Get to know Farragut HS color guard team member Caileigh Coval
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Senior year is bittersweet for Caileigh Coval, as this will be her last year performing with Color Guard at Farragut High School. Caileigh, who grew up involved in gymnastics and dance, was unaware Color Guard existed until she entered the ninth grade. 鈥淚t is such an unknown and underrated sport and is widely misunderstood, but it has opened so many doors for me,鈥� said Caileigh. 鈥淚 have grown so much through guard as a performer, a leader, and as a human being. Being captain junior and senior year was and is such a surreal experience and I wouldn鈥檛 trade what I have learned for anything.鈥�
When Caileigh is not practicing, she is focused on her AP classes and she was recently inducted into the National Honor Society. Her goal is to continue spinning in college and she hopes to make it into the Drum Corps International as well, which is a major league for musicians and performers.
Caileigh turns to her teammates to help calm her nerves before a performance. There is risk involved with throwing solid pieces of metal and wood into the air and recovering from a drop can be tricky as it requires a sudden adjustment in choreography. 鈥淚 love that I have a second family in guard who never fails to make me laugh,鈥� said Caileigh. Her team recently competed in the Spirit of the Valley Invitational and were named the Grand Champions of the day.
The best advice Caileigh was given is to just have fun and perform. She used to get very nervous but when she directs her attention to the enjoyment of spinning, that鈥檚 when she gives her best performances. 鈥淚 love the thrill I get while spinning. I鈥檝e worked really hard to get to where I am in guard, and the idea that there is always more to learn and try is really exciting to me,鈥� said Caileigh. 鈥淭here are endless levels of tosses and choreography so it lets me grow every day. It never reaches a point where it levels out. I鈥檓 always continuing to learn, make mistakes, and get better.鈥�
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