OXFORD – Practicing since August of 2016, and looking ahead toward a nine month-long span of hard work and training the Oxford Winterguard have been preparing for this day to come for some time.

"They don't call it a sport, but let me tell you, it should be a sport,” said Michele Loughren, a coach of the Blackhawk Winterguard.

Previously, in the 2015-2016 season Oxford proved dominant in their class at that time winning the gold on the year in the Independent Regional A.

Due to the previous year's success, the Oxford Winterguard have now been bumped up a class, moving from the Independent Regional A to their new classification of Scholastic A3.

"We're hoping for gold again this year,” said Renae Ruff, head coach of the Oxford Winterguard.

Competing in the new class Oxford will be faced with some new competition including – Batavia, Central Square, Norwich, Phoenix, and Sherburne-Earlville – all teams that will share the Scholastic A3 with Oxford.

To kick off the 2016-2017 season, the Oxford Winterguard has elected to start the season officially with a full dress rehearsal on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 8 p.m. This rehearsal, The Oxford Academy Family and Friends event is open to the public as all are invited to come enjoy their first performance as they prepare for the official start of the season.

Prior to their first competition, on Saturday, January 28, at New Hartford at 2 p.m., the Winterguard team will be putting their hard work on show for the Oxford Blackhawk fans when they take on a halftime show during the girls varsity basketball game this coming Friday, January 20. The game between the Oxford lady Blackhawks and the Walton Warriors is scheduled for a 7:15 p.m. start time come this Friday.