Plano’s winterguard teams have started rehearsals for their intense flag competition season in the spring.

     Winterguard is a subsection of colorguard, and are all encompassing performances that are equipment based. 

     They are most well known for tossing, but they also incorporate twirling, dance routines and tumbling. Unlike dance they use flag, rifles and sometimes sabers. 

     “Colorguard and winterguard are more like productions than normal dance or band,” junior captain Laura Anderson said.

     The groups do have their differences, however. While colorguard competes and performs with the band, winterguard is its own entity. 

     “Winterguard is a lot more focused on us [colorguard],” Vuong said. “It’s colorguard without the band.”

     The winterguard teams put on their own performances and have their own competitions in late winter and early spring.

     “The competitions are great,” junior MacLaine Powell said. “You are only competing against other guard teams.”

     Winterguard, unlike colorguard, is separated into two or three groups, depending on the year. Colorguard has one group of about 20 to 30 people on average, while winterguard has 50 to 60 people. 

     “This year we have two groups, Maroon Guard and Silver Guard,” director Gerado Chavero said.

     They split into groups because with marching season over, many band kids and others not normally involved in color guard join the competitive team every year.

      “Anybody can join,” Chavero said. “The only requirements are to be persistent and passionate.”

     With winterguard in full swing, both groups are focusing on technique needed for their performances before they find out the themes of the dances.

     “We have about seven minute performances and every part from the dance itself, the costumes and even the color of the tarp is connected to the theme,” Chevaro said.

     The teams are excited to show supporters and judges their hard work come next semester. They spend three months preparing for competitions Feb. through March. Dates are posted on their Twitter @planocolorguard and their Instagram @planoseniorcolorguard. They also have their Exhibition Show on March 24. 

    “It’s a fundraiser where family and friends can watch our performances, because many of our competitions are out of town,” Chevaro said.

     The teams are all working hard to prove that they are more than a visual part of band and show off their talents.

     “It’s the sport of the arts,” Powell said. “We work really hard to prove that.”