By Nick Hodges
Staff Writer
Although unknown to many parts of the Costa campus, the Mira Costa color guard has some of the most disciplined athletes.
Color guard is a technically intensive sport. It is said to be a form of dance theater that integrates both military-style marching and artistic dance.
“I am very satisfied with the hard work of the color guard,” band director Joel Carlson said. “They are working harder each and every day.”
The main difference between color and winter guard is that winter guard is held indoors rather than outdoors. The group also grows in size due to the increased number of male members. Winter guard performs with the music of its choice rather than performing with the marching band.
“In winter guard we do a routine to a recorded song that we get to choose,” co-captain Rachel Azafrani said.
The color guard has competed in many tournaments along with the Mira Costa marching band. Rehearsing since before last summer, captain Satkartar Khasla has mentored and improved the group in order to complement the strong impact of the marching band during exhibition.
“We are very meticulous and strict when it comes to practice, but since we spend so many hours together, we make sure to have a lot of fun,” Khalsa said.
The new members go through basic training by first learning how to toss flags. Gradually they begin to learn how to throw the rifles and sabers.
“It is interesting to spin all these pieces of equipment,” Khalsa said. “There is such a variety of performance from pretty and graceful to edgy.”
Khalsa has been a member of color guard since a friend persuaded her to join during her freshman year.
“I went to one of the workshops and thought it was really cool so I joined not knowing what I was getting into,” Khalsa said. “During my first semester of doing it I wanted to quit, but then I realized that with practice color guard could be really fun.”
Khalsa individually coaches the new members if they have trouble in any field. Outside of guard she also displays an immense amount of leadership.
“Many people seem to misunderstand what we do because it is unlike any other sport on campus,” color guard captain and senior Khalsa said.
She not only has enough time to lead guard into its many recent victories, but she also tutors Costa students on some weekends and debates on the Model UN team.
“Satkartar is a very motivated person,” Azafrani said. “People listen to her, and she gets things done. She is so inspiring to all of us, and she changes the atmosphere of practice positively.”
Color guard has made very positive progressions in its leadership by including many new members to the group.
“The team is larger than in previous years, so they are able to be more effective presentationally,” Carlson said.
Color guard is a competition-based program that uses a 100-point system. Its daily practices are geared toward improving the area they scored lowest in during the most recent competition. Their next performance will be Saturday in the marching competition at Chino High School.
“Color guard is a very complicated process, but it is always so much fun and very rewarding,” Azafrani said.
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