Lambert’s Color Guard has finished their 2025 fall season, providing visuals for the Lambert marching band and adding flare to every halftime performance. Students have showcased their hard work, dedication and teamwork throughout the fall season and continue to push themselves creatively and physically. Their passion for performance goes beyond the field, reflecting countless hours of practice and collaboration. As the Guard looks ahead to the winter season, they remain committed to elevating their routines and inspiring others to join the sport of the arts.
The Color Guard brings creative choreography to the football field for a halftime performance during home games. While the marching band is playing their instruments, students combine tossing flags and rifles with dance to visually interpret the music.
Sophomore Lizzie Damala joined the team as a freshman and plans on continuing through her senior year. Damala was involved in band throughout middle school, but as she transitioned into high school, she found her place at Color Guard.
“I definitely grew as a person and my relationships with my friends,” Damala said. “I got stronger, on the team and even in school; my grades got better, I was on my phone less and I felt better about myself because of the positive community I was surrounded by.”
During practices, the team moves with a level of teamwork and trust that seems almost unspoken — passing equipment mid-routine, catching each other’s mistakes with quick encouragement and celebrating even the smallest victories. It’s a community built on dedication, shared effort and a love for the same passion.
“They are my best friends,” Damala explained. “Our coaches treat us like we are their own children and they make us feel so loved. We always have someone to talk to, whether it’s a teammate or a coach.”
The deep bond and feeling of security among the members was essential to the success and resilience of the team. The commitment of the Guard is critical to overcome difficult and unpredictable challenges throughout the season.
One of the most challenging parts of the Color Guard’s season was the weather. Constant wind and sudden storms made it difficult to perform outside. Strong winds threw off the flag tosses and rain made the ground slippery for dancing. However, the Guard persevered to put on a strong and unified performance.
Sophomore Chloe Truong made her debut on Color Guard this year and has been able to express her creativity and compassion in every performance. Truong was involved in dance prior to her involvement in Color Guard, which sparked her interest to further that passion in high school.
“I have learned that I can put myself on a higher standard,” Truong said. “ Even when I find small things to improve through my personal performance, I can also be proud of what I have just accomplished.”
Ultimately, the emphasis on personal growth and self-efficiency fuels the team’s drive to succeed in high stakes environments. When every member is pushing their individual limits, the Color Guard is able to achieve its full potential in major competitions.
One of Color Guard’s proudest achievements this fall was earning first place at the Bands of America competition. After advancing through the final round and delivering a polished, high-energy routine, the team’s hard work and dedication paid off. The victory not only proved their technical skill and teamwork, but also strengthened their confidence for future competitions.
“Representing Lambert through this extracurricular and competitions, you think very highly of yourself,” Truong explained. “I’m able to represent Lambert at these different schools and competitions where we get to showcase all of our talent.”
Overall, Color Guard is more than just an extracurricular activity to the students — it provides a space to grow, connect and discover what they are capable of. Through tough practices, challenging routines and memorable performances, members learn the value of dedication and teamwork. Whether they are competing on the field or supporting one another behind the scenes, Color Guard continues to foster a community built on passion, pride and lasting relationships.
