By Kristyn Shannon

The KU Marching Unit, KUMU, has appointed three new color guard captains for the 2015 season. Gigi Romano, Leaha Blair and Jackie Valori have lead the group with high hopes and a bright new outlook.

Color guard is a uniformed group who presents their institution’s flag during ceremonies. It started in the military where one person had to carry the American flag. The group became a sport, now associated with marching bands, where equipment is spun instead of presented. The routines were now strung together to fit with the beat of the music.

Gigi Romano began in Parkland High School where she performed for four years. She moved on to KU, where she is in her fourth and final year. She has also spun with Classics Independent in Allentown for the past two years and was captain for one.

“It’s all about problem-solving and keeping up a good mood,” she said.

Leaha Blair began in Upper Merion High School for four years, continuing in KUMU for the previous four years. She wanted to become captain because she always found herself thinking of ways to make the group better with both organization and passion.

“Being a role model for underclassmen is strange but very rewarding,” Blair said. It’s not always smooth sailing; it includes too much time, aggravation and frustration all bundled into one person, but to those who are captains, it’s worth all of the bad things.

Jackie Valori, junior, has spun at KU for two years. She began in Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster, Pa., and is now

teaching where she graduated from. She also performed with Classics and this season teaches independent color guard team, Starcross.

“I fell in love with the art and have been inspired by it since,” Valori said.

The trio had common goals for this season. They strive to lead the group of 23 girls to be the best they can be, stating that everyone deserves to have the opportunity to improve. Each girl came from a different background and getting them to perform with the same technique is a massive accomplishment.

“Being captain is a complex job, but I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have been given to work with these girls; to teach, be an example, be a source of guidance, to inspire and to comfort,” Valori said.

The KU Marching Unit, KUMU, has appointed three new color guard captains for the 2015 season. Gigi Romano, Leaha Blair and Jackie Valori have lead the group with high hopes and a bright new outlook.

Color guard is a uniformed group who presents their institution’s flag during ceremonies. It started in the military where one person had to carry the American flag. The group became a sport, now associated with marching bands, where equipment is spun instead of presented. The routines were now strung together to fit with the beat of the music.

Gigi Romano began in Parkland High School where she performed for four years. She moved on to KU, where she is in her fourth and final year. She has also spun with Classics Independent in Allentown for the past two years and was captain for one.

“It’s all about problem-solving and keeping up a good mood,” she said.

Leaha Blair began in Upper Merion High School for four years, continuing in KUMU for the previous four years. She wanted to become captain because she always found herself thinking of ways to make the group better with both organization and passion.

“Being a role model for underclassmen is strange but very rewarding,” Blair said. It’s not always smooth sailing; it includes too much time, aggravation and frustration all bundled into one person, but to those who are captains, it’s worth all of the bad things.

Jackie Valori, junior, has spun at KU for two years. She began in Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster, Pa., and is now

teaching where she graduated from. She also performed with Classics and this season teaches independent color guard team, Starcross.

“I fell in love with the art and have been inspired by it since,” Valori said.

The trio had common goals for this season. They strive to lead the group of 23 girls to be the best they can be, stating that everyone deserves to have the opportunity to improve. Each girl came from a different background and getting them to perform with the same technique is a massive accomplishment.

“Being captain is a complex job, but I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have been given to work with these girls; to teach, be an example, be a source of guidance, to inspire and to comfort,” Valori said.