Haley Holzworth - Essay

Hi my name is Haley Holzworth and I am a member of Inspiring Teens Issue 65. When asked what one thing that I could talk about I answered colorguard. Colorguard has basically been my whole personality since the sixth grade. I got started due to and after school program and heard an announcement about the guard call out. I fell in love with it the moment I picked up my first flag. It all came really easy to me. I’ll never forget my first winter show. It was to the song “All I want for Christmas is you”, by Mariah Carey. We were in these horrid red jumpsuits and spun flags with bright gold silks. We even had to sleep with old lady curlers so all of our hair matched! 
 
The next year I tried out for the JV team. I had looked up to them during my first year and had big dreams of spinning with those kids. I was nervous going into auditions because I was pretty young. That year I was the only seventh grader on the team! This season is actually how I met two of my closest friends; Lilly and Cat. The three of us were unstoppable. That season I was an opening flag for the show Raise your glass. Yes, it was the Pink song. I played a cheerleader and so did Lilly. That’s how we got so close.

My eighth grade year I sadly do not remember most of. It was a show with all Queen songs. I really just remember a lot of gold being all over the place. Gold costumes, gold eyeshadow, and gold silks.
 
As I went into high school I wanted to do marching band and be on the Varsity team. However, I was recruited to do drum line that year so that all went down the drain. Sophomore year was my time to shine. I was determined and had my mind made up to make the Varsity team, and I did! This was my first season spinning sabre, basically a sword, and I have spun it ever since! It is actually my favorite piece of equipment! 
 
Sophomore year was a big learning experience for me. I had to learn skills I had not been taught before and that is a challenging experience that only a niche group of people would understand. The change in coaching from JV to varsity was for the better but relearning how to do things you thought you were doing perfectly is also hard. As a sophomore I had really strong leadership skills and led the flag line a majority of the time. That winter our show was called Coven. We played witches and it was the sassiest show I had done. It was so cool to be a part of. That team was more like a family. That winter I had a really awesome flag solo. It made me feel like I could do anything!

Now as a junior I have spun two marching shows and five winter seasons. Fun fact, this year's winter show was about Bigfoot! When thinking about how our coach was going to one up the witch show, Bigfoot did not cross my mind. My best friend Lilly actually played the Bigfoot character. It was really awesome being able to see her take on that responsibility!

My journey in colorguard has been a long one and I hope to continue it after high scool. Whether it be coaching or drum crop my love for spinning will go on forever.

Photography by Rusty Holzworth

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