ELLISVILLE – The inaugural Winterguard performing group, made up of 13 Jones College students ended the season recently earning the Mississippi Indoor Association Regional A Championships in addition to earning a Silver Medal from the Winter Guard International Gulfport Regional competitions. Jones College Winterguard is a team of 13 Cologuard members from the Maroon Typhoon Marching Band under the direction of the new, JC Colorguard Director, Meredith Owen.
“The team goes through an audition process after we finish the Marching Band season in December,” Owen explained. “I’ve started other Winterguard teams in high school and after the fall here at Jones, I thought there was a possibility Winterguard would work here too. After learning what these ladies were capable of, I knew it would be a great opportunity for them.”
Being fully committed in the fall and buying into Owen’s process proved to be very successful for the new team comprised of students from all three Jones County high schools, Mize in Smith County, and Florence and Northwest Rankin High Schools.
“It was very interesting we came from all different high schools, and you can see that in our different technique and personality but it’s also beautiful to see how that all blended,” shared Jones College freshman, Emma Jackson from Flowood. “You would expect a lot of drama, but we worked through it, and it felt more like a family, than a team. We worked so well together because of the relationships we’ve had with each other; we were honest with each other and didn’t hold back. We were open minded. It was wonderful to see how we molded together this perfect show because we were willing to be vulnerable with each other.”
Sophomore, Sheridan White from Laurel explained the group realized they were something different after the first competition. “After that, it was never a question of are we going to be good, we knew we were good, and it was nice to see the results of our hard work. The fact that we showed up and showed out every single day, made it magical because we earned the scores we really worked hard for.”
The Jones College Winterguard team practices three afternoons a week for two to two-and-a-half hours each session. This past season, Jones College competed five times in total with the number of competitions varying from year to year. The Mississippi Indoor Association (MIA) circuit included competitions at Harrison Central HS, Northwest Rankin HS, Pearl HS, and MIA Championships in Jackson, MS. The Winterguard group also performed the competition performance piece, “Silhouette,” a 3:47 minute performance to Grace Carter’s “Silhouette” in the Winter Guard International (WGI) Gulfport Regional. The JC Colorguard members’ show is about the heartbreak of relationships, developed by Owens and choreographer/designer, Mason Barnes.
“We got to tell our stories without saying words, and put everything we had into it. The performance is about being hurt during a heart break, losing somebody. We pulled from those emotions of heartbrokenness and put it into the show,” explained Ellisville freshman, Charlee Norman. “Next year, I’m looking forward to defending our title and getting to do this again. We do have a bullseye on our back, but we’re going to be more than ready as people begin looking for us next year!”
Competition is part of the program’s focus, however, Owen said there’s more to Winterguard, like camaraderie and fun. Also, as the team prepares to compete at the next level next fall, Owen explains it will be a little more challenging for the group with big rewards. Moving up to the Independent A level, has the JC Winterguard setting their eyes on a visit to the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio.
“On the state level, there were several teams in the Independent A group, and nationally, there are about 50 teams we could face in Ohio if we make it,” Owen said. “We know of nine ladies who will return next year, and I hope they are just as committed as this group because I’m super blessed to have this group. It is an educator’s dream!”
While it’s Owen’s first year at Jones College, she has spent the last nine years as a freelance choreographer, clinician, adjudicator, and program consultant across the Southeast, as well as being a member of the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps in Denver, Colorado and the Louisiana Stars Drum and Bugle Corps in Lafayette, Louisiana. Owen has also been the Colorguard Director at Ridgeland and Petal High Schools in Mississippi and she has served in similar roles in Texas. For more information about the Winterguard program at Jones College contact Meredith Owen by email at, meredith.owen@ymail.com or the Director of Bands, Dr. Ben Burge at ben.burge@jcjc.edu
JC Winterguard 2023 and Hometowns:
Ar’dajah Pierce – Laurel, MS
Arielle Grimaldo – Moselle, MS
Avery Roberts – Florence, MS
Charlee Norman – Ellisville, MS
Dori Saranthus – Mize, MS
Emma Jackson – Flowood, MS
Gabriella Lopez – Ridgeland, MS
Jay’Nia Keyes – Taylorsville, MS
Kaylee Moss – Ellisville, MS
Layken Valentine – Ellisville, MS
Paige Farve – Sandersville, MS
Rebekah Sudduth – Pearl, MS
Sheridan White – Laurel, MS
