by Monica Brewer

With less than a month until the Southwest Iowa Clarinda Band Jamboree, the AHS Trojan Guard is inching closer and closer to competition time.  They’ve worked hard and have improved since the start of band camp, which was on Aug. 6.  It takes a lot of energy and time out of the band members’ days to march the same routines and parts over and over again.  These are the moments that make it all worth it.

Every member has a part of marching band that they enjoy and a part that makes some of the routines difficult.

Senior Alex Lensch says that the easiest part of marching for her is flinking.  Flinking is when you turn the lower part of your body 90 degrees left or right while marching as your upper body stays still, facing an audience or crowd.

The songs for this year are very different.  The show, Toon-Tunes, include some tunes from movies that you may remember.  They include, in order: The Incredibles, Let it Go (from the Oscar winning movie Frozen), Happy (from Despicable Me 2), and Nightmare before Christmas.

The Guard will use a different version of the Star Spangled Banner.  Band teacher Jarrod O’Donnell told the band that the reason they’re using a new version is because it would sound better and be easier to play.

Everyone has a favorite part of the show.  Freshman Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Gettler said that her favorite song was “Let It Go.”  Gettler further explained that the reason was because “we do ninja moves.”

Lensch says that her favorite song, and one of the hardest songs for her to play, is Nightmare before Christmas.  Lensch also explains that the reason why is because she enjoyed that movie.

The 2014 AHS Trojan Guard will have three contests this year.  The first will be the Clarinda Band Jamboree on Oct. 4.  A week later, the guard will travel to Glenwood for the Loess Hills Fieldfest.  Lastly, they will travel to Treynor for State Marching Band, hoping to get a one rating at contest.

When they play at games, give them your full support.  They work very hard on the pre-game and halftime music that they play.