After a major comeback from a three-year hiatus in the 2022–23 season, the Cupertino High School Winter Guard will perform their show in a national division for the first time in the upcoming 2023–24 season. Last season, CHS’s Winter Guard program exceeded all expectations with their show “A Memory of You,” jumping three California Color Guard Circuit divisions from the second to lowest category, Scholastic Regional AA Division, to the National AA Division.

“Our staff was so shocked when we were bumped up. Out of the blue, the circuit basically said, ‘Hey, we want your guard to move up three divisions,’ and no one would’ve expected that from us,” Hrishvi Bansal, one of the captains of the 22–23 and the 23–24 season, said. 

Leading up to the 2023–24 season, the guard held clinics and auditions in December for new members who wished to join, which produced a great turnout of people eager to learn the basics of Color Guard and how to spin.

 With a complete pivot in show design, going from a contemporary show design to an upbeat one, the guard is ready to get back on the floor in the upcoming competition season, preparing for their first show on Jan. 20. However, the staff has thus far increased the expectation for the members individually, creating substantially more pressure to succeed this season. 

“Our staff has definitely increased the pressure on us this year because they know we’re capable of succeeding in the higher divisions,” said Bansal. “I think they’ve definitely seen our potential and want to take our winter guard to the next level.”