Color Guard Takes First Place For Fourth Year

With family and friends cheering them on, the Newtown Varsity Color Guard took the floor in the Music and Arts Competition Championship on Saturday, March 31, at Trumbull High School. They walked away from the competition with the first place trophy for the fourth consecutive year. The Color Guard will be attending the World Championship in Dayton, Ohio, from April 11 through 15.

Hundreds of hours of practice prepared the 16 high school students and one eighth-grader who are on the Varsity squad to dominate the competition. The Varsity Guard (Scholastic A Class) has worked tirelessly to achieve first place at all of the weekly competitions and maintain its elite status.

These students, some involved in the program for years, came together in January to kick off the 2007 Winter Guard season. Bob Findley, the group’s choreographer, provided them with the music and the moves. Their coaches, Helen Woods, Cathy Brauer and Alissa Belcher, kept them motivated to excel.

In addition, there are two other Newtown Color Guards at the Middle School level (Scholastic AAA Class) and the Reed School level (Junior Class). The Middle School Guard has taken first place in the majority of the competitions in its class.

The members of the Newtown High School Varsity Color Guard include Captains Amanda Krause and Lauren Hebert, Conor Kovatch, Kristen Fetchick, Carra Buckley, Sam Carlisle, Nicki Haylon, Alyssa Krueger, Jennie Samson, Salena Cabral, Lauren Hanulik, Lauren Johnson, Jenna Kakadeles, Leigh Snellback, Melissa Tolson, Jen Spanedda and Sarah Smith.

The members of the Newtown Middle School Guard, coached by Amanda Krause and Lauren Hebert, are Hannah Eckhardt, Victoria Braga, Marissa Metcalf, Emily Lones, Sara Hetzer, Samantha Mancini, Molly Ritter, Brandon Ghent, Olivia Dewald, Ashley FitzGerald, Captain Abigail Keough, Alyssa Wade, Captain Nicole Scalora, Sarah Sabato, Marie Berarducci, and Melissa Charles.

The members of the Reed School Guard are Gabrielle Anilicke, Kenna Bassett, Brianna Bauch, Cherokee Belval, Marian Blawie, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Charlotte Gray, Ellyn Gordon, Victoria Hanulik, Grace Hubbard, Michelle Spanedda, Paige Thanasoulis, and Morgan Winters.