~ Dayton Daily News Article Dated April 5, 2004 ~

MIAMISBURG, OH | Dancers dressed in glittery red and gold zipped through the halls of Miamisburg High School on Sunday afternoon, with looks of sheer determination on their faces.

Perfectly synchronized, the girls ran through short dance combinations in pairs, breaking into smiles at the end of their turns.

The dance drills were just part of Miamisburg High School Winter Guard's pre-competition ritual.

With more than an hour to go before they took the stage, Jim Olson, the group's director, said the drills helped them prepare both physically and mentally for the Mid-East Performance Association championship held April 3-4 at Miamisburg High School.

The fast-paced drills led to a first-place finish for Miamisburg on Sunday evening in the association's Scholarship World Color Guard division championships.

Centerville High School, the only other school with a top-division team, took second place.

"This was their best run by far," Olson said.

Sunday's competition featured more than 100 color guard and line percussion teams from across the state.

Color guard teams perform choreographed routines in which dancers send flags, plastic rifles and fake swords spinning high into the air.

The catches can take time to perfect, said Anastasia Smith, a member of Central Crossing High School's color guard.

Her team finished fourth in the National Scholastic A division.

One of their lead team members became sick during the performance and walked off the floor, Smith said, and the team didn't make all of its catches.

Tiana Brothers said, despite the problems, she was pleased her team made it to the finals, even if the performance wasn't perfect.

This month, Miamisburg and Centerville will compete for the world title in Winter Guard International's championship in San Diego.

Miamisburg's team consistently ranks in the top five, Olson said, and has won the world title three times. Centerville qualified for the organization's Scholastic World category this year, after a first-place finish in the Scholastic Open division last year.

Other winners on Sunday included:

• Bellbrook High School in the Scholastic Open division.
• New Philadelphia High School in the National Scholastic A division.
• Maumee High School in the Scholastic A division.
• Northmont Junior High School in the Junior Color Guard division.
• Miamisburg Junior High School in the Junior Flag Line division.

Contact Shannon Joyce Neal at 225-2436.
Dayton Daily News