Kiski Area color guard performs locally after international contest in Ohio canceled

The Kiski Area High School color guard performed at Kiski Upper Elementary School on Wednesday night after an intercontinental contest was canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

School district parents and friends showed their support of the youths, who were scheduled to compete in the WGI Sport of the Arts World Championships in Dayton, Ohio next month.

Organizers announced Wednesday that the event for color guard, percussion and winds was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 16,000 participants from 41 states and five countries were to travel there for the competition.

WGI officials posted their announcement on the website, wgi.org.

“The students and staff are understandably disappointed, but we support WGI’s decision to keep the community as healthy as possible,” said Brady Sanders, choreographer, designer and educational staffer at Kiski Area. “The students understand that every performance is a special opportunity, and they don’t take it for granted.”

There are 29 students in Kiski Area’s Regional A color guard and 18 in the school’s first scholastic color guard.

Sanders said the latter group is an historic accomplishment for the school, and missing the Ohio contest should not diminish that feat.

“It’s a really special experience, WGI, and it’s a coming together of a lot of like-minded students and performers,” he said. “It’s definitely heartbreaking to not have that this year.

“But I do think they understand that not having that experience doesn’t take away from all that they accomplished this year and all the growth that they’ve had this season.”

Kiski Area’s color guard is still schedule to perform at Hempfield High School on Saturday with other student groups. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. with the contest set for 4:30.