The McCallum Blue Brigade is one team known for its traditions. From glitter and red lipstick, to Christmas caroling, to the last dance at spring show, the Blue Brigade carries much of what it does from year to year. But, for the 2017-2018, school year, they are mixing it up. Every year, the Blue Brigade selects three senior officers, a captain, a 1st lieutenant and a senior lieutenant as well as two or three junior officers. Next year, however, the team will be guided by all junior officers for the first time. Current sophomores Karel Tinkler and Chanyn James will take on this role.

“With only junior officers next year, I think it will be a hard but fun challenge,” James said. “All of the new officers work well together, and I can already tell we will be a able to benefit the team greatly.”

James wants to be someone the team can look up to and help get them through any struggles they face throughout the year. As captains, the duo will share the duties of teaching dances, cleaning dances and directing the team as well as coordinating the schedule for the following week. Each of the officers have their own squads that they split off into and each officer comes up with dances that they teach.

“But, overall the captains have the end say on the final performance,” Tinkler said.  

Despite having big shoes to fill, Tinkler has no doubts that the class of 2019 officers will do an outstanding job.

“Even this year with our conditioning practices and stuff we don’t really know what to expect, and we’re a little more enthusiastic,” Tinkler said. “We are ready to work and push all the members hard.”

Tinkler is excited and already feeling the pressure. Next year, the captains want to spend more time bonding the team and maintaining a positive attitude so they will dance better as a whole.

“We just all want the team to improve a lot,” Tinkler said. “We have pretty high expectations and we want to change our ways to make everything a little more positive throughout the entire team.”