Hagerstown, Centerville, Northeastern, Tri, New Castle, Connersville, Randolph Southern and Winchester groups are among area schools competing in winter guard and percussion events.
Some participate through an Indiana organization, while others compete through an Ohio group.
IHSCGA performers
During the first show of Indiana High School Color Guard Association’s season, Hagerstown Tigerettes earned silver in Festival Class with their “and then … I MET YOU” show on Saturday, Jan. 24, at Franklin Central High School.
The Tigerettes, directed by Leann Rinberger with support from HHS Band Director Kendra Sanders, include Abigail Gilbert, Alisha Estes, Mackenzie Bane, Deyvinni Horner, Ragen Lambert, Taylin Custer and Gabriella Pitocco.
In addition, Connersville was fifth in the second round of Regional A Class at Franklin Central. New Castle was seventh and Tri was eighth in the first round of Regional A Class.
The student performers and directors spend several hours of their weekends at these contests. For instance, the Tigerettes’ call time for Jan. 24 was 6:50 a.m. for a 7 a.m. rehearsal before riding to Indianapolis. They were able to leave around 2:45 p.m. after unloading their equipment at HHS.
More local ensembles will compete Feb. 14 at Zionsville. Centerville Blue Wave, Hagerstown, New Castle and Connersville are scheduled.
Tri is to compete Feb. 7 at Fort Wayne Snider and Feb. 14 at Dekalb in Waterloo.
On Feb. 21, Hagerstown and Connersville will compete at Greenwood. Tri and Connersville will compete at Brownsburg.
On Feb. 28, Centerville will compete at Northview in Brazil. Tri and New Castle will compete at Carroll in Fort Wayne.
State events take place March 7 and 14, with some categories’ championships concluding March 21.
For more information, visit ihscga.org.
MEPA contests
Northeastern High School’s Damsels winter guard and some nearby Randolph County, Indiana, and Preble County, Ohio, schools are competing in Mid East Performance Association’s percussion and winter guard contests in western Ohio.
Winchester’s color guard competed Jan. 24 at Miamisburg, Ohio. It finished second in its division behind the host school. The Golden Falcons also were the only competitors in indoor percussion at that contest.
On Feb. 1, Northeastern was to compete at Northmont High School, followed by Feb. 14 at Kettering Fairmont, March 1 at Springboro and March 21 at Hamilton.
Randolph Southern Indoor Percussion competes Feb. 7 at Bellbrook.
Winchester’s winter guard will compete Feb. 7 at Bellbrook. The Golden Falcons’ winter guard and percussion will be at Kettering Fairmont on Feb. 14, Butler on Feb. 21, and Fairborn on March 7.
Color Guard Circuit Championships are March 28 at Nutter Center in Dayton. Percussion and Winds Circuit Championships are the following day at the same venue.
For more information, visit mepa-circuit.org/upcoming-events/.
A version of this article appeared in the February 4 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.