History of Murphy Guard

The Murphy High School Winter Guard was established in the winter of 1998. The color guard originally was called “Panthera,” but changed its name to “Panoply” (which means “splendid display”) beginning with the 1999 competitive season. Initially, the color guard competed primarily in the West Division of the Gulfcoast Color Guard Circuit, but as the guard became more and more competitive the color guard began competing exclusively as a member of the East Division of the Gulfcoast Color Guard and Percussion Circuit earning the following titles along the way:


2000
Gulfcoast Color Guard Circuit, West Division, Scholastic A - Silver Medalist

2001
WGI South Regional, Scholastic A - Finalist
Gulfcoast Color Guard Circuit, West Division, Scholastic A - Silver Medalist
Gulfcoast Color Guard Circuit, East Division, Scholastic A - Bronze Medalist

2002
WGI South Regional, Scholastic A - Finalist
Gulfcoast Color Guard Circuit, East Division, Scholastic A - Gold Medalist
WGI World Championships - Scholastic A - Competitor

2003
WGI South Regional, Scholastic A - Finalist
WGI South Power Regional, Tampa, FL - Scholastic A, 2nd Place Finalist
Gulfcoast Color Guard Circuit, East Division, Scholastic AA - Gold Medalist
WGI World Championships - Scholastic A - Semi-finalist

2004
Gulfcoast Color Guard Circuit, East Division, Scholastic AA - Gold Medalist

2005
WGI South Power Regional, Scholastic A, 2nd Place Finalist
Gulfcoast Color Guard Circuit, East Division, Scholastic AA - Gold Medalist
WGI World Championships, Scholastic A, 5th Place Finalist

2006
WGI Pensacola Regional, Scholastic Open - Gold Medalist
WGI South Power Regional, Tampa, FL - Scholastic Open - 4th Place Finalist
Gulfcoast Color Guard Circuit, East Division, Scholastic Open - Gold Medalist
WGI World Championships - Scholastic Open - Semi-finalist

2007
WGI Pensacola Regional, Scholastic Open - 3rd Place Finalist
WGI South Power Regional, Tampa, FL - Scholastic Open
Gulfcoast Color Guard Circuit, East Division, Scholastic Open - Gold Medalist
WGI World Championships - Scholastic Open

2008
WGI Pensacola Regional, Scholastic Open
Gulfcoast Color Guard Circuit, East Division, Scholastic Open
Murphy Color Guard will be accompanying The Murphy Band To Hawaii
Participating in their Saint Patrick's Day Celebration
Due to missing too much school, we will not be going to WGI World Championships

2009
WGI Pensacola Regional, Scholastic A
Gulfcoast Color Guard Circuit, East Division, Scholastic Open

2010
WGI Pensacola Regional, Scholastic A
Gulfcoast Color Guard Circuit, East Division, Scholastic Open
Murphy Color Guard will be accompanying The Murphy Band To Chicago
Participating in their Saint Patrick's Day Celebration

2011


At the conclusion of the 2005 competitive season, the Murphy High School Winter Guard was promoted to Open Class by the WGI Review Committee. The guard members and staff are extremely honored by this promotion and feel that it is a testament to the many years of hard work and training that they have undergone. We look forward to this challenge, and will continue to put forth competitive programs that are pleasing to our fans and advance the color guard activity, both within our local circuit, and on a world level.

At the begining of 2006, Panoply officially became Murphy Winter Guard. This innovative, and exciting group of dedicated performers continues their steady climb up the competitive ladder.

2008 Murphy guard has a new staff. Bill Blocker, Jenny Jones, and Johnathan Davis. Bringing with them, outside the box thinking, new look and feel, innovative competitive edge and a continued desire to push the envelope within Murphy's winter guard program.

2009 brings Brandon Clemons and his very competitive staff to Murphy Guard. We welcome him, Marcus Brown-Adams, Jonathan Davis returns and Merri Smith. Also bringing Robert Draper, guard alumni Brittany Farrell and Cassie Holder.

2011 Our assistant instructor becomes director. Leo Finuliar brings his skill, experience, expertise and love for the sport to Murphy Guard. He also brings back the "B" guard to compete in Novice class. He also brings Brittany Farrell Holder and Cassie Holder back to instruct, write and choreograph the B guard. We are very fortunate to have all of this talent instructing the two indoor guards. They all have the desire, drive and determination to bring the very best of each performer, out to be successful.