STRYKE is pleased to announce our 2017 Winterguard Staff. In addition to our Staff announcement, we are also excited to announce the Winterguard will be performing in WGI Open Class Competition this season!

Register today, and join us this Sunday (October 2nd) for our 2nd Audition/Clinic. A great opportunity for ALL ages and skill levels, whether you're auditioning for a position or just wanting to learn something new, the STRYKE Audition/Clinic has something for everyone.

Co-Director: Nicole Darby Ramirez

Nicole Darby Ramirez began her color guard career as a four-year member of the Cooper City High School Color Guard. In two of the years spent with Cooper City, Nicole performed in WGI finals in both scholastic A and Open class. Nicole then marched with the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps in 1997 where she was a DCI finalist. She then went off to march with the Alliance of Miami in (2000-2001) where she was a WGI World Class finalist for both years. Nicole later marched with the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps in 2002 where she received a bronze medal and finally, she marched with Braddock Independent in 2003 where she received a silver medal in Independent Open Class.

Nicole was the Color Guard Director of Wellington High School from 1999-2002, and worked with many local programs such as Lake Worth High School, Palm Beach Gardens High School, Dwyer High School, and Royal Palm Beach High School. Nichole taught at Cypress Bay High School from 2002-2007and has been teaching at Park Vista High School since 2008. Nicole became the Director of the Park Vista Color Guard in 2012- present. This will be her second year returning as Co-Director of the STRYKE Winterguard. Aside of her job as a color guard director Nicole works as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and is a proud mommy of two beautiful babies.

Co-Director: Paul Sauberer

Paul Sauberer is a veteran of the pageantry arts activity, and has been involved in the marching band and color guard scene for over 10 years. He has been an integral component in the success of many band programs. Designing flags, costumes, props, winter guard and percussion floors, soundtracks – anything you can think of. Paul is currently on the color guard staff and design team of 2014 Class 5A State Champions, and BOA Super Regional Finalist Park Vista High School in Lake Worth, Florida. Paul has designed and taught for programs such as Park Vista HS (Lake Worth, FL), Jupiter HS (Jupiter, FL), Castle HS (Newburgh, IN), East View HS (Apple Valley, MN) and many other programs around the country. Paul is actively involved in the South Florida Winter Guard Association circuit, along with WGI. With his experience in flag, costume, and set design, he elevates the visual and emotional aspect of each show he is a part of, breaking down the wall between performing members and the audience. Paul’s creative mind and his expertise in capturing those special “moments” make him a vital part of any program. This will be Paul’s second year serving as Co-Director of the STRYKE Winterguard.

Admin Director: Michelle Hance

Michelle Hance has been an active member of color guard world since 2001. She began her career spinning with the Logger’s Run Middle School Color Guard. Michelle then spent all four years of her high school career spinning with the Park Vista Color Guard where she served as Captain her junior and senior year. After graduating Michelle went on to march with MEDEA Independent (2009-2010) and with the Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corps (2009) where she was a DCI Open Class Finalist, which helped the Drum Corps transition into World Class.

After graduating High School, Michelle was hired on as a color guard tech at Park Vista High School (2008-2009) She then moved up to the Treasure Coast after meeting the love of her life where she took the Color Guard Director position at South Fork High School (2010-2016). Michelle is currently the Color Guard Director at Jensen Beach High School in Jensen Beach, Florida (2011-Current).

Michelle is currently working towards a B.S. in Middle Grades Science Education and is expected to graduate in May of 2017. She is happily married to the love of her life Cisco Hance and has two amazing kids.

Artistic Designer / Choreographer: Matt Winans

Matthew Winans attended the State University of New York (SUNY) at Brockport in Rochester, NY where he earned two bachelor degrees in Communications and Dance. In 2005 he relocated to Florida to become part of the instructional staff for the Flanagan High School Color Guards. He soon after became a member of the schools faculty as a Social Science teacher.

Matt’s experience in the color guard activity goes beyond his age as his mother, Clara Lake, has been involved in the activity for many years in Medina, NY through marching, teaching, and in the judging community. Matt was a member of the Medina High School Winterguard and Marching Band for 7 consecutive years and recently returned to the program as a choreographer and consultant. Matt also is the Color Guard Caption Head and Designer for the Boston Crusaders Drum Corps (2008 – Current) and returned as the Color Guard Designer for the Empire Statesmen Sr. Drum Corps. (2002-2004 & Current)

Other performing experiences include: many of the SUNY Brockport dance concerts, the Rochester Patriots Independent World Guard, and the Cadets Drum Corps. He has also taught and continues to teach many groups on the east coasting including; Orchard Park HS, Stoneman Douglas HS, Victor HS, The Cadets Drum Corps (2005-2007), Western HS (2007-2008), Eastridge HS (Director 2002-2005), East Syracuse Minoa HS (2002-2004), and Phoenix HS Color Guards.

Color Guard Technician / Choreographer: Jason Ciesla

Jason Alexander is an active choreographer and designer in the pageantry arts. Jason has been involved since early 2006 in Orlando, FL where he worked with numerous programs including Lake Howell High School and Winter Park High School. Jason has also taught at Park Vista High School for the last four years, writing choreography for the color guard and marching band. (2013-2016)

Jason’s drum corps experience includes being a performing member of the Boston Crusaders (2007) and Carolina Crown (2008-2009). After Aging out with Carolina Crown in 2009 with a silver medal, Jason taught with the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps (2010-2012) and the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps (2013-present).

Jason has also spent many years performing in several winter guard programs such as, The Knights World, Northeast Independent, and Braddock Independent World. Jason also performed in Taiwan last December with the Santa Clara Vanguard during their international tour.

Jason is currently teaching at West Broward High School, while perusing a career in Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Broward College. Jason started with us last year for the inaugural year of STRYKE Winterguard and is excited to continue with us again this season.

Color Guard Technician / Choreographer: Alex Perez

Alexander Perez has been involved in the Marching Arts for over 18 years. At age 16, he joined the Boston Crusaders drum and bugle corps as a member of the Contra line . He was also a member of Carolina Crown drum and bugle corps where he was part of the Color Guard, and later returned to Boston to age out of the Color Guard in 2004. After aging out , he then joined the creative and instructional teams of the Magic of Orlando drum and bugle corps, Santa Clara Vanguard, has spent the last 7 years with The Cadets and has currently rejoined the Santa Clara Vanguard drum and bugle corps.

In addition to his extensive experience in the drum corps activity , Alexander has had a successful career in the Winter Guard arena. Starting as a Performing Member with Braddock Independent winter guards for 8 years and teaching to this current day. Designing for such groups as Cypress Bay High School FL, Summerville High school SC, Somerset High School FL, West Johnson High School NC, Miami Coral Park High School FL, St. Joseph High School Malaysia, Braddock Independent Winter Guard FL, Black Gold Winter Guard TX, Salem Blue Winter Guard MA, Stoneman Douglas High School Winter Guard FL. And the West Broward World Guard

Alexander has had some amazing opportunities due to his involvement in the Marching Arts. He was a performing member for the Micro Magic Japan touring cast in 2001 and was the lead designer for the St. Joseph High School Marching Band from Kuching Malaysia , who was recently crowned the 2015 US Bands Yamaha Cup Grand Champion.

Color Guard Technician: Kristi Sexton

Kristi first began her color guard career as a four-year member of the Cypress Bay color guard and was part of the 2011 team that placed 6th in scholastic A finals. She then went on to march with the Boston Crusaders Drum Corps (2010-2011) and the Braddock Independent World Guard (2012-2014) where she performed in the WGI world class finals in Dayton, Ohio all three years. Kristi decided to branch out to the west coast where she then marched with the Blue Devils Drum Corps (2013-2014). During her time with the Blue Devils she received a silver medal in 2013 and an undefeated gold medal in 2014 with the highest ever color guard Score in Drum Corps history, a perfect 20. Kristi became a member of The Blue Devils International where she toured Europe and performed in the Basel Tattoo, which is the second largest military tattoo in the world. With the Blue Devils she also traveled to Taiwan in 2015 where she performed at various venues with an elite performance ensemble. She has worked with Cypress Bay High School and is currently in her 5th year working with Park Vista High School. This will be her second year with STRYKE Winterguard. Kristi is currently in school for sonography and radiography and plans to travel with blue devils international this summer returning to Europe.

Color Guard Technician: Pauleen Paygane

This is Pauleen’s 10th year instructing young adults the foundations, techniques, and art of color guard. She started teaching her freshman year of high school at the young age of 14 at Eagle’s Landing Middle School and continued her passion to teach consecutively after. Pauleen has taught at schools in West Palm Beach such as, Spanish River High School, Lake Worth High School, Olympic Heights High School, John I. Leonard High School, and currently, Park Vista High School.

Pauleen has also marched 14 winter seasons. She has had the amazing opportunity to march with astounding independent groups such as Premonition Winterguard, Carolina Crown, and Braddock Independent World. She has learned so much in her prior experiences and her passion for color guard grew through marching and teaching. Nothing is more rewarding to her than sharing her passion for guard with her students. Pauleen states, “Seeing my students perform in front of an audience and come off that floor with a smile is the best gift to ever receive.”

To Pauleen, color guard is not just a hobby it is her life. Color guard has introduced her to amazing people, which have formed into amazing friendships. It taught her responsibility, self-confidence, and created unforgettable experiences that many have never had the opportunity to experience, and with that, she is beyond grateful.

Color Guard Technician: Laura Gasper

Laura Gasper began spinning her freshman year in high school and has been doing color guard ever since. She has performed with Carroll High School (winning WGI her freshman year, and placing third the year after), Crown Guard, and Pride of Cincinnati (winning WGI in ’05 and medaling ’03 and ’04), and marched Drum Corps for 6 years at Carolina Crown. She has taught programs all over including Carmel High School, Zydeco Color Guard, Santa Clara Vanguard, and multiple others. She received her B.F.A. from Herron School of Art and Design with an emphasis in ceramics and she is the co-owner of L. Mercado Studios in Downtown Hollywood where she teaches art classes and promotes the arts through the gallery and studio artists. Laura has been a member of the West Broward Color Guard Staff since 2013 and looks forward to continuing to push the students with emphasis on hard work, dedication, and critical thinking.