S-E winterguard works toward world-class competition

SHERBURNE – The Sherburne-Earlville winter guard has reason to celebrate this year. With the promotion of the senior guard into a higher class – the SA2 – new opportunities are opening up for the senior group’s 10 marching members, and the eight members of the junior guard will have something to aspire to.

“This promotion entitles us to compete on a broader scale,” said winter guard coach Becky Jantzen. “We’re taking the opportunity to go to Dayton, Ohio for the Winter Guard International (WGI) World Championship.” According to Jantzen, this will be the first time Sherburne has been represented at the event since 1986.

The WGI World Championship will be held from April 12-14. “It’s like the Olympics of winter guard,” Jantzen said. Groups from all over the United States and Canada attend, and in the past, there have even been groups from overseas. One hundred and twenty-five groups will be competing in the SA2 class.

In order to compete, the group will first have to attend a regional competition. Since there are none taking place in New York this year, the group will have to travel to South New Brunswick, N.J. for the Feb. 24 show. The winter guard has already raised enough money to attend the regional competition. “Now we’re trying to raise money through donations,” Jantzen said.