UCO's Winter Guard Group Eclectix to Compete for Grand National Title

April 1, 2008

The University of Central Oklahoma's winter guard group, Eclectix, has won the Winter Guard International (WGI) regional competition and will advance to the World Championships in Dayton, OH April 10-12.

Eclectix will compete against more than 130 winter guard groups in an effort to be named best in the nation.

"It's hard to believe that in only our second year of competition we have come this far," said David Hanan, UCO's associate director of bands.

"We are now ranked 15th in the nation out of the winter guard groups competing."

Winter guard is an indoor color guard activity. Units perform to music and often incorporate dance, acrobatics and the use of equipment in their presentations. The UCO group, made up of 24 participants, uses flags, rifles and sabers in its performance.

"The musical group, "Blast," is a spin-off of these types of indoor percussion and performing groups so that's a hint as to the caliber of talent that will be at the competition," said Hanan.

For more information on winter guard and a schedule of the events at the WGI World Championships go to www.wgi.org.

Page updated 1/1/08