Kiski Area winter guard team captures gold medal at world championships

A Kiski Area School District color guard team struck gold during a recent international competition last weekend in Ohio.

The 18-member Kiski Area Scholastic Open Winter Guard made history, winning a gold medal in the 2022 WGI (Winter Guard International) World Championships.

“We could not be more proud of the incredible students and staff that have worked so hard this season,” Kiski Area band director Shawn Pityk said. “This is the first time we’ve had a winter guard medal at the WGI Worlds event, let alone take home the gold medal.”

The three-day competition was Thursday through Saturday in Dayton.

Kiski Area School District has four winter guards representing grades K-12. The district also has three competitive groups: Kiski Area Scholastic Open Winter Guard, Winter Guard and Regional A Winter Guard. It also has an elementary winter guard.

Winter guard is the sport of indoor color guard, which combines flags, mock rifles, sabers and more, choreographed with dance and other interpretive movements.

WGI Sport of the Arts is the world’s leading nonprofit youth organization producing indoor color guard, percussion and winds competitions.

Senior Maycee Auden described the competition as an experience “like no other” and said the energy from her teammates made her feel “on top of the world.”

“I found myself reflecting on my 10 years with this program and looking at the incredible people I was about to take the floor with one last time,” Auden said. “I was overwhelmed with pride.”

Kiski Area color guard began more than 20 years ago. This was Kiski’s third year competing in the Scholastic Open class.

Kiski color guard program director Brady Sanders said the competition provided a life-changing experience for the students.

“They put in countless hours of rehearsal and training in preparation to perform under pressure at the highest level,” Sanders said. “That kind of work ethic, determination, teamwork and learned self-confidence will carry them far beyond the activity of color guard and their time here in the Kiski program. Being recognized not only on a national, but international stage is a very exciting moment in Kiski history.”

Sanders said the team practices at least three times weekly.

A total of 275 groups participated in person in the WGI World Championships after a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic.

Junior Abigail Mortensen said she was initially nervous at the thought of competing during finals but her confidence kicked in.

“I took a moment out of my warmup to look around at my other teammates to remind myself that I’m not alone and we’re all in this together,” Mortensen said.

The team scored a winning 96.75 in finals, after garnering the highest score during a preliminary performance on the opening day.

Kiski Area High School principal Chad Roland praised the team’s dedication and said he was proud of the hard work by the team members.

“I don’t think people realize how hard this team works year-round to continue to be a premier unit. Their commitment to excellence and willingness to always strive to be the best is amazing. The entire organization is first-class. The students, coaches and parents support each other and represent a model for which all of our programs should operate,” Roland said.

Junior McKenzie Kuth said competing, and winning, was an experience she will never forget.

“No words can truly describe what my experience at Worlds was like,” Kuth said. “It’s an experience that can’t be replicated.”