South Wake Teams Earn Multiple Titles at AIA South Guard and Percussion Championships
Holly Springs and Apex programs lead local results with first-place finishes across Winter Guard and Indoor Percussion at Crown Coliseum
Holly Springs, NC, Apr. 1, 2026 — More than 100 ensembles from across the Southeast gathered at Crown Coliseum last weekend for the Atlantic Indoor Association (AIA) South Championships, a two-day event featuring Winter Guard, Indoor Percussion, and Indoor Winds.
Seventy-two Winter Guard units competed on Saturday, followed by percussion and winds ensembles on Sunday. Among them, South Wake programs recorded multiple top finishes across classifications, including several first-place finishes.
Winter Guard: First-Place Finishes Across Multiple Classifications
South Wake programs were represented across nearly every level of Winter Guard competition, from elementary through upper classifications.
First-place finishes (listed alphabetically):
Apex Friendship Blue — 1st, Scholastic Regional A1 (84.430)
Felton Grove Combined Winter Guard — 1st, Scholastic Regional A2 (82.960)
Holly Springs Gold — 1st, Scholastic Open (87.600)
Holly Springs Jr Hawks — 1st, Middle School (93.320)
Holly Springs Lil Hawks — 1st, Elementary (80.980)
Additional placements:
Holly Springs Purple — 2nd, Scholastic A2 (76.210)
Apex Friendship Red — 5th, Scholastic A1 (79.890)
Middle Creek HS Red — 5th, Scholastic Regional A1 (76.900)
Middle Creek HS Varsity — 4th, Scholastic A2 (74.660)
Fuquay-Varina HS Winter Guard — 14th, Scholastic A3 (66.150)
Note: A complete listing of all Winter Guard results can be found by clicking here
Indoor Percussion: Felton Grove Earns Title in Scholastic Region A
Indoor Percussion results included one first-place finish from a South Wake program:
Felton Grove Combined Percussion — 1st, Scholastic Regional A (80.725)
Additional placements:
Holly Springs Indoor Percussion — 6th, Scholastic A (80.550)
Middle Creek Indoor Percussion — 10th, Scholastic A (77.425)
Apex Friendship Indoor Percussion — 11th, Scholastic A (76.405)
Note: A complete listing of all Indoor Percussion Ensemble (IPE) and Winds results can be found by clicking here
Beyond the Scores
While placements provide a snapshot of performance, much of the weekend unfolded away from the floor.
Between runs, students filled the stands watching other groups, pointing out moments that stood out and talking through what they had just seen. In the concourse and hallways, conversations carried from one performance to the next, with performers comparing shows, techniques, and design choices.
A quieter tradition also played out throughout the venue. Students exchanged decorated clothespins, often customized with team names or show themes, as part of a long-standing ritual known as “clipping.” Some were handed off directly. Others appeared without notice, attached to backpacks or jackets as they passed.
At one point during the weekend, even while covering the event, a clothespin appeared on my own backpack without me noticing. It was a small moment, but one that reflected how participation extends beyond the performance itself.
For those involved in the activity, that broader experience is part of the point.
“It’s for the kids,” said Mike McCain, AIA South Second Vice President, reflecting on what continues to draw people back to the activity.
For many programs, the championships represent a checkpoint within a longer season of development rather than a finish line.
“You see the growth over a season, but you really feel it at an event like this,” said Chris Foster, Director of Bands at Felton Grove High School. “The confidence, the connection, the pride, they carry that with them long after the performance is over.”
Related story: AIA South Championships Bring 100+ Ensembles to Fayetteville for “The Sport of the Arts”
Photographs: All team performances and awards ceremony (by Mick Stewart Photography)
Such an amazing group of kids!!