Taylor Mersmann
Junior Gabby Guydosh leads the band at Children's Health Stadium during halftime.
Every Friday, Gabby Guydosh stands above the marching band and conducts the musicians through the piece they have worked on for the past three months.
But she isn’t even supposed to be there.
Osteoporosis is a silent disease that increases the chance of fractures and breaks in the patient’s bones. For Junior Gabby Guydosh, this means her dream of marching on the football field will put her body at risk.
Just as a sophomore, Guydosh became the youngest drum major at Walnut Grove. Her assistant band director, Elayna Youngson, encouraged her to try out for the position her freshman year.
“My freshman year, when I marched, I fractured my foot,” Guydosh said. “I still marched, which wasn’t a good idea. After that, I fractured my hip and my other foot, so I was in a wheelchair for the rest of freshman year.”
Youngson was shocked at Guydosh’s decision to apply for section leader when Youngson believed Guydosh had a natural initiative to guide.
“She just seemed like such a natural leader as someone who is already dedicated to the band, and is already such a good person as well,” Youngson said. “She was already in the place of wanting to serve others, and that’s the foundation of all leadership.”
Even compared to her co-drum major, Ximena Castro, Guydosh’s time as drum major is atypical.
“It’s such a weird season because there are two senior drum majors, and one junior drum major,” Castro said. “So we have a bit of a different perspective because we marched for three years, while she has only marched one. But I really like how the season is going. I think we balance each other out a lot and can be the best team possible.”
Some band members believed Guydosh became a drum major because of her inability to march.
“I think my position is just very unique, being chosen as a sophomore is not a normal thing to happen,” Guydosh said. “Sophomore year was definitely challenging because I had to prove myself to everyone that I am capable. But I think the confidence with the position came over time, and now I really have it.”
Guydosh’s leadership skills have enabled her to create a positive and comfortable environment within the band, even with the band’s other drum majors.
“She’s just special and such a goofy person. It’s fun to be around that energy,” Castro said. “When we won finals, we got to hold our awards and finally celebrate. We booked up the stairs. We just started screaming and losing it, we were so hyped, and it was so worth it.”
Though Guydosh did not plan to become a drum major, she is happy to lead.
“But I’m really glad, I feel like this is exactly where I’m supposed to be,” Guydosh said. “And it’s the way I enjoy band the most, by seeing everybody else enjoy it. Seeing people have fun, work hard, and feel loved and appreciated. And seeing the program flourish fulfilled me more than anything else could have, even marching.”