The University of New Haven Winter Guard has seen significant support from the university over the past year, which has helped the team begin their competitive season on the right foot.
Last spring, the winter guard – a competitive performance group that includes handling equipment such as six-foot flags – faced several challenges, including finding an appropriate rehearsal area. The team often rehearsed in the University Hall basement, which has low ceilings and support beams throughout the space.
“We didn’t have proper floor space, which made it hard to practice staging,” said sophomore returning member Mackenzie Marquardt.
The floor – known as a “tarp” – is critical for “positioning and formations based on the show’s theme,” said Marquardt. “With all the poles in the basement in the way, we couldn’t use it and without it, we couldn’t do proper staging.”
Katelynn Hyde, the guard director, took over the program in the fall of 2022 and has been pushing to improve the program.
“Initial challenges were the culture changes that come with new leadership of a program,” Hyde said. “Working together as staff and students and figuring out what we wanted our identity and style to be – both in performance and in a team environment. It took some time to build relationships with university staff and communicate the needs of our niche activity.”
Despite the previous season’s adjustment and challenges, Marquardt said the team’s spirit remained strong and they earned first place in their local competitive circuit, the Musical Arts Conference Championships in April 2024.
“Competitions are a favorite, and even despite our struggles, other teams respected us and held us in high regard,” Marquardt said. “It was a proud feeling to be part of such an established team and showcase all the hard work we put in throughout the season.”
This year, the team has seen a considerable shift in pre-season preparation. After working with the university’s chief facilities officer, Louis Annino Jr., the Winter Guard now has consistent access to the Beckerman Recreation Center for two practices a week. The space allows the team to unfold their floor – a large, custom-printed mat – and practice without the threat of hitting the ceiling or a support beam with their equipment.
Annino’s position was critical in securing the practice space. In an interview with the Charger Bulletin, he said, “The space needed for this program does not currently exist within our academic spaces. This ‘gap’ has now been identified and is being worked upon to see if the space needed for Winter Guard can be made available. This remains a work in progress.”
Hyde also said there was a correlation between this season’s improvements and the practice space.
“Because of our limited space and resources last season, our show concept never got to be rehearsed to its max, we never got to see its true value,” she said. “We were constantly in survival mode, just making sure we had something to perform each weekend.
“We are really upping our production quality this year by purchasing a new tarp, working with world class designers, and pushing our training regimen to teach students new skills,” said Hyde.
“I was really excited to have a proper rehearsal space, I think we all were,” Marquardt said. “Everyone is more excited to practice in a space that meets our needs. It’s motivating, and we’re able to focus on learning and improving without being frustrated by our environment.”
The team’s season starts Feb. 22 in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, at the Mid-Atlantic Indoor Network (MAIN) circuit.
Check out the University of New Haven Winter Guard performing their 2025 program at their first Connecticut show, “What Lies on the 13th Floor,” at 8:40 p.m. on March 1 at West Hill High School.
