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“Lights,” Starlets co-captain Gabriella Toranzo (’25) said, when asked to describe Starlets’ states in one word. Starlets indeed lit up the stage on Friday, March 29, with a monumental run-through of their routine “Sueños de California” or California Dreams, securing second place in their category.
“As soon as we got off the floor everyone was super excited and we were all so pumped because like that was the best run we’ve ever had in our entire lives. We’re all just really happy and proud of each other, there were tons of happy tears,” Toranzo said.
The Starlets visited Daytona Beach for their performance and competed in the AAA category of the Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit (FFCC) competition. They’re graded on a scale 1-100, and they’re rated in multiple categories, including design analysis, which rates the cohesiveness of the show, execution, body language and equipment movement.
“So they grade us off what are body movements [dance technique], so pointed toes or our knees are bent in the right places. And if we’re presenting and performing the entire time with our entire face tilted up to the crowd and up to the judges. They also grade us on how we move with our equipment on the floor, so how we’re tossing our rifles and how we’re tossing flags… and then which had the greatest general effect,” Toranzo said.
However, the Starlet’s success did not come unearned, and they spent countless hours working towards their rewarding results. They practice multiple times a week, and practice repeatedly to get “drop-less runs” or runs without dropping any props.
“We have practice Mondays for like three hours and Wednesdays for like three hours, but then we also hold sectionals which are not required practices. Sometimes on Saturdays, we come in like eight hours before competition and just practice,” Co-Captain Sierra Hatton (’24) said.
Lastly, after their performance, they finish States with a “retreat” which is essentially a glow-in-the-dark party for everyone.
“It’s really strange, but it’s really fun. You put on a bunch of random glow-up stuff like you have tutus and glow-up headbands and light up scrunchies. And then they turn off all the lights and you all come out and then you’re all just like glowing up together and they turn on a bunch of loud music and you all start jumping up and it’s kind of like an organized party where you all are just able to have fun with people that you’ve never met but all have the same interest as you,” Hatton said.
The Starlets are truly glowing this season and will be back for winter guard season with a new theme next year.
“I am so proud of the girls this season, they really went out of their way to practice and push themselves to be better. I’m excited for next winter guard season and I already have some ideas, and I can’t wait to be cheering them on from the bleachers next year at states,” Starlets head coach Sierra Espejo said.
