Rancho Cucamonga High School Colorguard, the program that has created vivid stories through its performances, started its winter season, and that comes with a major event that occurs every year: their winter show.

With new members joining the team, it brought something fresh to the performances they have worked so hard for, such as their appearance at the Pink Out game, which showcased their skills to RCHS students. At the performance, students in the stands were excited to watch their performance. 

In 2024, the team placed first in a competition under the Winter Guard Association of Southern California, with an outstanding performance at the Inland Empire Signature Show at Eitwanda High School. 

Senior guard member Journi Franklin shared her past experiences, elaborating that the guard members were chosen to be in the program through auditions. She was confident that all auditioning members would make it onto the winter competition team. She also shared that the team has started using different methods to polish their skills in preparation for their performances, and how they focus on specific skills to make sure they are ready for their winter show and competitions. 

“We usually have practices, and if we don’t have practices, we have sectionals like sub-practices outside of actual practice, and the sectionals are usually like an hour to two hours, and practices are usually four hours, or we do a sixth-period class when we work on our technique,” said Franklin. “Sometimes we just dance, so sometimes we will just focus on that in sixth period or rifle, or we do saber, different things.”  

Looking back at their past performances, such as their appearance at the 2025 Pink Out game, many students saw that they had been putting in the work to make their performance the best it could be. 

According to posts on their Instagram page, the guard will be performing “With Every Raindrop” for their winter production, and they linked a video from their varsity team performing the choreography on March 8, 2025. 

The guard puts in the work during after-school practices on Tuesdays to prepare for their winter show and the different competitions they will be heading to this season. RCHS Dance Coach Ms. Larina Vessup noticed their efforts when passing by one of these practices. 

“I think that they are a great group; they work really hard, and they listen to their captains,” Vessup said.  

Senior head varsity team captain Teanna Martens revealed that students don’t need prior skills to join a specific team, and that students interested could approach the program for more information about trying out. 

“Students who are interested in joining color guard can find more information about trying out through our Instagram or by getting in touch with the band director/captains,” Martens said. “No prior skill is needed to join, as we will teach you everything there is to know.” 

Franklin and Martens also elaborated on how getting to know one another helped the team’s performance in their past years in the program. The team hosts team-building events throughout the year to allow members of the guard to get to know each other.

“I think it helps to bond with your teammates because you know who you’re performing with,” Franklin said. “If I didn’t know the people who

I was performing with, I would be more nervous to perform and go full out, but since I know them and they are kinda like my best friends, I feel more comfortable to go full out and to perform to my greatest ability.”

The impact from these performances has wowed many RCHS students, such as junior Anne Drew Abanilla, who expanded on her impression of the guard and what she has seen from members of the guard that she knows personally. 

“My impression of them is that they’re very dedicated people and work hard,” Abanilla said. “I don’t usually attend any performances, but I’m enthusiastic they’ll do well in their competitions and whatnot. Some friends I have are in color guard, so I’m sure their personalities will translate into the good work they put into the sport.” 

With the bar raised from past productions, members of the guard are excited to showcase their production of “With Every Raindrop” later this year.