The Harrison High School Winter Guard earned a first place finish in the Scholastic A division at the March 11 regional competition sponsored by the Southern Association of Performance Arts (SAPA). The event featured 60 performing high school and independent performing units from Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee.
Harrison earned a total score of 78.94 to finish ahead of second-place Buford at 77.54. Villa Rica, Pope and Rome High Schools rounded out the top five finishers in the 15-team division. The 78.94 score is the marked the highest total of the competition season so far for Harrison, which has demonstrated a commitment to improvement with score increases in each competition.
For the competition, the Harrison squad performed its 2023 competition show entitled “Bound,” featuring music by Christina Aguilera.
The 2023 Harrison Color Guard includes Savannah Blakely, Leann Bolls, Anna Brown, Emily Burgess, Sara Cartzas, Lizzy Del Toro, Camylle Gary, Scarlet Hampton, Lilli Hardee, Rachel Jones, Madison Lowery, Toby Meares, Grace Paulson Lovato, Isabel Samples, Lauren Sanford, Emma Sherman, Delilah Tanner, Gabby Warden and Jada Whitehead.
Harrison’s winter guard is under the direction of Corey Hawkins. Staff members include Jeleesa Levy, Jay Caldwell, Bri Waithe, Rae Winget, and Billy Pacifico.
Spectators attending the event at Harrison were treated to a full day of choreographed dance routines, featuring flying flags, twirling sabers and other props designed to enhance the performance effect. All groups performed themed, timed routines to recorded music, earning points in categories that included equipment, movement and general effect. Points may have been deducted for time or other performance violations.
Harrison’s Winter Guard returns to competition on March 25 at the Winter Guard International Regional event at Buford Arena.