A member of the Bridgeport High School graduating class of 2007, Victoria Smith Barnosky has returned to the BHS Marching Band frontline. Now a wife, mother and Harrison County Board of Education employee, Barnosky is serving as frontline sponsor.

 

She’s happy about that and proud to be serving her alumni marching band.

 

“I wouldn’t see myself going anywhere else,” she said. “It’s a little weird working with the band director I had in high school, but also nice, because I know what he expects of the frontline.”

 

Barnosky was a color guard her sophomore through senior years at BHS. She also played the saxophone, trombone and percussion.

 

She has some ideas for this year’s team of 11 girls, including one major one.

 

“Last year, the girls ended up strictly doing flag and dance and some of the girls were disappointed because they really like twirling batons and rifles,” she said. “That is one of the things I’d like to bring back and see how they do.”

 

Monday was the first day of BHS band camp and Barnosky said her squad made good progress.

 

“It went really well. They ended up learning the whole first routine,” she said. “We have some cleaning up to do, but the girls were really attentive and I think they are excited to get this year started.”

 

This year’s field show is titled “Uprising” and features tunes including “The Phoenix,” “Uprising” and Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida.” Barnosky thinks the music, which includes slower and upbeat melodies, will showcase the girls’ talents. The fact that the music is well-known makes it even more fun.

 

She is doing her own choreography, getting many of her ideas during evenings during walks with her almost one-year-old daughter Emily.

 

“She sits in the wagon while we go on walks and I make up routines,” she said.

 

Barnosky is a school psychologist. Her office is at the BOE office in downtown Clarksburg and she visits at Liberty High School, Mountaineer Middle and Wilsonburg Elementary schools.

 

She said she’s been interested in the frontline sponsor position for several years.

 

“About six years ago, when my younger brother Nicholas was playing football at BHS, I was watching the band and thought about trying to get involved,” she said. “Of course, life happened. I finished up my master’s degree and educational specialist degree in school psychology. I got married (to Mathew Barnosky) and had a baby. My life has semi slowed down and I just thought that now would be the time.”

 

Members of the 2018-19 BHS Band frontline are Caroline Fulks, Jenna Keefover, Harlee Klingensmith, Emilee Pugh, Abigail Thompson, Shelby Whiteman, Cassie Pugh, Reena Richter, Cindy Sickles, Annie Dolan and Makenzie Walsh. Paislee Adlington had also made the frontline, but was selected as drum major.

 

“She was checking in with us today, so she’s still connected,” Barnosky said.

 

Barnsoky and her frontline will take part in competitions at this year’s Mountain State Forest Festival and Buckwheat Festival.

 

Their complete band will perform a free public show, 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3 at Wayne Jamison Field.

 

Editor's Notes: Barnosky is shown above with the BHS marching band, talking with frontine member Harlee Klingensmith.

 

As was her mother, Mary Francis Smith - former Bridgeport High School assistant principal - Barnosky is a former West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival queen. Both reigned as Regina Maria in the statewide festival held Labor Day weekend in downtown Clarksburg.