With smiles an their faces and a trophy in hand, the members of the winter guard team walked away from the 2009 championships with third place. They scored 76.6 points from the judges, falling right behind Clovis East High School who placed second with 77.6 points and Hoover High School in first place with 84.5 points, March 27.

Although they did not come out on top, coach Lacey Miranda said she appreciated the members’ effort during the competition.

“I am so proud,” Miranda said. “Everything I could have possibly asked them to do, they did that night. They performed like I have never seen them perform before. Also, they had a great attitude all throughout the season; I could not be more proud.”

While some of the members were nervous for championships, freshman Dolly Mizner said she felt more confident after the cheerleaders provided cupcakes to winter guard before the show.

“I think the cupcakes from the cheerleaders helped,” Mizner said. “Even though it was something really small, it helped boost a lot of the girls’ confidence. It made me feel like even though they were not there to support us, they were supporting us from afar.”

After the team’s performance, captain Sarah Barnett, ’10, said she “gave a pep talk” to congratulate winter guard.

“I just told everyone how proud I am of them all,” Barnett said. “I told them that there was nothing else I could ever ask of them. They were awesome.”

Although the season officially ended, the winter guard team will present an encore performance at the end of the year in the FC gym, May 22.

For more information on winter guard, visit the March 23 article, Winter guard to enter championships or e-mail Lacey Miranda.