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Ray

@ray_swingle

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that's a wrap 🏳️
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Where do I even begin? Winter guard changed the path of my life forever, and I can never be thankful enough for all of the opportunities that came from it. Performance opportunities I never imagined, filled stadiums, and friendships stronger than bones. Anything thrown my way, I've learned to catch. I am beyond grateful for the moments I'll never get back. Moments spent at rehearsal, practicing alone, or listening to songs I don't love because they're for a show, I've loved it all.

I'm not ready for it to be over. I'll never be ready to leave behind a team that grew so much. I'm never prepared to walk away from a group of people who puts so much passion into what they do. From the moment flags are in the air, the mood shifts. Eyes focus and reflexes sharpen. A group of twenty two people becomes one. For seven minutes, air buzzes with excitement, broken only when equipment flies.

Though I may never again perform with this talented group of people, I am excited to watch them grow into the performers I know they will be. Into people who are better because of winter guard. I'm lucky to have shared a team with everyone I have. To have met people I never would have, and strengthen relationships with those I did. I'll never have to ask, are you with me? This team will always be with me, though I can't be with them forever.

This has been my rock. For years, I keep coming back, like a revolving door. Day after day, year after year. Singles turn to triples, then quads. Technique improves, as does discipline. What never changed was my love for this activity. Each toss a new experience, each new dance an opening to my heart. As this chapter comes to a close, I thank everything I have, and everyone who has taught me something new.

What goes up must come down. As I come down, I wait to see my team continue to soar, reaching new heights and reaching the cosmos. I'll be watching, falling like the stars, falling in love.

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Once there was a boy. A boy who never thought that he'd amount to anything in high school just a Basic boy. The boy had friends of course he did. One asked him one day To try out something new because she was scared to do it alone. The boy tried the activity called "winter guard" And he was amused and never seen or heard of it. While he worked and worked he had people in the same activity backing him up. Helping him through the hills and humps of the motions. The boy got better and better as he went from season to season. The Boy realized that he took time for granted too late and wish he couldve had more time to spend with those people he had helping at every step. He never knew the day would come soon where it ends.

In this story the boy is me. I really loved everything about the sport even on my bad days. I came to this sport not knowing anything or having many friends but now I have friends im proud of and it sucks to see it all go so fast. As I type this I am genuinely sobbing. I could NEVER ask for a better guard to spin with. To share my struggles with. And to grow with. They all did so amazing this season and im glad I EVER got to be apart of something so great like that. I can NEVER put into words how happy I was taking up @ky_._843 's opportunity to even join. I WILL NEVER for het the people who made this activity fun and worth doing. I WILL NEVER forget How much everyone met. And I WILL NEVER EVER forget why I am who I am today and that is cause of the many people and friends ive made along the journey that was color guard. @mhsnguard Keep spinning and being great. And thank you for all the friends, Memories, And fun you put in my life and thank you for giving me a smile when I almost lost hope.

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This winter post is LONG overdo💔 Thank you everyone for the best winter so far (Even those not in the post) You all are amazing and great and I cherish you all!!

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This summer was the perfect flipping summer bro. I love yall even if youre not on the post 🫶. I cant flipping wait for football season and school to start LETS GO🗣🗣🔥‼️‼️‼️ HAPPY SUMMER YALL!!!

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That’s a wrap.

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Guard champs! Placed 7 out of 13 but this season was a great experience. I’m so grateful for all of the new people and friend I got to meet and connect with this last season. Everyone has grown so much and I can’t thank anyone enough for all of the support this season or even last season including my family for always driving me to practices and coming to my comps and also thankful to my coaches who taught us how to do this thing that we all love so much. I’m so grateful for everything and everyone that made this season an amazing one. ❤️🏴🏳️

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That’s gang.

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Winter Guard Season Finale.

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