Winning isn’t just about trophies. It’s about commitment, discipline, and pushing yourself further than you ever thought possible. It’s about looking at a team of young men and women who have poured their hearts into every practice, every drill, every moment—and seeing them rise to the challenge.

 

There’s nothing like it. Nothing compares to the feeling of standing at a competition, after months of sweat and sacrifice, and hearing the words: “And the overall champion is… Leavenworth.” That’s what fuels me. That’s what drives me. Because it’s not just about me—it’s about these kids. And I won’t let them down.

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The Standard Never Changes

Every year, names and faces change, but the expectations never do. Pioneer Guard doesn’t settle. We don’t make excuses. We step up, we work harder, and we find a way to be better than we were yesterday.

I’ve been doing this long enough to know that success doesn’t happen overnight. When I first started coaching, we took some losses. And I don’t like losing. I don’t like looking at my kids on that bus ride home knowing they gave everything they had, but we didn’t get it done. That’s on me. That’s on us as coaches. So, we adjusted. We tweaked things. We pushed harder.

And in 2019, everything changed. Pioneer Guard proved what we’ve always known—we belong among the best.

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Second Place is Not Enough

Last year, our Pioneer Guard Armed Drill Team made history. Second in the nation. That’s never been done before in this program. That’s a huge achievement. But do you know what I see when I think about second place?

I see the faces of those kids. I see how hard they worked. And I see where I let them down.

I didn’t move the right piece of the puzzle. I didn’t see it in time. And because of that, we didn’t take first.

That will not happen again. We are coming for that national title in Daytona Beach this year, and I can promise you this—Pioneer Guard will be ready.

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Winning is Bigger Than Us

Some people ask why winning is so important. Why does it matter so much? It’s not just about the competition. It’s about the work, the discipline, the impact it has on these kids.

When students commit to this program, they change. Their grades improve. Their confidence grows. They become leaders. They walk taller, knowing they are part of something bigger than themselves.

That transformation doesn’t happen alone. It takes a community. It takes families. It takes coaches. It takes the belief that we can do something incredible together.

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I’ve always said this:
Community + Families + Pioneer Guard + Coach Carnoali + Me = Success.

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Without the support of our families and this community, this program would struggle. I will never stop being grateful for the people who stand behind these kids and make what we do possible.

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How Bad Do You Want It?

Every year, when new cadets come in, I show them a carrot.

That carrot represents Daytona Beach, Florida.

It represents the hard work, early mornings, sweat, and sacrifices it takes to be the best.

How bad do you want it?

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Because at 5 AM, when we step off to start training, it’s easy to want to hit snooze. It’s easy to say, “Not today.” But champions don’t take days off. They show up. They push through. They earn their place.

Pioneer Guard—this is your year. This is your moment.

I’ll be right there with you, pushing every step of the way.

Fired up!!!!

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Hooah

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