WGI World Championships

We are home from our exciting week in Dayton for WGI World Championships!
We are the 2008 Ind A Bronze Medalist!

Here are just a few of my thoughts about our week in Dayton:

First place in equipment and vocabulary! Hello?
WGI reviews that liked our modish, yet classic design.
Sara, Heath, and Drew, are genius’ and I know genius when I see it.
Ah hah to the Doubting Thomas’.
Holla to Sara and Heath, the grannie marching members! You guys saved the day!
I learned a new word….poostie. I hope its not a dirty word.
I will be getting a tattoo. Oh boy. Be careful what you wish for.
Panera Bread needs to come to Memphis.
Karma helmets are great on rainy days.
Bad behavior is a choice, and a true reflection of an individual’s character, regardless of age.
Mount Carmel – Favorite show of the weekend
Carmel – Second Favorite show of the weekend
Pride of Cincinatti – Gorgeous
Regiment - Spectacular Visual Design – should have placed higher
World Class Finals – Greatest Show on Earth
Mia Michaels – I was starstruck.
Being bumped is AWESOME!
I love ties, but not in drum corps.
I love Michael James.
Hotels should put enough towels in a room for the number of guests on the reservation!
Boo for bad directions around Dayton!
Our floor weighs 2000 pounds.
The UD Arena tunnel is just WRONG!
Yay for Nutter Center turning the performance to the side! No Lights!!!
Old ladies should get more than four hours of sleep.
Security Guard at UD Arena needs a happy pill.
Red Lobster Shrimp Feast – YUM.
Olive Garden Guard Lunch was WONDERFUL!
I love my Capella Star from J & J. I heart you.
Magda, you need to get your act together.

In any competitive activity, there are occasions, when the pressures of competition, can test the character in all of us. I would like to share my story, of sportsmanship, at its finest.

When checking in for our semifinals performance at the Nutter Center, we were pleased to see our friends from The Mark of NSA. They were performing right before us. It was their words of encouragement that helped our performers feel at home, and eased their pre-performance jitters. Thank you, Mark and congratulations on your finals performance. You are a credit to the SCGC and we love you!

We were elated to be named an Ind A finalist, and entered the UD Arena, with great anticipation, and excitement. My husband and I took the floor to the ready area at the arena, not knowing what to expect, as we had never been in the backstage area before. We do not have a floor crew, other than our 14 members and 5 staff. As we looked down the tunnel, into what I can only describe as, the scariest thing I have ever seen, we looked at each other, without saying a word, and took in a long deep breath. I thought to myself, how embarrassed my members would be, to see me roll down the hill, and land in a heap, at the bottom. I frantically scanned the area for the freight elevator, as the sweat beads began to form on my upper lip.

We were fortunate enough to be lined up behind Northgate Independent, who had parents there, ready to wrangle their floor, down the steep hill. Upon seeing our dilemma, the Dad’s promised that they would come back to our rescue, once their floor made it down to the first level. They returned just in time, to help us with the daunting task. We were safe…so I thought.

There are two levels to this thrill ride. Once you get to the first level, the guard stops and waits for their turn to proceed. The ramp then makes a steep curve, and descends deeper to the performance floor below. When it came time for this next move, to our relief, one of the Dad’s had returned to our rescue, and helped us get down to floor level, in time for our unit to enter for its performance. Because of his selfless act, he watched his daughter’s Finals performance with Northgate, from the wings, with us, their competitor.

As if this act of kindness was not enough, the Northgate guard members appeared from backstage, after our finals performance was completed, to help snake our 350 pound monster, back up the tunnel. They knew that our members and staff would, literally, have an uphill battle ahead of us.

Looking back on the week, and all that we accomplished, I must say that my fondest memory, will always be, The Mark of NSA, Ginger Armstrong and Northgate Independent, their parents and staff, who came to our aid, when it would have been easier for them, to look the other way.

Thank you, Northgate and Mark. You are the true champions.