Cherokee Schools Students Excel at National and Regional Winter Guard Competitions

Cherokee County School District winter guard teams have earned awards in a regional competition, and one team recently exceled in a national championship, the district announced.

The Creekview High School varsity winter guard recently competed at the WGI World Championships and advanced to the top 20 championships finals — a first for the program and a first for any CCSD winter guard team.

Team members are Madison Auces, Izzy Azaroff, Liam Bailey, Jordan Blodgett, Sophia Castro, Jenny Christopher, Cate Harmon, Maggie Jenkins, Annabel Johnston, Layla McLaughlin, Georgia Meldrum, Rylie Newbold, Katie Nicholas, Makayla Teele and Christian Viviers. The coach is Cyndi Church.

CCSD teams swept first and second place in the Southern Association for Performance Arts Championships recently held in Chattanooga, with five CCSD teams ranking in the top 10.

In the Novice Class, the River Ridge High School team earned first place in round one. Team members are Madelyn Blair, Onyx Johnson, Heidi Juarez, Sarah Love, Allison Overacre, Madelyn Peel, Riley Perkins, Cassidy Reece, Rebecca Seltzer and Hannah Steinbrenner. The coaches are Alex Lammens, Sierra Ray and Michael Riley.

The Creekview High School junior varsity team earned first place in the second in the Novice Class. Team members are Iara Baltazar, Mackensey Candelerio, Katya Delgado, Rebekah Lathem, Elena Marerro, Amelia North, Ava Obemeier, Catherine Parry, Jessy Pitcher, London Sessions, Rosalina Sykes, Ansleigh Tomlin, Brandi Torres and Charly Trent. The coaches are Madison Church and Megan Halverson.

For Scholastic National Class, the Creekview High School varsity team earned second place.

The Woodstock High School team earned second for Scholastic Regional A Class. Team members are Yohally Azuara, Cheyenne Buffkin, Elley Cross, Elsie Hallman, Jaclyn Hodge, Ivy Lamar, Oliver Landis, Alyssa Pope, Maddy Reecer, Charleigh Rowland, Madelyn Singletary, MacKenzie Winn, Abbi Witcher and Zid Spiker. The coaches are Shelby Crane, Mary Dru McCoy and Olivia Payne.

Teams earning top 10 placements are Cherokee High School (Scholastic A Class Round One), Etowah High School (Cadet Class and Scholastic A Class Round Two), Sequoyah High School (Scholastic A Class Round Two) and Woodstock High School (Scholastic A Class Round Three).