Completing an outstanding competitive season, both the Oakdale Junior High and Oakdale High School color guard units were crowned champions at the Central Valley Guard & Percussion Alliance finale, hosted at Enochs High School on March 28.

The Junior High group earned a 77.0 to win the CVGPA Junior High Gold Championship. Also, team member Georgia Sanchez tied for first place in the Middle School solo competition.

The High School group earned a score of 86.04 to win the Scholastic Regional AA Championship. The OHS squad also tied for the Shirley Whitcomb award, given to the team(s) with the highest score of the day.

The junior high group is led by Danesa Menge and is an extracurricular activity.

“We practice twice a week for two-and-a-half to three hours a day,” Menge explained. “The junior high begins in September for winter season only.”

The high school team, under the direction of Taylor Nardello, has a 50-minute class during the school day and also practice three times a week for roughly three to four hours. They didn’t start preparing their winter show routine until November, after the fall marching season concluded.

“We hope to begin an elementary feeder guard next year as an exhibition team,” added Menge.