Members of the Winterguard are looking forward to a promising season after placing 4th during field season at the Western Band Association Championships in Clovis on Nov. 21.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the outcome of the season and am really happy with the improvement all the kids have made,” said instructor Tony Crapo, new this year to Saratoga High.

Winterguard differs from Color Guard by moving off the field and onto a large indoor floor. More up close and without the band, it focuses solely on the guard, which dances and spins flags, rifles and sabres.

“It’s much more intense,” said sophomore Andrea Liu.

For the first time, this year’s Winterguard has been split into varsity and JV teams. The main reason is that a guard may have no more than 30 members on a floor to be allowed to compete, and 35 people signed up.

“I’d like everyone to have an equal opportunity to perform, as opposed to cutting people and making Winterguard an exclusive group, and to open it to more people at the school,” said Mr. Crapo.

The change has received mixed reactions from guard members, however.

“I feel stressed by the two Winterguard thing, but I can see its potential,” said sophomore Christine Liu. “It’s just sad when your friends are in a different guard.”

The guard held auditions, after which 12 members were placed in varsity and the remaining 24 in JV. The JV is to compete in class A and the varsity in the higher class of class AA.

“My goals this season aren’t necessarily competitive,” said Crapo of his ambitions for this year’s Winterguard. “I just want this activity to get more exposure on campus so that in the future we can have more numbers for field season. My goal is to eventually have 60 people in Color Guard.”