At Eastern and around the country, marching bands have become synonymous with field shows at sporting events. Eastern’s Color Guard, Pink Panthers and Cheerleaders all work together, along with the Panther Marching Band, to make a more complete experience for the Eastern fans.

COLOR GUARD

Spinning their flags while marching in time, Color Guard provides something instruments can’t.

“We provide a visual element,” said Becki Jungman, a senior kinesiology and sports medicine major and third year Color Guard section leader. “(The Guard) adds color to the field show to make it more interesting.”

Jungman along with fellow section leader Kayne O’Brien, a junior secondary education major, create an outline of the group’s choreography that the guard will learn through weeks of rigorous practice. Jungman said their plans change dynamically based on the group’s contributions.

In addition to practices with the band, the 11 members of the guard meet frequently to rehearse as a separate entity.

Even the guard’s freshmen are not new to the game either-Jungman said they like new members to have high school color guard experience.

Despite the demanding rehearsal schedule of the group, Jungman says that the guard can be pretty laid-back and that they have a lot of fun.

EIU CHEER

Although they are the only group mentioned whose members are not considered to be in the Panther Marching Band, the EIU Cheer Team also works with the band to help bring game day together.

“We work very well together,” said Head Cheer Coach Brian Allen, “It’s like one big happy family.”

Between four and five days a week, the cheer team works on routines getting ready for upcoming games and other events. This year the EIU cheer team will perform at Family Weekend, cheer nationals in January and other spirit-related events.

“We’re going to do more community service this year,” Allen said. “We’ve done a couple of car washes already.”

PINK PANTHERS

Firing up the crowd wherever the Panther Marching Band goes, is Eastern’s official dance team, the Pink Panthers.

“We are complimentary components to the musicians because we want to highlight what they are doing,” said Lisa Dallas, coach of the Pink Panthers.

The Pink Panthers practice their routine five days a week, getting themselves ready for game time. Barry Houser, acting director of bands, sets out the drill charts, and then the choreography is added in to finalize the routine.

Members of the team must be in good academic standing with the university and participate with campus life and the community.

“We’ve performed at two assisted living centers and two nursing homes in town already,” Dallas said, “We really get out to support the community.”

Months of practice add up to the final product that is seen on game day.

“(The Pink Panthers) get the crowd into the game, to let the athletes know that the crowd supports them,” Dallas said.

Nick Draper can be reached at [email protected]

or 581-7942