By Cindy Kee
mail@floridanewsline.com

More than 14,000 students, 40 states and four countries were represented at the WGI (World Guard International) competition held April 13 – 15 in Dayton, Ohio, and Bartram Trail High School Winterguard placed 10th in the Scholastic A Division. They were the only team (of the more than 120 teams competing in this class) from Florida to make it to the finals in Scholastic A.

Their program, entitled “Lights Will Guide You” was set to a rendition of “Fix You.” The program began with a performer being carried over her teammates and lifted onto the floor. Utilizing just one piece of equipment at a time, the program showcased the ensembles’ ability to confidently command their choreography. The program also included full ensemble sabre and rifle with a flag feature to conclude the show, as the performers finished looking into the light, towards home.

Bartram Trail Winterguard earned first place at every local competition this season, were WGI regional champions in Palm Beach, and gold medalists in the Florida division for Scholastic A Class. They are the first Winterguard team in Bartram Trail High School history to place in the top 10 and only the second team in the school’s history to make it to finals (first was in 2007) at WGI Championships. 

The  program is under the direction of Rick Krystofiak, who has been with Bartram Trail Guard for more than 10 years. 

Creekside High School competed in the preliminary round, but did not advance to semifinals; however, they did earn a level 1 superior rating and improved their overall ranking in the WGI circuit. This was Creekside’s first ever trip to this competition. Both Bartram and Creekside were given a police escort by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, April 11 when they departed for the competition. 

Photo courtesy Cindy Kee 
The Bartram Trail High School Winterguard team performed “Lights Will Guide You” at the WGI competition in April.

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