A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE Blacksburg High School winter guard, Director of Guards, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2023 SOUTH CAROLINA Band Directors Association Scholastic AAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the Blacksburg High winter guard of Cherokee County captured the state title at the South Carolina Band Directors Association (SCBDA) state competition held at T. L. Hanna High School on March 4, 2023; and

Whereas, delighting their faithful fans, the Blacksburg winter guard performed a program entitled From the Ashes to defeat a competitive field of comers with a score of 68.840 points and claim the state trophy; and

Whereas, the winter guard of Blacksburg included Sierra Margarita, Ryan Nicole Wolford, Ivonne Razo, Isabella Chapman Miller, Anna LaFrancis, Maddy Satterwhite, Hayden Joy Wright, and Cindy Earley; and

Whereas, promoted twice during the 2023 season from Scholastic Regional A, the Blacksburg winter guard captured first place at the Premiere at Catawba Ridge High School as Scholastic Regional A category. After this competition, the winter guard was promoted to Scholastic AAA, and when it was determined that the guard was still outscoring other guards by a large enough margin, Blacksburg was promoted to the Scholastic AA division, a category in which they continue to compete; and

Whereas, the Blacksburg Wildcats placed second at the Competition at Mooresville High School in the guard's first competition in the AAA category and then appeared at the state competition as AAA; and

Whereas, after taking first place at the next competition at River Bluff High School, the Wildcats were promoted again to a higher classification of Scholastic AA; and

Whereas, Blacksburg placed third in the competition at Byrnes High School in the AA category and followed up with a first place win at the competitions at Rock Hill High School and the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association (CWEA) Circuit Championship at Winthrop University with an impressive score of 77.330; and

Whereas, in a field that exacts discipline, practice, and vitality, Director of Guards Joanna Earls and her skilled assistant directors David Turner and Shane Dixon capitalized on their own musical ability and training to produce a championship-caliber team and teach these students lessons that will prove invaluable through life both on and off the field; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciate the pride and recognition that the Blacksburg winter guard students have brought to their school and their community, and the members look forward to following their continued accomplishments in the days ahead. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Blacksburg High School winter guard, band directors, and school officials for an outstanding season and congratulate them for winning the 2023 South Carolina Scholastic AAA State Championship title.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Michael Mullinax and Director of Guards Joanna Earls.

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