This article was written by Kaylee TerHaar-Parks
When the bright Friday night lights hit the field, many people focus their attention on the band as they ring out their first notes. However, beyond the brass is a group of dedicated athletes crafting art with dance and flags. Northview’s color guard isn’t just a piece of the halftime marching band show – it’s a close knit group of dedicated students creating a visual story with passion and flags.
The color guard spends countless hours all summer, after school, and during marching band class perfecting routines that consist of dance, flag work, and dedication to precision and perfection. Transforming music from Northview’s Marching Band into a striking visual, this group of students have found their place within color guard.
Northview’s color guard team is more than a performance group, they’re a family where anyone is welcome and everyone is valued. Through their hard work, diligence, and unity, they’ve demonstrated the importance of belonging and found family.
Though some may see spinning flags and stage makeup, that’s not the case for head coach Oliva Brown who takes pride in the team she selected. For Brown the color guard goes beyond the flag and into her heart.
”When they come off the field and they’re like Ms Brown’ I gave everything that I had.’ I just love it,” Brown said. “Whether we win or lose, it’s just a great feeling to see them perform. And they become such unique individuals out of this. So watching them grow is just so special.”
To Brown color guard stands out from other traditional sports and not in the way it’s run but in the way it welcomes new people, fosters relationships, and allows bonding over performance.
“It’s very inviting. It’s like a different type of sport, right? You’re learning something to perform it, and then you keep getting better,” Brown said. “So it’s unique, it’s very inviting. People are very accepting. It’s something that you don’t have to have experience with. It’s something you just learn.”
For senior captain Ren Slade the heart of color is in the memories made along the way, even the messy, overheated, and unforgettable ones matter most.
“I know it’s a bit cliche, but probably my first show that I did, because it was at Rockford, my freshman year, and it was ridiculously hot. We didn’t have uniforms or anything yet, so we were just wearing black clothes. And I think half of us overheated, really badly, but it was still just really fun,” Slade said. “It’s kind of burned in my head of like, this is why I do this stuff.”
Some students may feel intimidated by traditional sports or not fitting in, but color guard offers Northview something different. It offers a space filled with inclusiveness, flexibility, and friendships. Sophomore color guard member Josey Vandyke believes anyone can find a place within color guard.
”You’ll make so many new friends, so many awesome memories. If you want to involve yourself in a sport that isn’t super heavy, join color guard or marching band,” Vandyke said. “Anyone can do it. It just takes a lot of practice, and it’s so fun.”
Highly regarded author, speaker, and professor Brené Brown preaches the need for human connection, “A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people” The Color Guard team offers students a place to feel involved, wanted, and welcome.
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