The school’s winter guard program is on the rise, delivering an exciting and inspiring season that highlights both rapid growth and incredible potential for the future.
After a brief hiatus—with no color guard at all in 2023—the program was relaunched in Fall 2024 under the leadership of Coach Lily. What began as a small group of freshmen has quickly developed into a driven and passionate team of 12 performers for a winter season. This season marked the return of winter guard competition, with eight brand-new members and even the most experienced performers in just their second year—making their success even more impressive.
Rather than taking an easier route, the team chose to challenge themselves by competing in the more advanced SRA division, demonstrating a commitment to growth, excellence, and high standards from the very beginning.
That dedication paid off. At state preliminaries, the team earned a score of 72.68—an enormous jump from their first performance score of 47.00 earlier in the season. Their performance qualified them for state finals, where they stood out as the only team from Tucson in their division to advance.
Just hours later, they took the floor again among Arizona’s top scholastic winter guards and secured a Top 10 finish in the state.
This season’s success reflects not only the talent and determination of the performers, but also the strong leadership of Coach Lily Shaw and team captains Rosie Adair and Merry Jones. Even more exciting is what lies ahead—the program is growing quickly, building momentum, and creating new opportunities for performers at all experience levels.
This is a program on the move--one where dedication is recognized, growth is accelerated, and performers have the chance to make a real impact. With a supportive team culture and a clear trajectory upward, the future of winter guard here is brighter than ever.