From tossing rifles, catching sabres and dancing with flags, the FCS Winter Guard leaves it all on the floor. After months of training, preparation and competing the FCS Color Guard season wraps up placing third in the Regional A Division at Championships, March 29.
Coached by Vanessa Hinojosa, the team performed four shows, three soloists, and finished their season with a score of 76 out of 100 and placing third out of four teams.
“Seeing the team break through things they’ve never done before and celebrating their wins is what makes me love what I do,” Hinojosa said. “This season, our theme was about transformation and becoming the person you’re meant to be.”
The costumes were intentionally-designed to create a white silhouette resembling purity, then students snapped off part of the material to reveal a dress in a different color of blue ombré, representing the students transformation and their own unique journey.
The Color Guard team competes in the South Valley Winter Arts Association (SVWAA) circuit. This association extends from Bakersfield to Madera. The SVWAA includes many rural schools whose programs are smaller. Having a small circuit helps the competing teams encourage and cheer for each other.
Four years ago, the color guard team won the championship for the Regional Bronze division, which is the lowest level for high school Winter Guard. One year after, this team was moved up to Regional Silver, and then two years after that the team moved to Regional A (formerly known as Regional Gold because of the growth on the team this year.) The team has grown two divisions in the last three years, this shows dedication from Hinojosa and the team members talent to their sport.
During the 2025 color guard season, the point system focuses on evaluating performance through certain skills, techniques, and the overall presentation. In each show, it is possible to get a total of 100 points. The overall look of the show or General Effect is worth a total of 40 points along with three other categories, each worth 20 points: Design, Equipment and Movement analysis. Penalties are possible along with timing points which could cause the team to gain or lose points.
Color Guard has two major seasons: marching season and Winter Guard, which is the competitive season. Marching Season starts with Band Camp before school starts in August and ends with the Christmas Parade in December. It includes a field show and choreography to go along with the Pep Band music, using the same uniforms and equipment from year to year as a statement of the organization’s continuity. The team got new uniforms and flags this year because we had more members join and didn’t have enough of the old ones.
Winter Guard season starts with the skills developed during marching season. Then the show starts coming together bit by bit with rehearsals before school starting in October and running through Championships in April. Winter Guard is season the team gets to be creative with costuming, props, and choreography, which are designed and made by Hinojosa and Clarno.
During the first show, the team, traveled to Lemoore High to perform on Feb. 1. They competed against five other schools. As a team they scored 57 points, leading them to first place.
In the second show at Madera Torres, Feb. 15, the team went against seven opposing schools. Placing second overall, they scored 65 points, losing by one point to the first placed team.
The three solo performers, Ryleigh Ferris, ‘28, Madeleine Durham, ‘26, and Kaitlyn Jansen, ‘30, competed during the third show at Matilda Torres High School on Mar 15. Ferris participated in the HS Mixed Equipment Division and placed 15th out of 16th with 57 points. Durham competed in the HS Flag Division and scored 63 points, placing herself at 7th out of 9th. Jansen placed 3rd out of 6th in the MS Flag Division with 73 points. At this show, the team received 68.62 points, securing first against Justin Garza and Washington Union.
“While performing each solo competition in my head I think, ‘I will catch this,'” Ferris said. “I believe I have grown as a performer by learning to look at and connect with the judges. In elementary, I admired performances and looked forward to every May 4th, when the color guard would show up in Star Wars costumes and do routines with the band.”
At the fourth show against four other schools, the team went to Ridge View Middle School in Visalia, sponsored by Diamanté, Mar. 15. The team placed second losing by three points with 71 points overall.
Before the winter guard season, the FCS Color guard was invited to march alongside the FCS band in the 105th Veterans Day Parade, Nov. 11. This was an amazing opportunity for the color guard and band, participating in the biggest Veterans Day parade on the west coast.
The team competed in their final performance, “The Art of Becoming,” at Lemoore College on March 29. For this competition and the others previously, Band Director Lindsey Clarno made the costumes and props to represent her love for the team and the sport. This show was performed for the FCS students and staff on March 28, many classes came out to support and watch the color guard girls.
“We can’t wait to see how far we can go next year,” Clarno said. “Little tiny FCS is starting to make a name for itself in the Guard world, and we’re having a blast bringing creative shows to our audiences.”
Clarno explained that this season’s iceberg platform was the most complicated build they have ever done. Everything went wrong every step of the way – from wheels breaking off, to every store in Fresno/Clovis being out of the materials needed, to using antiquated tools to build inside the Music Suite around school hours.
“I started in January and finally finished in March,” Clarno said. “My whole family, including my parents in their 70’s, pulled together to make it all work and fix the problems that popped up. Coach V. and her significant other also jumped in whenever needed, and we had several Guard members and Band students show up to help as well. It truly took a village!”
As the curtain closes on another memorable winter guard season, the FCS color guard celebrates not only their wins but also their improvement and achievements. From first-time performers to soloists, each member contributed to the success of the team.
As they look forward to next year, the team is excited for growth and events to come. Hinojosa is eager to recruit more students to join the Color Guard next year.
“Don’t be afraid to try something new! You never know if its going to be a new passion,” Hinojosa said. “Take risks and come join our family! Your only limit is yourself.”
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