Winter Guard at SRU presents ‘Sailing’ March 17

March 4, 2016

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Members of the Winter Guard at Slippery Rock University will spin flags, rifles and sabers when the student organization presents "Sailing" at 12:30 p.m., March 17, in Morrow Field House.

The guard, which includes 25 members, aims to take the audience on a "nautical journey," said Samantha Passarello, an information technology major from North Huntingdon and Winter Guard president.

Students will perform to a soundtrack of the song "Sailing" by Christopher Cross. Members will dance as they spin three nautical flags - blue to symbolize waves, blue and tan to represent the beach and a third with sailboats. The group will wear blue costumes, dance on a blue mat and use life preservers as props.

   PASSARELLO

The Winter Guard is in its fourth year as a Student Government Association recognized student organization. Although the group is different from the Marching Pride Color Guard, Passarello said, many Winter Guard members perform with the Color Guard in the fall.

"We are pretty much the indoor version of the Color Guard. However, we spin to our own soundtrack," she said.

Passarello said the group has competed in local and national competitions, including Winter Guard International. It has won several "First in Class" ratings. The guard will complete in championships March 19 at California University of Pennsylvania.

Passarello, who said she has been involved in flag squads since 7th grade, said SRU's Winter Guard has grown from 19 to 25 members in four years. Forty students tried out for the group last fall.

"We are always supporting each other during practice and outside of practice," she said. "We really have become a family."

MEDIA CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine | 724.738.4854 | gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu