Winter Guard International Sport of the Arts governs and produces indoor color guard, percussion and winds activities. On Saturday, Feb. 23, drumline competed in this event and took first place in both preliminary and finals. Led by director Quiyan Murphy, this was the drumline’s first time going to this competition, which is a rare with in addition that they placed first in their section.

“We’ve done fall drumline in addition to marching band for a long time,” Murphy said. “In 2015, [drumline] started [competing in] the indoor circuit.”

Scoring a 79/100 in preliminary and a 76/100 in finals, drumline beat six other schools. The judges keep track of several categories like music, visuals and how the two affect the entire performance.

“It feels like something we could never accomplish,” senior Kyle Tremethick said. “I like knowing people come to watch me for what I do.”

Several captain positions are needed to keep the group well organized; titles include drumline captain and more specific ones like bass, cymbal and snare captain. Each individual drumline member has his or her own tasks to perform, off and on the field.

“I’m the quad captain, as well as the battery captain,” senior Ian Austin said. “ I have to coordinate everything.”

Bringing new elements to the team helped them be able to achieve first place their first time at WGI. Other than the drumline students themselves taking their craft more seriously, their show titled “Balancing Act” also brought in props to portray their concept as best as possible, as well as bringing a professional gymnast in for part of the show.

“This year we’re trying to really invoke the mindset of that [the drumline is] more than just a high school group,” Austin said. “We can compete with professionals.”

The excitement of winning exerted from the group and instructors was high. A long day of performing and waiting for other schools to perform, dawn to dusk, the surprising news eventually got to the team. Their next competition will be at WGI Houston Regionals in Spring, Texas on Saturday, March 9.

“I was surprised because I didn’t know [we won],” Murphy said. “You’re sitting in a room and everyone comes up and starts congratulating you. I felt like [the drumline] were finally breaking through and representing LISD very well. I felt proud to wear my Lewisville staff jacket.”