The 2004 Mount Markham Mustangs
"Bring Me To Life" the Music of Evanescence
"Without thought, without a voice, without a soul, don't let me die here...there must be something more"
Program Design by Amy Lombardo, Laura Buchanan, Jenn Drake, Courtney Gigliotti, Stone Cold Inc.
After another very strong finish in local circuit competition the year prior, the Mustangs were facing new issues that the 2003 guard caused themselves in a strange scenario... We graduated 5 out of 10 members in 2003 so....after a fall training program where we had 16 members we found that 7 of those 16 members were problems unto themselves as their academics were suspect and school attendance was even an issue AGAIN!, DEJA VU!?!?!?! thus before Christmas the size of the guard was forced down to 11 performers...the 10th and11th eventually decided to quit as well before January (thankfully as grades were indeed a problem there too even more than the previous year). Our positive additions are in fact alumni who now are on staff with Courtney Gigliotti and Jenn Drake and the addition of Laura Buchanan. Mrs. Willson is having a baby! And Bianca is born in March just before the home show! real costumes for the first time ever, 11 students, 3 of which returning from the year prior seemed like a good solid start. well...seemed like it...but a few members would be determined to not be part of the team.
However, the vets weren't mentoring the new folks at first at all...maybe the current vets didn't understand that they needed to do that because they weren't treated that way in past years? Could be..This season would prove to be the best and the worse that we have seen in our existence all at the same time. How can you explain the value of practicing of being a team to a brand new guard? well...score last in captions and that tends to wake you up quickly...and from the New Hartford show onward the guard grew, and learned and matured and the addition of Laura Buchanan to the staff became the clincher to growth and education as the guard started to actually move better too. Amazing how many guards can come to watch shows, yet not actually compete? hmmmm.
Probably the same kind that parades with medals on at other circuit championship shows too... hmmmmm What about ethics and sportsmanship??? anyway...the mustangs season would have it's ups and downs the pitfalls of 9 students and the struggle to make a real show with only a few (after planning a show for months) over 1/2 of the guard makes honor roll fairly regularly...they start to gel. They became close as any group we would have in Mount Markham. By the Mexico show and February break, another old habit returns...only this time the "I forgot to practice during their mid winter break" problem comes from a veteran and 3 rookies...to that end, the lesson is learned and the next time you wish your score was just a few tenths more, we know what thought will come into your mind...Secret Weapon? what's that?!? And yes...after 3 years of not needing the Secret Weapon, Ms. Drake brought it out of retirement...and it helps..of course.
The 2004 Mustangs told the truth to each other (sometimes after the fact... but still the same the truth reigned supreme)...they spun at home much more as time went on. They grew as a family and as a team. These Mustangs were the first to travel out of state. A trip to Warren PA made it all worth while..placing second to the NECGC undefeated guard and only by a bit made for a great trip with a lot of strange but funny memories (well not all of them funny...actually weird would be a better word...So do you have your shoes Justine? What about the border police and crossing state lines? Do you have your ID? Checkered Flags?? Are you in the same gym as the guard? Where's the video? Britt's Mom knows Cheech and Chong? Ok, that bathroom is really gross...hey the roofs leaking... Then comes the home show...what a night! Nearly 60 students from every school in our communities represented...Our first sister team from Faith Christian schools has one in the Ponies and one in the Colts...the Mustangs performed their best home show to date. Amazingly even at the end of the home show we had to deal with a weird problem..no more as of April 4... The MYCGC's would be an exciting time...cause either "you're good...or your not." and by far the best Mustang guard took the floor that day in E-SM. Ironically the last time the guard was at ESM there was no medal in their finish... but great life lessons learned... that was 2001...now 4 years later the same would occur. Only this time there's an even greater lesson and special award.. to be named recipient to the 1st ever Robert Morse Memorial Award. For the guard who has shown growth educationally, ethically and fundamentally throughout the season. The Mustangs accepted the award with pride, understanding and the realization that his activity is a journey into lessons of life...in yourself and the people around you. Bring Me To Life became not just a show theme, but a clear path of the new and reborn Mustangs colourguard. The alumni support actually grew and went from possibly wanting to see it "fail" to RESPECT and that's always the best compliment in life. What lies ahead for 2005? It could be scary good...if we recruit....
