyond proud of her group after unexpectedly meeting the qualifying standards. It was their last chance to qualify for the state competition, and the LT Color Guard managed to pull it off. Majerczyk was not only ecstatic for the opportunity to compete state-wide, but also for discovering that she and the team had placed first among other competing teams at the Bank of Springfield (BOS) Center on Feb. 11-12. 

“I was so happy,” Majerczyk said. “It was so exciting because it’s my senior year, and I didn’t think that I’d ever get the opportunity to go to state.” 

For roughly three to four weeks before the first competition, the team rehearsed to Panic at the Disco’s version of “Into the Unknown” to perform at state. With the help of head color guard coach Bridget Dominiak, the team starts a routine at practice by listening to a song, and then creating movements for a routine. Color guard performs with the LT marching band in the fall and saves more of the dance-based flag routines for competitions, after the football season. 

“During marching band season, the color guard helps create the visual mood of the music and provide additional visual excitement to the show,” concert band director Paul Meiste said.

“A good color guard is crucial to creating exciting moments in a half time show, so we are lucky to have such strong performers as part of the show.”

Majerczyk reflected on her appreciation for each individual trying their best and working as a team, to receive the state championship title. 

“Practicing with the flag is so unique and interesting, and not many people know about it,” Majerczyk said. “It’s cool to say you know how to twirl a flag, because it really can be very difficult sometimes.”

After three competitions and each time falling one to two points short of meeting the 80 point requirement to go to state, qualifying at the last chance was unbelievable and exciting, Dominiak said. 

“We go from competing in a regular-sized fieldhouse like what we have at LT, compared to a huge venue, with three stories and thousands of people,” Dominiak said. “Out of the whole team, only two [people] previously had been on it, so it was a little overwhelming [for the team to experience] the non-stop dance-flag numbers for two days straight [at state].”

The group did not compete last year due to the limited amount of in-person practices when COVID-19 cases were high.

“There’s like 100 schools on the floor, and you have to stand up, get your award, and get pictures taken,” Dominiak explained about the state competition. “We had some girls crying and some girls in shock, so [overall,] it’s a joy for me to be able to coach a team like this with so many mixed personalities and skill levels.”