This winter the De Soto High School winter guard will make DHS history as they travel to their first ever competition.

The team will compete three times this year with championships in March 2019. Last winter, the team performed solely at DHS basketball games.

Junior winter guard and color guard co-captain Delaney Lecluyse recalls “last year went really well. We actually had a lot of people going when it was just getting off the ground so we’re really excited to see how many people join this year.”

Lecluyse loves guard because it is a unique way that she can express herself.

“It incorporates dance so it’s a fun artistic aspect that also involves athleticism. It’s not like any other sport I’ve done. You can still be you and be a part of a team,” Lecluyse said.

This season, the team is incorporating more fundamental training.

“This year we are taking more time to prepare and learn basic skills. I think the season will go really well,” said senior color guard and winter guard co-captain Katie Ortgies.

The team is led by Matt Elliott who coaches color guard in the DHS marching Wildcats band. Elliott has marched multiple years with various winter guards and drum and bugle corps.

“[Elliot] knows how to push us and he makes sure we know what we are doing,” Ortgies said.

Though the winter guard team includes many of the same members as the color guard team, there are still large differences.

“Normally, we perform with the band on Friday night football games, but winter guard is more of an actual show, like telling a story through dance and flag work,” Lecluyse said.

Winter guard tryouts were Oct. 20 and the first practice is Oct. 29, but if anyone is still interested in joining, they are always looking for new members.

The DHS winter guard is looking forward to competing in a successful season.