IDTA State Championship great memory for Mahomet-Seymour Color Guard

Mahomet-Seymour color guard coach Kari Marino wanted to create memories for her team. Their IDTA (Illinois Drill Team Association) State Championship win on Saturday did just that. 

The 24-member color guard squad placed first at the 2020 IDTA Class AA Colorguard State Finals. Other accolades include the second place Lyrical Flag team, Lexi Watkins placed first and Cayla Emmerd placed third in their flag solos.

Cora Walker, Amanda Williams, Rissa Habardas and Lexi Mohr placed fourth through seventh in their solos, respectively.

Going into Saturday’s performance was no different than any other competition this season.

Marino said she just wanted the girls to be proud of how they performed.

The Bulldogs went through the 2019 Marching Band Competition season with 33-members. They placed first at Eastern Illinois University at the beginning of October, then went on to place second at Illinois Wesleyan University and the University of Illinois competitions.

“The guard is a very important piece of the marching band, they are often the visual storytellers. The stronger they are at their piece, the storyline of the show is easily understood,” Marino said. 

“This year’s guard is a powerhouse. If they didn’t take the top guard at the competitions they went to in the fall (those that had a color guard judge), they were within one point.”

Marino attributes their growth to two things: 

“One, the training from the 2019 winter season propelled them forward into the fall season,” she said. “Our new members in the fall stepped up to the plate and did not hesitate to try what was asked of them.  

“Two, this guard is determined. When I gave them a challenge, they tried it. If it worked, we used it; if not, we modified it to make it work.”

Marching through Phoenix in the Fiesta Bowl Parade at the end of December capped off a great year. Coming back to Illinois, Mahomet-Seymour placed first with its color guard routine at an IDTA competition in Clinton, qualifying them for state.

“The continuous training helps the members to build stamina and their performance vocabulary,” Marino said.

“There are some movements and choreography that are much more difficult on a football field (wind, rain, etc. as obstacles) that we can do in a gym. Tossing a flag, for example, is significantly easier inside than out.  So, this allows us to try new or different choreography to strengthen the program.”

Practice space and time is always a challenge at Mahomet-Seymour High School. 

“We have to have a gym floor to practice on, and in Mahomet, that is hard to come by,” Marino said. “Thankfully, Middletown Prairie was available for us one night a week for a three-hour practice.”

With team members in multiple activities, the Bulldogs added practices as needed. 

“We did what we needed to do to be performance ready,” she said.

With what started in 2018 as a way to enhance the Mahomet-Seymour Marching Band performances, led to the Bulldogs becoming IDTA State Champions.

Aside from the practices, both as a team and individually for seven months throughout the year, Marino said that the camaraderie on the team and the leadership of the captains added something special to the program.

This year’s captains, Lexi Watkins, Lexie Mohr, Cora Walker, and Cayla Emmerd took over where and when needed. 

“It’s not always easy, but they did an excellent job stepping into the roles as senior leaders,” Marino said. “We also have many other students in the guard that step up to help when needed.  

“With such a large group, there were times that I needed to work only with a small group.  Anyone I asked to run a different part with their guard families or a small group, they don’t hesitate to do it.”

“The laughter, tears, excitement, frustration, feelings of accomplishment and success are all things they learn to handle during the season.  Not only do we build on performance quality throughout the winter, but they learn how to overcome obstacles.”

The group’s “All for one and one for all mentality” put aside self and cliques for something greater.

“This team truly comes together to support each other and achieve their goals,” she said.

Team Members:   Brynlee Allison, Kaylee Allison, Emma Beddow, Audrey Boateng, Finn Bullok, Missy Corray, Rachael Corson, Tim Cubberley, Sophie Deck, Alexa Dhom, Cayla Emmerd, Mallory Fonte, Rissa Habaradas, Boston Hart, Ella Herriott, Kaleigh Kirby, Abigail Loewenstein, Lexie Mohr, CC Parrott, Emma Schwaiger, Kennedy Sexton, Cora Walker, Lexi Watkins, Amanda Williams