Creston Color Guard is ‘Judges’ Choice at state

Creston Color Guard’s performance Thursday at the annual Iowa State Drill and Dance Team Association state competition was nothing short of amazing, said Creston’s coach Lisa Peters.

“We had an absolutely incredible day,” she said.

The Panthers’ guard performed a routine to a remake of “Hit the Road Jack” by 2wei. Peters said the show was put together in a month.

“We added a lot of new elements this year,” said Peters. “We had a great response from the crowd, especially once the rifles appeared.”

Peters said the crowd gave Creston a standing ovation.

“Lots of good compliments. Even the announcer who was sitting right beside me on my left was just cheering and yelling, ‘Yes! Way to go. Yes! That’s how it’s done!’” she said.

Creston earned a Division I rating and placed first in its Color Guard Class II, first in Lights Class II, seventh in contemporary and third in co-ed classes, but that was not all. Creston also received the Judges’ Choice Award.

“That is huge because we’re talking well over 250 routines,” Peters said.

Peters said her guard members were proud with their performance at state, as she is, as well.

“I was just absolutely amazed by what they did,” she said.

Peters said the team’s ability to rehearse was especially challenging, having to work around basketball and wrestling.

“We practice as much as we can get a floor,” she said. “That’s our biggest problem. One reason we are pushing to get a new fine arts and gym facilities is because we don’t have practice space. We had practices early in the morning starting at 6:30 and we had practices late at night.”

Soloists

For the third year in a row, a Creston Color Guard soloist was crowned the winner in Class II – junior Saige Johnston.

“Last year we had Bridget Hopkins and the year before that it was Mackenzie Bodell, so this is pretty cool that this is a three-peat for us,” Peters said.

Johnston’s solo will be shown during a winners’ showcase Jan. 29 and as a winner, she has been tasked with awarding state competitors in 2022.

Creston took four of the six medals in its class. Other Panthers who placed include Ami Patel, second; Trinity Woody, fourth, and Bridget Hopkins, fifth.

Beyond Limits

A new solo exhibition category called “Beyond Limits” debuted this year at the ISDTA state competition.

According to the ISDTA, “Beyond Limits” is a category for dancers with disabilities. Creston’s Geo McGinnis was one of the event’s solo medalists.

“He was so tickled. He was so excited,” Peters said. “The next day he brought that trophy to school and couldn’t wait to show his teachers and classmates.”

Peters said she doesn’t think the ISDTA understands how much the opportunity means to some kids.

“It was really a cool, new thing ISDTA started. I thanked them in an email Friday that they have no idea how much that meant to those kids to be able to perform and be a part of that day, as well,” she said.