By Emma Gonosey
Executive Sports Editor
The Costa band and color guard team placed second in a competition hosted on Feb. 27 where it scored better than it had so far this year with a score of 67 percent. According to junior color guard member Jay Barile, the entire team was extremely happy with the way the competition turned out.
“The last competition we had was actually here at Costa,” Barile said. “There were many divisions, but we were one of two teams in our division. We got second place, and our overall score increased by seven percent.”
Although the different schools competing do not compete in front of one another, judges watched each team perform and compared the scores to decide the winners. Every school has a pre-comp routine that they stick to during each competition.
“Each team has a set block of time they have to set up, perform, and load-out of the gym,” Barile said. “We actually don’t compete for face-to-face. Each team is scored individually, and then their scores are placed according to their division.”
According to Barile, the Mustangs put time and ef- fort into each competition and spend extra time warming up and preparing. While color guard and band practice as one team during the fall, the teams split during the spring, and each team competes individually, according to Barile.
“We spend about 20 minutes at the beginning of each practice to stretch,” Barile said. “We have a dance block after that to practice techniques with basic moves. When we actually get to equipment, we take some time going over basic exercises before we get into learning and reviewing choreography.”
According to Barile, a large portion of the competition is a mental challenge. However, after many competitions, he has developed a working technique in order to stay strong both physically and mentally.
“It helps to get in the mindset that it’s just another performance,” Barile said. “It’s not all that different from what we do during practice; it’s just at a different school. I stay focused by making sure I have good technique in what I’m doing.”
The Mustangs had high hopes going into this competition, according to Barile, and it’s hard work and practice paid off.
“I was confident that we could do well and have a good performance, but of course, there was additional pressure since it is such a privilege to host a competition,” Barile said. “I was a little stressed because we wanted to represent our school well, but being there for a little while helped ease the tension.”
The Mustangs’ next competition will take place tomorrow at Murrieta High School at noon. According to Barile, the Mustangs are expecting to do well.
“As long as we keep working hard, it’s going to be really good,” Barile said. “At this point, we’ ve had experience with performing in front of an audience, so it’s going to be a lot more comfortable, and I’m looking forward to our last performance before the big regional championships we’re hosting in about two weeks!”
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