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Gastonia, NC (WNN) - On Monday evening, March 30, 2026, area winter guard teams gathered at Stuart W. Cramer High School to perform their routines in their only local competition. The Gaston County community showcase is the brainchild of Stuart Cramer's guard director, Chloe Kaylor. Winter guard teams have mostly flown under the radar locally, and this is an opportunity to educate the community about what winter guard is all about. One of the goals is to pique interest and present the productions to those not familiar with the teams, which combine drama, production, music, and dance to interpret a story during their presentations. Co-director of Cherryville's Iron Guard, Megan Wright, stated, "It gives our students a chance to perform locally and highlight the hard work students across Gaston County have put in throughout the season."
Winter guard, although it has similarities to color guard during marching band season, goes much further in performance and presentation. It is an indoor performing arts and interpretation sport. Usually, the guard will perform a 3–5-minute choreographed dance routine to recorded music, visually interpreting the music or lyrics. This is a competitive sport held indoors on specialized tarps or floor coverings that allow for more heavily choreographed moments. Like color guard teams, flags, rifles, and sabers are often used. The main emphasis, aside from technical skill and precision, is artistic storytelling.
This was the inaugural season for Cherryville's winter guard team, known as Iron Guard. The team consists of students from John Chavis Middle School in Cherryville, Bessemer City High School, and Cherryville High School. As a first-year team, they were free from past comparisons and traditions. This freedom allowed them to be more creative and build from the ground up. The biggest decision was choosing a song to interpret that would wow judges and audiences.
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The song chosen was "Wildflower" by Billie Eilish. It turned out to be a very good choice. The song is a haunting folk-pop that weaves a melancholy tale of a girl who comforts her friend after a breakup, only to start dating the same person. Throughout the saga, the narrator is dealing with an overwhelming sense of guilt, anxiety, and feelings of betrayal. She knows her new partner is truly in love with her, yet she can't get her ex-partner out of her mind. She sees her everywhere and is haunted by what she feels is a breach of the girl code: dating her friend's ex. The narrator sings about the complexity of all these feelings. The subject and feel of the song are dark enough to allow for many opportunities for deep interpretation and dramatic presentation throughout the performance. Iron Guard took advantage of the situation and brought this saga to life.
The focus of this inaugural season was on growth rather than awards, placements, or trophies. No one knew exactly what to expect as the season began; there were many unknowns. Working together and growing as individuals and a team to overcome obstacles was a priority. Venturing into the unknown with a blank page to write their own story, 16 students and their directors took on the challenge. The season was a success, not only in competition results, but also in growth. Throughout the season, they earned 6th place at 3 competitions. At the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association Championships, they placed 9th while competing against schools with many years of experience. Co-director Megan Wright was asked about her feelings regarding the experience.
"My experience working with the guard has been very rewarding. The students on the team are dedicated, hardworking, and always striving to improve. It has been incredible watching my group, the Cherryville Iron Guard, which is made up of middle school students from John Chavis, students from Cherryville High, and Bessemer City High, grow in their skills, confidence, and teamwork." - Megan Wright, Co-director
The showcase is relatively new in Gaston County, with only a few teams in recent years. Primarily, it is held to create interest while giving the groups a chance to perform closer to home for friends and family. The event began with the Cherryville Iron Guard performing "Wildflower". Forestview went next. They perform as the Jaguar Winter Guard. Stuart Cramer's JV (non-competitive team) performed for the first time in front of an audience. Their competitive team, in their second year, performed to music with an 1980s-style workout theme. To close out the season, they held their annual "dance party". Cherryville senior and co-captain, McKenzie Lago, was asked about her feelings on her first and last season coming to an end.
To close out the season, they held their annual "dance party". Cherryville senior and co-captain, McKenzie Lago, was asked about her feelings on her first and last season coming to an end.
"That inspired me to do my absolute hardest, especially with the deep meaning of the song in general. It's meant so much to me that I don't think words can put it in perspective." - McKenzie Lago, CHS Senior and Co-Captain
Captains of the team are McKenzie Lago and Kayla Mull. Gracie Ellis is a lieutenant. Directors are Megan Wright and Gabbie Wall. Tech is Tabiha Alysworth. Members are Neveah Wright, Ariana Nix, Amerise Mathis, Sophia Atilano, Micaela Burgueno, Zoey Glasgow, Zoey Gonzalez, Lauren Bell, Kynndal McKinney, Kylie Kos, Isabella Berryann, Madison Patterson, Natalie Salgado, and Ariah Partlow. Megan Wright offered her closing thoughts on what she hopes spectators will take away from the performances.
"I hope that spectators walk away with a better idea of how much effort and passion these students have for their performances. Each show represents months of hard work, and I hope the audience can connect with that and feel proud of these Gaston County students." - Megan Wright, Co-director
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