BY PATRICIA KELLER
WEST MILFORD - The West Milford High School Highlanders Indoor Color Guard (also known as “Winterguard”) is having a fantastic 2019 season, and are currently ranked 4th in the nation out of 78 teams.
The group is competing in the Winter Guard International Scholastic A Division I competition circuit, with its 2019 program, “Rascally Thieves."
On Feb. 2, the Highlanders Winterguard took first place out of 11 competing schools in both the Preliminary and Finals competitions at the WGI Philadelphia Regionals.
The Winterguard received a Division I National Ranking and placed Second in the WGI Salem Regional Championships in Salem, MA on Feb. 16.
The Highlanders score improved by more than three points between the prelims and finals, narrowing the gap to the top spot.
The team was ranked 9th in the nation as it prepared to perform in the WGI South Brunswick competition the following weekend.
On Saturday, Feb. 23, the team took third place out of 24 performing teams in that WGI South Brunswick Regional Preliminary competition.
Competing against some of the top Indoor Color Guards in the country, the Highlanders went on to finish in 3rd place in the finals on Sunday, Feb. 24 with its highest score of the season thus far, 81.30.
As of Monday, the WMHS Winterguard’s current ranking moved up to 4th in the nation out of 78 competing teams.
The Highlanders Winterguard will next compete in the WGI East Power Regional Competition in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on March 16-17.
The team will then travel to Dayton, Ohio to compete in the WGI Color Guard World Championships on April 3-6.
Help the WMHS Winterguard go to World Championships
Clean out your closets, drawers, and even toy boxes- and drop off your unneeded items in well-tied trash bags to the WMHS Winterguard team’s clothing drive fundraiser on Sunday, March 10 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the West Milford High School loading dock (67 Highlander Drive).
The proceeds from the drive will be used to help offset travel and accommodations costs for the team to go to the WGI Color Guard World Championship Competition in Ohio in April.