Jahir Guitierrez 26’ has spent the first quarter of junior year under stadium lights, performing with the Johnston Marching Band and hustling on the field with the Varsity Football Team. This football player is the Waldo of the marching band. Instead of a red and white hat and glasses like Waldo from “Where’s Waldo?” He wears cleats and knee pads with the marching band, as you can find him marching with the band in his football jersey every Friday night home game.
Once the timer hits half time, the football players hustle off the field, and the marching band takes the field, for Guitierrez, he hustles to the sideline with the rest of the band.
“After 8th grade I thought it was going to be a one time thing, but by the end of the season I found more enjoyment in football so I started doing it, freshman, sophomore and now this year as well,” Guitierrez said.
Football wasn’t always a passion for Guitierrez, it was something he expected to be a single season sport for him. However, he developed an enjoyment for the sport that led him to keep playing it.
His strive to be the best at what he does, doesn’t come from nowhere, but from the love and support of his family, and his religion. Jahir is very close with his family, and strives to get better everyday in the sports he participates in. He is also faithful, and prideful in his Christian religion, he is taught to always try to be the best in what he does.
”My parents motivate me a lot because no matter what they are always there helping me in what I need. God is the main reason I keep going and do what I do because I know that no matter what he is always going to be there by my side. In the church that I attend, God has chosen an apostle who also motivates me to try my best in everything or anything I do,”
Johnston High School isn’t the first marching band he has been in, as he first marched at Lincoln, then transferred over to Johnston High School in his sophomore year. Currently in his Junior year, he plays the trumpet, and is prideful to be a participant in the marching band.
“I thought I was gonna get talked about… once I went back to warming up, I had some friends in football that asked, how did I do it, and how did I do it in My knee pads and cleats,” said Guitierrez.
Many of his teammates were surprised when Jahir didn’t follow them off the field during halftime, but lined up with the marching band instead. He acknowledges that he gets a few looks from his peers, as throughout the years it’s not common to have football players in marching bands.
“Jahir is a wonderful, kind young man with many interests and talents. He is a quick learner and works hard to be the best he can. I particularly like to see him marching in his football pads and jersey. He is living proof that being in athletics and band is 100% possible,” said Band Director Craig Crilly.
As a marcher, he has made an impact uplifting fellow band members and is always bringing energy to the early band activities. As both Football and marching band schedules nears to the end, Jahir looks forward to the next season.
“Just do it, it’s going to be worth your time, even if you think it won’t. You never know how it feels to do both until you actually do it. It’s all about the experience,” said Guitierrez.
