2024 GUARD staff

Darrin Mell is excited to return for his third year as Ensemble Director of Crossroads Guard, and his fifth year on staff. He has been a color guard designer, choreographer, instructor, and clinician based in the Midwest for the past 20 years. He has worked with numerous programs including Saydel High School, The Sound of Sun Prairie Marching Band, the Colt Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps, the UWEC Blugold Marching Band, and Ankeny High School.

Darrin began his marching arts journey with the Sound of Sun Prairie Marching Band where he played clarinet for two summers before joining the color guard. He then went on to perform 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 and spends his weekdays in the retail world as a Display Specialist & Visual Merchandiser.

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.

Trevor Wells, currently residing in Madison, WI, graduated from Luther College in Decorah, IA in 2019 with a B.A. degree in Spanish Language. He now works as a Bilingual Point of Sale Support Team Lead at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation.

Trevor spent 5 years performing in the Sound of Sun Prairie High School Marching Band from Sun Prairie, WI where he was raised. He was then fortunate enough to perform for 3 years in The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps Color Guard from 2016-2018.

Since his ageout with the Cavaliers, Trevor returned back to his hometown to serve as an instructor at the Sound of Sun Prairie for the past 3 years. Additionally, he has choreographed for Onalaska High School for the past two years.

Trevor is super excited to return to Crossroads Indoor for their 2024 season after working as the weapon designer for XRG in 2023!

Erin Wolff is delighted to join the Crossroads Guard Staff. 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 Senior Investment Accountant in the greater Des Moines area. She loves road trips, spending time with her nephews, and playing board/card games.

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.

Hannah Emmert is an Iowa native, born and raised in Pella, Iowa. She is a graduate of Iowa State University where she received a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Child, Adult, and Family Services. She is currently the head of operations at Ulta Beauty in Des Moines.

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 dance and advanced flag instructor at the Central Iowa Color Guard Camp (2018-2023) and has assisted at various high schools in the Des Moines area. She is currently the head director and choreographer at Waukee High School for their fall and winter programs. Hannah is thrilled to be back to share her passion for the marching arts as a staff member again this season!

Maya Struhar (she/her) started her dance career at just eighteen months old. She grew up in studio dance, studying under nationally-recognized instructors for sixteen years. During and following high school, Maya marched on the dance and flag line with the Colt Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps (2015-2016) and the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps (2017-2021). Maya served as the captain of the Colts Color Guard for four years, from 2018 until she aged out in 2021.

Maya received degrees in Dance and Organizational Leadership from Cottey College in 2021. She also holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of New Orleans (2023). During her undergraduate and graduate studies, Maya had the privilege of working with the Nevada Crimson Sound Color Guard, and the students at the Spotlight School of Dance. Maya has also served as a movement and flag technician for the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps since 2022.

During the day, Maya works as an Urban Planner in Des Moines. In the evenings, she is a dance instructor for children aged 3-18 at the Spotlight School of Dance in Creston, Iowa and Dance Vision in Johnston, Iowa. She resides in Waukee with her partner and their many, many plants. Maya is ecstatic to join the Crossroads team this winter!

Lauren Hansen is a previous cast member in XRG shows such as Rewild, Shine, and The Body of Your Dreams. Starting in 2015 in the Roland-Story Color Guard, they competed in events such as ISDTA Group and Solo contests, where they won Solo in 2019 for the small school category. Since then, they pursued coaching at Roland-Story for all equipment and dance, Waukee Northwest for rifle and dance, and now being on staff with XRG. From 2019-2023 they were a member in the ISUCFVMB Color Guard and lead as a Guide in 2022. They were involved with 2 of XRP's performances too, designing the costumes for The Essence and Into Oblivion.

As a costume/fashion designer as their main career and becoming a color guard coach recently, this group has brought them the greatest joys and opportunities that they could have asked for! Lauren has shown in fashion weeks and shows all around the nation in places like Omaha, Atlanta, Minnesotta, Des Moines, and their very own home town. Lauren hopes to one day audition for a Worlds Indoor Group and get to perform again in the near future.