Color Guard Senior Spotlight: Lindsay Hersh

Lindsay Hersh is in her fourth year of color guard here at Valencia High School. As she prepares to graduate, we asked what some of her favorite memories were over the past four years.

1. What has your favorite moment/achievement been in your athletic career?

“My favorite moment was the 2022 field season because we got first place. It was such a surreal and amazing experience I got to share with everyone. Second is becoming one of the color guard captains and being able to help and represent our team and school in that way.”

2. What will you miss the most about this sport when you graduate?

“I will miss the sense of community and being a part of a team with such amazing people. It is truly like a family.”

3. What advice do you have for people who want to join your sport?

“Don’t be too hard on yourself because it’s new to everybody starting out. As long as you try your best, you will get far in the sport. There are so many people there to help and support you along the way.”

4. How long have you played this sport, and what inspired you to start?

“This will be my 4th year doing Valencia Color Guard. I wanted to be a part of something and make friends coming into high school. I have always loved performing and it seemed like such a cool and unique sport to try.”

5. What is the most challenging part of playing this sport?

“This sport has so many different elements that you have to all at once and it can be very easy to get hurt. We toss things and spin, we dance, we are constantly moving around the field and going through the band. Being aware of your body and surroundings is extra important.”

6. What are your plans after high school?

“I plan to go to a university to study psychology. I want to become a criminal psychologist, but during college I want to explore many other options that may be more right for me before I decide.”

7. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

“There is so much great advice that it’s hard to choose. I think my favorite is to always try and go for the things you want because the worst outcome is the same if you never tried at all.”

8. What is your favorite place you have ever traveled to?

“I would say that my favorite place I have ever traveled to is Mexico.”

9. What is your favorite class this year and why?

“Besides color guard, I would say psychology because it is so interesting to me. It's the major I want to apply for in college.”

10. What is your favorite move to do in color guard?

“I would say my favorite is a quad on rifle or saber. You have your left hand on the equipment palm up and your right hand palm down. For a rifle you are at the far right side of the equipment and for sabers you are in the middle. You dip the equipment with the left side being down and the right side being up, you are at a seatbelt or what we call shoulder hip angle. Then you push hard with your right hand as if you're grabbing the side seam of your pants. You then twist your wrist like you are turning a door knob while lifting up straight from your body to about your head level. Then you catch with both your hands the same position it was in before you toss and catch flat.”