By Darrell Halen 

When Kevin Couture, 18, spun a rifle high in the air and caught it, the audience reacted with enthusiastic applause.

Couture is a member of Salem Blue Color Guard, which was participating in a regional winter guard competition.

He and 18 fellow performers spun rifles, sabers and flags to the Aerosmith song, “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing,” during the Saturday, Feb. 2, show.

The competition, organized by the Massachusetts Judges Association and hosted by Salem High School, was held in the school’s gymnasium.

Thirteen groups performed in six classes, which varied in level of experience. Performers included children, teenagers and young adults.

Salem Blue received a score of 75.3 out of 100, edging out their rival, King Philip of Wrentham, Mass., who earned a 72.9, in the Open Class Division.

The Salem group, made up of SHS students and recent graduates, will participate in other regional competitions in February and March. These lead up to the Winter Guard International world championships in April in Dayton, Ohio.

“It’s, like, physically challenging,” said Deserae Miller-Fagan, 15, an SHS sophomore, after the performance. “You’re tired but you just have to practice, rehearse well and have confidence.”

Another performer, senior Christine Gagnon, 17, admitted with a smile that color guard keeps her out of trouble.

“It gives me something to do,” she said. “I helps me clear my head and concentrate on one thing and forget about everything else going on around me.”

Like the other class winners, Salem Blue won a first aid kit as a prize. Before they learned they had come out on top, Gagnon said losing wouldn’t bother her.

“It’s not about winning,” she said. “It’s about how you feel; as long as you did your best, that’s OK.”

The performers were evaluated by equipment, movement, ensemble and general effects judges.