When watching Red and Gold from the audience, you’ll probably see a few falling drill stunts, people getting trampled during finale, or someone getting hit during a dance. However, there are even more injuries that no one is really able to see.
Let’s take a look at some of Rosary’s brave soldiers, injured during the call of Red and Gold duty:
The Red team producer, Ava Fishman ‘24, really gave her all to her team, and almost broke a bone in the process: “Red and Gold this year was so fun! But I took the saying “red or dead” seriously. During finale on Friday I was wearing a platform red shoe as one does and stumbled a bit. I honestly didn’t notice that it was that bad and the adrenaline kept me going until I woke up Sunday thinking, ‘wow my foot really hurts,’ and I looked down and my foot was huge and purple. Luckily, no broken bones, just a sprain, so go red forever and no regrets.” Ava’s passion for Red and Gold is truly evident through her bruised and battered ankle.
Another injury on the Red team was from one of the Red drama stars Kit Hayward ‘24. While playing one of the main characters, the narrator, Kit put a little too much effort into her role: “I had to do a little bit onstage where I dropped to my knees and begged my costar, Michaela Watson ‘26 for a ‘job.’ The third night of this drop, however, I skidded a little too far and ripped the top layer of skin off my knee, which bled embarrassingly through my mariachi red sparkle pants. It was traumatizing and painful.” At least she can honestly say she was dedicated to her role.
Ava Graham ‘26 injured herself during one of Red team’s Flex period rehearsals and still was able to perform during the actual Red and Gold performance: “I got injured while stunting on a hill, and when I landed after flying, my ankle completely rolled to the side and hit the ground. When I went to the trainer she told me that I tore more than 3 of the ligaments in my ankle. I’m glad that rehab worked with our school’s trainer, so I was able to do my drill and stunt with the help of an ankle brace for extra support.” If I tore 3 ligaments, personally, I would just give up right then and there.
On the Gold team, one of the drill captains, Sammy Oskorus ‘25 had a little too much faith in her stunt group: “During Red and Gold rehearsal, my stunt group accidentally dropped me when I was going for a back-walkover, causing me to land on my head. My bases threw my legs out, but I stood up and continued, even though, while I was walking back, I got whacked in the face.” Personally, if I fell on my head and then proceeded to get hit in the face again, I probably would have continued, but there would be tears streaming down my face. Props to Sammy for continuing with a smile and not missing a beat.
Even I can attest to the dangers of the Red and Gold finale. During the Gold team finale on Saturday night, as the curtain was coming down and the whole team began to do the final “Gold’s in the house” chant, an unknown royal stepped on my finger, and although it didn’t break, it still hurts and seems to be dented which is slightly concerning. This occurred after what seemed like years, but was actually only about 5 minutes of being hit in the face with a blow up costume that was next to me. At the same time, I was being choked by the person behind me that was accidentally pulling on my gold necklaces. Although it felt like I was on the verge of dying for the entirety of the finale, the passion unlocked by Red and Gold is something that cannot be matched.
At face value, Red and Gold may seem to run relatively smoothly. However, I can assure you that we put our literal blood, sweat, and tears into these productions. Although most of us emerge from Red and Gold weekend with several battle scars, we wouldn’t trade it for anything else.
