SPRINGFIELD, MO. - Edwardsville High School’s color guard won its second consecutive championship Saturday, April 4, 2026, at the Mid-Continent Color Guard Association Championships in Springfield, Mo., with its scholastic A team taking the title and the AA team posting its highest score to date.
The competition this past weekend drew nearly 60 groups across two high schools, keeping Edwardsville’s teams moving from warm-ups to performances while supporting one another, according to information provided by the school.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
“It’s a huge accomplishment to have back-to-back championships,” said senior Lily Bowker. “I believe it’s a testament to the hard work and effort over many years…It all paid off…It was our first time in program history scoring over 90. It was a very fulfilling day!”
Senior Leo Ruel described mixed emotions as the season nears its end.
“It was a bittersweet day for me,” Ruel said. “I was ready to show off what our team has been working on, but also a little sad because our season is almost over.”
The Edwardsville scholastic A squad is scheduled to compete next at the Winter Guard International Color Guard World Championships April 9-11, 2026, in Dayton, Ohio. The event includes thousands of students from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands competing for a world championship in their class.
The group also has performed internationally, representing the United States in the 40th annual London New Year’s Parade.
The Edwardsville High School Winter Guard is directed by Brady Eaton. Additional staff includes Zachary Barber, Kate Bender, Cal Laguna, Mack Groh, Helen Tolcoue, Zoe Miller, Jacob Javier, Lex Holland-Albaugh and Eryn Boone.
The Edwardsville High School Band is directed by Ryan Lipscomb, director of bands, and Dean Anderson, associate director of bands. The program includes the Marching Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Pep Band, Color Guard, and Winter Guard.
