Winter guard is starting yet again for the De Soto High School Dazzlers, and head coach Jennifer Niemann is already impressed with the team.

“Honestly the best thing about them is their attitude. They’ve been working very hard all season and compared to last season, they have grown immensely,” Niemann said. “We’ve had two contests so far and we’ve placed pretty well thus far.”

One of the newest members, freshman Chari Pierce, already feels at home with the team.

“My time on the team has been very fun and very emotional,” Pierce said. “There are ups and downs, but as a team, and friends, we work through things.”

Overall there is a sense of comradery that makes the team seem very family- like.

“I love the sense that we’re all like a big family, that we can laugh together and at each other with no hard feelings,” Pierce said.

Captain, junior Courtney Goodin also feels very positive about the team this season.

“We’ve made a lot of changes and improvements, and I think we’ll do well,” Goodin said. “I’m very proud of the team this season and the progress we’ve made. We’re working very well together and the skill level has clearly improved.”

So far the team has competed in two competitions in which they placed third and seventh, respectively.

The team looks forward to hopefully placing well at their last championship of the season.

“We still have things to work for towards the end of the season. We have three weeks left until our final championship on March 24, and I think we’ll do well,” Niemann said.