Kelly Ballard
Graceanne Sullivan
Kelly and Graceanne are back!
Kelly and Graceanne started coaching with All Saints in 2002 when it first began. They continued on as coaches for the next few years until taking a short haitus. They are back once again coaching for All Saints. The kids, parents and staff are very excited to have Kelly and Graceanne back at All Saints.
We interviewed Kelly and Graceanne and asked them the following questions:
How old were you both when you first started spinning?
Kelly - I started spinning at 14, which is the first time I saw color guard. I took dance for 10 years and loved it, but when I went to my first color guard show I was hooked and joined the next year! I started in Automation Color Guard in Randolph and spun there for 5 seasons. When Automation folded, I went to Avilaros of Boston and marched there for 2 years. Then I had one season with St. John’s Beverly World in 2005.
Graceanne - I began spinning in 1995 with the Automation Colorguard at the ripe age of 8 as a Novice, although I taught myself how to spin a year or 2 prior watching my sister and her friends. I stayed with Automation until 2001. In 2002, I decided to take big step and joined St. Johns of Beverly and began spinning in the open class at a national level until 2004. In 2005 we moved up to world.
Which World Guard(s) did you Spin with?
Kelly - I spun for two world guards – Avilaros in 2000 and St. John’s of Beverly in 2005. After teaching St. John’s Open for 3 years, when they moved up to world I saw an opportunity to march with my sister Graceanne, and I am so glad I did it! It was a great year.
Graceanne - In 2005 St. John's moved up to a World Guard and I had the honor of spinning with Kelly which was the best experience of my life.
How many total years experience do you have spinning?
Kelly - I am aging myself, but since I have been spinning since 1993, I have now been spinning for 17 years!!!
Graceanne - I've been spinning since 1995 so ... 10+ years!
How many total years experience do you have coaching?
Kelly - I started coaching in 1998 at Automation, and have been teaching almost every year since then! I have 10 years of teaching experience overall. That experience includes the achievement of Best Rifles Open Class 2003 when I was the rifle tech for St. John’s. It also includes a Bronze Medal in the WGI Championships in 2004 for St, John’s Open.
Graceanne - I began teaching at All Saints when it started and remained part of the instruction staff until 2006. The first year we started with a Cadet guard and put out a show entitled "Man, I Feel like a Woman." In years following we worked with the Cadet, C and B guard levels. In 2007 Kelly and I briefly worked with the St Anns C guard who took home the title of Emass Champions.
Graceanne gave us some additional thoughts on coming back to All Saints-
Coming back to the All Saints Colorguard has come as nothing short of a miracle. During the time I was not involved I knew something was missing. After having colorguard in my life for 10+ years, I missed it more than anything. This program is so well organized and feels like home to me. Working with new girls as well as a few girls I worked with since their first All Saints practice is amazing. I hope to bring excitement and technique to this colorguard, as well as a lot of fun!
Welcome home Kelly and Graceanne! We're so very happy to have you back with us.
Also joining our full-time coaching staff is Danielle DeGrechie and Maureen "NoMoe" Raymond.
Danielle came on as an Assistant Coach
during the 2010 - 2011 season and was promoted to "Coach" at the beginning of the 2011 - 2012 season. Congratulations Danielle!
Thanks for joining our staff!
Danielle, when did you begin colorguard?
I began marching with the Braintree Braves at age 6. When I was 7, my parents and a couple of other parents organized and began Automation out of Randolph. I marched there until I was 14.
Have you been active in colorguard over the years?
Yes, I knew some girls that were in St. Ann's and have gone to competitions off and on for the last 10 years.
How did you hear about All Saints?
I saw the recruiting flyer for All Saints Color Guard come home in my daughter's school bag and she finally decided she wanted to join. I took her to the recruiting exhibition and saw Kelly Ballard, with whom I marched in Automation. I offered to help out with the girls and have to admit it has been the most gratifying experience I have ever had. I worked with both guards this year and have enjoyed watching all of the girls grow and succeed.
Maureen "NoMoe" Raymond has also been promoted from Assistant Coach to a full-time Coach. She has been involved in colorguard for quite a number of years (as seen below in her 1994 Satin Dolls team photo) and is quite talented. She currently has twin girls on the All Saints Cadet Team.
All Saints has 3 Assistant Coaches for the Cadet Team; Emilie Gray, Kate Preble and Jill Lamson.
Emilie is a 9 yr. member of ASCG who coached the Cadets during their Alvin and the Chipmunk season as well as assisted with the Cadet team during the 2010 - 2011 season. She is an A guard captain and has joined the coaching staff as an Assistant Coach for the Cadets for the the 2011 - 2012 season.
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Kate Preble, the only 10th year ASCG Veteran Member; Coach for the Cadet Guard during the Alvin and the Chipmunks year; and an A Guard Captain has also joined the coaching team as an Assistant Coach for the Cadets. Kate has been with All Saints since 2002 when it all began.
And finally, Jillian "Jill" Lamson who has joined the coaching staff as an assistant coach to the Cadet Guard during the 2011 - 2012 season. Jill started her colorguard experience spinning with the Braintree Braves then moved on to Automation where she spun with both Graceanne and Kelly for quite a number of years. She currently has a step-daughter on the Cadet guard.
All the members and parents feel very blessed to have such a creative, talented and dedicated volunteer coaching team.
Thank you for all you do!
