by Luke Dowker

Before this year, Baldwin High School’s color guard was thought of by most as an all-female activity. However, a recent addition to the group is both making history and breaking down gender barriers – all by turning a flag.

Junior Steve Andrulonis joined the color guard, a division of the marching band, this year, becoming the first male in the history of the school to do so. Andrulonis is a full-time member of the guard, not just a figurehead: he attends practices and performs with the rest of the group during football games.

According to Andrulonis, who had always wanted to be part of marching band but never had much luck playing instruments, the experience so far has certainly been rewarding.

“Everyone is really nice,” he said in regards to the welcoming nature of the band as whole. “They’re so helpful and supportive.”

Andrulonis had several motives for joining the color guard, the foremost being something of a childhood dream.

“I always had a secret love for dancing,” Andrulonis said.

Several of his female friends who had been on the color guard in years past also helped in persuading Andrulonis to join. They were successful; he showed up at last spring’s tryouts and thoroughly impressed the instructors and other color guard members alike.

“Steve picked up on everything so fast,” junior and fellow guard member Megan Mient said of Andrulonis. “He works so hard, and you can just tell he loves doing it.”

Andrulonis is also dealing with the social ramifications that come paired with being the only male on an all-female squad. At a recent football game in Erie, a player on the opposing team harassed Andrulonis, mocking his position and insulting him with a homophobic slur. Fortunately, Andrulonis took the incident in stride.

“There’s been minimal, if any, bullying,” he said. Andrulonis is dead set on remaining optimistic, and he has high hopes for his future in the color guard.