XRG staff

Program COMPOSITION TEAM

Darrin Mell is thrilled to return for his fifth year as Ensemble Director of Crossroads Guard, and his seventh year on staff. He has been a color guard designer, choreographer, instructor, judge, and clinician based in the Midwest for the past two decades. He has worked with numerous programs including Saydel High School, The Sound of Sun Prairie Marching Band, the UWEC Blugold Marching Band, and the Colt Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps. He is currently the Color Guard Director at Ankeny High School in Ankeny, Iowa.

A musician first, Darrin began his marching arts journey in high school while balancing wind ensemble, orchestra, & theater with the Sound of Sun Prairie Marching Band. He played clarinet for two summers in the band before joining the color guard. He has since performed with Premiere Winterguard, the UWEC Blugold Marching Band, the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, and the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Apparel, Merchandising, and Design from Iowa State University which he had been utilizing in his role as a visual merchandiser & display specialist. He’s currently searching for the next new adventure!

Erin Wolff is delighted to return to the Crossroads Guard for her third season, second as the Assistant Director.  Her colorguard journey started in 1996, performing for a decade in DCI with the Colt Cadets, Blue Stars, and the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps.

Erin has been involved with colorguard in the state of Iowa as a performing member, technician, instructor, and consultant. She has worked with Dubuque Senior, Waterloo East, Waterloo West, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, and most recently Ankeny High School.

Outside of colorguard, Erin earned a Master of Accountancy from the University of Northern Iowa and works as a Lead Investment Accountant in the greater Des Moines area. She loves road trips, spending time with her nephews and niece, and playing board/card games.

Jake Jennings has been involved in the performing arts for most of his life. He began his color guard career as a member of the Saydel High School color guard in Des Moines, Iowa, from 2017-2021. In 2020, he continued to pursue his love for color guard as a member of the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps. Jake spent six summers with the corps (2020- 2025) and four as the captain of the color guard (2022-2025). Aside from his drum corps career, Jake has also performed in WGI with Crossroads Guard and most recently marched three years with Juxtaposition (2025-2027).

After graduating, Jake began his teaching career and has worked for many programs throughout the Midwest including Des Moines Roosevelt High School and Ankney High School. Jake is currently the color guard director at Saydel High School. He is also the color guard designer and choreographer for the Colt Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and a color guard technician at the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps.

Outside of the marching arts Jake is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in sport and recreation management with a concentration in interscholastic athletic administration from the University of Iowa.

Jake is excited to be working with Crossroads this winter!

Keri Songer fell in love with the performance arts at a young age, growing up in studio dance. Following high school graduation, she was a color guard member in the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps for four years (’11-’14). Since then she has had the privilege of working with color guard programs throughout Iowa, which along with XRG include Iowa State University, William Penn University, Oskaloosa High School, and Waukee High School. Keri has also had the opportunity to teach dance and flag classes annually at the Central Iowa Color Guard Camp.

Keri received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from William Penn University. She currently does behind-the-scenes work for KBOE Radio, a station based out of Oskaloosa, Iowa, while living in Omaha with her husband Emery and three greyhounds.

Annie Pelka, originally from Chicagoland, studied the art of movement at the University of North Texas, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance. While in school she simultaneously marched 4 years at the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, which grew into a long teaching career at the same corps. After graduating she moved to Atlanta, GA as a performer and teacher. Studying hands-on bodywork and deciphering common movement patterns proved to be the foundation for her massage practice after becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist.

Annie has had the great honor of working with many marching band, winter guard and percussion programs in various design and instruction capacities; some of these programs include Paramount Winter Guard, Odyssey Percussion Theatre, Harrison High School, Kell High School, Mill Creek High School, Pope High School, Mt. Juliet High School, Chantilly High School, Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, and Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps.

EDUCATION TEAM

Abigayle Bayse is originally from the Des Moines area and just recently moved back after spending time away at school. She is currently pursuing her degree in General studies with focuses on business and photography online through Missouri State University. Abigayle has plans of starting her own business after graduation.

Originally a dancer, Abigayle spent four years performing with the Roosevelt marching band and winter guard. She was a member of the Crossroads Guard during the 2023 season and is thrilled to be back with the organization! Abigayle spent the 2023, 2024, and 2025 fall seasons with the Pride Marching Band at Missouri State University. In addition, she had the honor of performing with the Pride of Missouri State world class winter guard in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Abigayle is excited to be back and see what this season brings!

Angie Countryman has served as a color guard designer, choreographer, instructor, adjudicator, consultant, and clinician for the last 35 years. In 2000, Angie co-founded the Independent A color guard, Studio Tucee’ and acted as the guard’s Executive Director for 3 years. She’s worked with numerous programs throughout Iowa including, Iowa State University, Dowling Catholic, Oskaloosa, Newton, Dallas Center-Grimes, and most recently West Des Moines Valley.

Outside of color guard, Angie has worked for a national company based out of Des Moines, Iowa for 20 years. She and her family spend much of their time enjoying family and friends, live music, and sporting events.

Angie is thrilled to join the Crossroads team this winter!

Aubrey Vandeerbeek grew up in Waukee, Iowa and currently lives in Grimes, IA. She graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Psychology and minor in Criminal Justice in 2022 and recently went back to school to obtain a Crime Scene Investigation Certificate at DMACC.

Aubrey found her passion for the performing arts through color guard in high school where she spun fall (‘16-‘18) and winter (‘18 and ‘19). She was a member of the Iowa State Color Guard in 2019, and was a member of Colts Drum & Bugle Corps Color Guard for the 2019 and 2022 seasons. She was also a member of Crossroads Guard for the 2021 season.

Aubrey has been teaching color guard since 2020 where she started off as a technician for Waukee High School. She has since been a technician and caption head at Johnston High School (‘22-‘24). She has also had the opportunity to teach beginner flag at the ISU Cyclone Marching Academy (2025).

Aubrey is looking forward to and is extremely excited to return to XRG for another season!

Hannah Emmert is an Iowa native, born and raised in Pella, Iowa, and currently resides in the Des Moines area. She is a recent graduate of Iowa State University with a master's in Graphic Design.

As a performer, Hannah was a member of the Iowa State Marching Band Color Guard (2017-2019) and Crossroads Guard (2020 & 2021). She was also a member of the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps Color Guard (2021). 

Hannah has been a movement and flag instructor for the beginner, intermediate, & advanced skill levels at the Central Iowa Color Guard Camp since 2018. She has also assisted various high school programs in the Des Moines area with their fall and winter programs. She is currently the head director of the fall & winter color guard programs at Waukee High School and works closely with their sister school, Waukee Northwest, during the combined winter season. 

Hannah is thrilled to be back as a staff member this season!