In the vibrant world of collegiate performing arts, few stories echo with the same mix of quiet perseverance and stunning artistic achievement as that of the University of Nevada, Reno’s, College of Liberal Art's Winter Guard.

What began as a small exhibition ensemble in the 1990s has blossomed into a competitive force, recently returning from the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio, a milestone that marks not just the program’s arrival on an international stage, but the extraordinary growth of the visual and performing arts at the University of Nevada, Reno.

For Kimberly Hines, the University’s longtime color guard instructor, this moment has been over a decade in the making.

“When I started in fall 2012 we were still just doing exhibitions," Hines said. "We had to build everything: our numbers, technique, cohesion and confidence. We entered our first competition in 2017, added another in 2019, and this year we made it all the way to Dayton.”

Winter Guard, a sport and performance art hybrid rooted in traditional color guard, trades the outdoor pageantry of football fields for the intimate, acoustically controlled world of gymnasiums and arenas. “It’s the same equipment: flags, rifles and sabers – but without the band,” Hines said. “There’s more dancing, more storytelling. It’s visually and artistically more expansive.”

Their 2024 show was no exception. Set to a custom soundtrack, the team moved across the floor with grace and force, interpreting music through a carefully choreographed fusion of dance and equipment work. “We added a prop this year and built a narrative into the design,” Hines said. “We start imagining the show in August or September, by January, we’re deep in rehearsals, adding weekend intensives and fine-tuning every detail.”

That attention to detail paid off. Not only did the Winter Guard earn high marks in Dayton, they also took home top honors at their regional competition in Salt Lake City, scoring highest overall that day.

Steve Eubanks, director of athletic bands at the University, has seen firsthand the evolution of the program and its impact.

“In the fall, our color guard is part of the marching band. They’re the visual powerhouse,” Eubanks said. “But the Winter Guard is different. It’s more artistic. It’s entirely theirs. They can go deeper, more expressive. The expectations are higher, but the payoff is greater.”

Winter Guard members rehearse multiple times a week, including Monday and Wednesday evenings, in addition to weekend sessions during competition season. Those rehearsals often take place in the Virginia Street Gym, a crucial shared space for several athletic and spirit teams, including cheer and volleyball.

“Access to the Virginia Street Gym is essential,” Hines said. “It’s one of the few places with the space and floor dimensions we need. We’re really grateful to Athletics for sharing it. It’s a lifeline for our program.”

Eubanks agrees. “It’s not just about space, it’s about building a culture of collaboration. We’re all part of the same community: music, cheer, athletics. We support each other.”

The Winter Guard program is open to all students by audition. Members come from a wide variety of majors and backgrounds, drawn together by a shared passion for movement, music and collegiate pride. Rehearsals begin with dance-based warm ups, followed by equipment technique blocks, then full production run-throughs. Each performance is judged by a panel of five experts across categories like movement, equipment, design analysis and general effect.

“We tell our members all the time: this is your job,” Hines said. “Yes, we want them to have fun, but when they step onto that floor, it’s game time. They’re representing the University, each other and themselves.”

As for what’s next? More competitions, more creative risks and hopefully, more space and support as the program continues to grow. After all, as both Hines and Eubanks make clear, Winter Guard is more than just spinning flags. It's a full-body, full-heart expression of discipline, artistry and the power of shared performance.

“The World Championships in Dayton were a huge step forward,” Eubanks said. “But it’s the years of groundwork Kim has laid that made it possible. She’s built a program that’s now among the best in the country.”