If you went to last Friday’s football game at Oxford High School, you may have noticed a new addition to the field during the half-time show.
Amidst the trumpets, saxophones and the drumline was 17-year-old Cayla Stanard.
Only she wasn’t playing an instrument.
Stanard, a senior this year, had her debut Friday night as the first majorette for the OHS marching band in 30 years.
A majorette, which is a baton twirler, performs her routines in front of the band.
Unlike the color guard, which primarily uses brightly colored flags, the majorette is featured for her elaborate twirling and tosses of the baton.
Stanard said she got interested in baton twirling when she was a young girl.
‘My mom was (a majorette) and I would always try to imitate her,? she said. ‘I would always fool around.?
Stanard, who played trumpet in the marching band but quit to pursue being a majorette, said seeing majorettes at a football game at Brandon High School last year made her really want to try it out.
She asked the OHS band director, Jim Gibbons, if she could give it a whirl and he, of course, agreed.
‘I think it gives another piece of visual interest,? Gibbons said. ‘It adds to the field.?
Stanard and her mother, Robin, began rigorously learning a routine in December of last year. But it wasn’t as easy as it looks.
‘I started doing it and wasn’t sure that I liked it,? she said. ‘Then, I got the moves down and I really loved it.?
Stanard and her mother went through weeks and weeks of practices.
‘It was really hard,? she said.
By the time spring rolled around, Stanard auditioned for Gibbons and got the thumbs up.
Decked out in her white boots and blue and gold sequenced leotard, Stanard was ready, although a little nervous, to perform for a packed house on Friday night.
‘We felt she did outstanding,? said Pat Stanard, the proud father of Cayla.
He said the people sitting next to him and his wife were so enthralled with her performance that he just had to brag.
‘I leaned over and said ‘that’s my daughter,?? he said.
Stanard said walking out onto the field to perform in front of the thousands of people was an ‘amazing experience? and a ‘dream come true.?
She wants to thank Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Parish and Mr. Ashton for their support, but especially, her mom.
‘For helping me with all my moves. It took a ton of work, but it all paid off in the end,? she said.
If all goes well, Stanard is planning on adding a little fire to her routine for the Homecoming football game.
That’s right, a flaming baton.
‘We still have to get it approved,? she said.
Stanard said the re-birth of a majorette at OHS has even spawned some fans.
‘There’s a couple younger girls I know who think it’s really cool and want to try it,? she said.
When Stanard goes to college, she said she would be really interested in continuing her majorette career.
‘When you add color guard and majorettes, it really adds to the band,? she said.
She hopes more girls get interested in twirling batons and says the best advice is to practice, practice, practice.
‘You’ll have days where you just don’t get it and keep dropping it and it can get really frustrating,? she said. ‘Just keep practicing.?