Newtown Winter Guard Squads Host 33-Team Extravaganza

Newtown’s three Winter Color Guards hosted the 12th Annual Winter Guard Extravaganza at Newtown High School this past Saturday. Newtown’s guards performed but did not compete because they were hosting 33 guards from Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.

Newtown Junior Winter Guard (2008 MAC Championship silver medalists) consists of 17 members (two fifth graders and 15 sixth graders). The band director is Kurt Eckhardt and staff members are Bob Findley, Nicole Scalora and Sarah Smith. Captains are Maddy Hintzen, Aly Montague and Kelsea Morshuk. The Other guard Members are Portia  Baudisch, Sarah Braga, Kenzie Casey, Courtney Datin, Camryn Gaudett, Kayleigh Granville, Caitlin Jones, Molly LaPak, Cara Milhaven, Bridget O’Donnell, Becky Romano, Hannah Schwartz, Emily Sippin and Kelly Skewis.

The Newtown Middle School Guard (MAC Champions in 2006 and ’07) consists of eight members (six eighth graders and two seventh graders). Band Director is Eckhardt. The staff includes Findley, Janos Pergely, Carra Buckley, Lauren Hanulik and Melissa Tolson. Captains are Cherokee Belval and Victoria Hanulik. The other guard members are Gabrielle Amlicke, Caitlin FitzGerald, Brandon Ghent, Grace Hubbard, Olivia Avery and Paige Thanasoulis.

The Newtown Scholastic National A / Varsity squad (MAC Champions each of the past five years and semifinalists in the 2008 Winter Guard International World Championships) consists of 15 performers (two seniors, one junior, 10 sophomores, one freshman and one eighth grader). Band Director is Eckhardt. The staff includes Findley, Pergely and Michele Liscio. Captains are Nicole Scalora and Sarah Smith. Other guard members are Leigh Snellback, Jenna Kakadeles, Amanda Kovatch, Victoria Braga, Melissa Charles, Olivia DeWald, Samantha Mancini, Marissa Metcalf, Molly Ritter, Alyssa Wade, Sarah Walton, Sara Hetzer and Brianna Bauch.