Coppell High School senior Vi Moya stands in a football field, spinning the red color guard flag and tossing it upward with momentum and smooth wrist rotations and finishing off the color guard routine by leaving an impact. It is not the final routine, as Moya will pursue color guard in college.
Moya is attending the University of Texas at Austin to join Origins, a color guard group based in Austin that competes in Texas and has two guards.
“I think the moment that decided for me that color guard was really my niche was probably sophomore year winter guard that season,” Moya said. “Performing that show for me was really magical and really beautiful.”
Although color guard left a positive impression on Moya, continuation of the program was not always the plan.
“At the time, I was like ‘I don’t think I’m going to do color guard in college,” Moya said. “But every time I think about it, I’m like ‘I don’t see myself outside of color guard.’”
Moya will integrate this passion for color guard with desire for community by joining a group in college.
“Origins is based in Austin, which is close to UT Austin,” Moya said. “I first decided probably three months ago during one of our competitions, and I remember seeing them perform just before our varsity group and I was so captivated. At that point, I was already dead set that I’m going to UT Austin.”
However, this dedication to color guard did not come out of nowhere. Moya has received inspiration from peers to continue working hard and doing what is loved.
Senior Kiara Sanchez has been in color guard with Vi since freshman year.
“Who inspired me was my friend Kiara,” Moya said. “She was thinking about doing a higher level of color guard and just seeing her work ethic really amazed me, like other people that have done winter guard in our group.”
Moya’s dedication inspires others, including senior guard member Neha Sanjay after their time working together as co-captains in winter guard.
“Color guard with Vi is a reminder of why I joined color guard in the first place,” Sanjay said. “Vi always gives 100 percent. It’s really evident how much effort and strength is behind every movement and deliberate action, and I think that’s really cool.”
Teammates have observed Moya’s dedication to color guard and versatility.
“I’ve seen Vi grow a lot in color guard,” Sanjay said. “As they started finding their niche, which I’d bet is being an excellent performer, they’re always going the extra mile of things.”
Moya’s commitment and enthusiasm for color guard does not go unnoticed. Moya strives to continue improvement, a determining factor for success in pursuing color guard.
“I think Vi’s dedication to color guard is super noticeable, as they are very interested and passionate,” senior Coppell color guard captain Aryahi Ravi said. “I didn’t know that Vi was going to join the Origins, but I’m not surprised at all because I think Vi definitely has the passion and love for color guard. Succeeding in guard takes that passion, especially doing it outside of high school also takes commitment, which I think Vi definitely has.”
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