WGI

Meet WGI's Newest World Class Guard: Invictus

Meet WGI's Newest World Class Guard: Invictus

Take an inside look at WGI's newest world class colorguard called Invictus.

Jan 22, 2017 by Michael Gilley
Meet WGI's Newest World Class Guard: Invictus
Every year new independent ensembles pop up across the country for Winter Guard International. However, it's not a regularity for a guard to be born from scratch and in its first year compete among the ranks of World Class.

Here's an inside look at WGI's newest World Class colorguard: Invictus.

Under the direction of Andy Mroczek and Tracy Wooton, Invictus will make it's WGI debut at the March 4th Austin, TX regional.

"After years of planning to get the organization off the ground," Director Tracy Wooton said. "We are here, and couldn't be more excited to be Austin's first Independent World class program."

Speaking with founder and director Andy Mroczek, we asked where did the name Invictus originate. He said it is based around the poem entitled Invictus by English poet William Ernest Henley (1849--1903). Andy said the poem not only had personal meaning to him but that it is a true representation of the color guard art.

"[The poem] is true representation of what we wanted our identity to be," Andy said. "It summarizes the amount of hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance that color guards must endure."

Invictus

by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.


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