Color guard
Staff
2027
Mitch meussner
color guard designer & caption head
Mitch Meussner is excited to return for his fifth season leading the RBCG. Mitch started color guard at Arundel High School, where he was a designer and choreographer for many years, and started marching Drum Corps with the Reading Buccaneers in 1997.
From there, he marched Independent World Class finalist Just Class from Baltimore, MD, and the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps from 2000 to 2002. When not teaching color guard, Mitch enjoys spending time with his niece and nephew as well as his puppy, Luna.
tyler leynes
color guard caption manager & lead choreographer
Tyler Leynes is returning for his 7th season on staff. Previous instructional experience includes various roles of technician, choreographer, and designer at a number of indoor groups along the east coast, including Field of View, Delazure, and AMP Winterguard.
Tyler's own marching experience includes Jersey Surf, The Cavaliers, Reading Buccaneers, Apex, Black Watch, and Field of View.
Michael latch
choreographer
Michael Latch has been a performer and educator in the color guard community for over ten years. A Greater Philadelphia area native, he got his start in the marching arts in high school, where he marched all four years of marching band and indoor guard at Garnet Valley HS.
After high school, he attended West Chester University, where he performed with the WCU Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band in 2017, 2018, and 2019. He has also marched with the Jersey Surf Drum & Bugle Corps in 2015, the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps in 2017, and The Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps in 2019 and 2020. He also marched Fusion Winter Guard for four years from 2023-2026.
He has previously been an educator with various high schools in the area, including West Chester East HS, Garnet Valley HS, and Downingtown East HS, and has worked with Unionville HS for the last four years. He is also actively involved in DCI, working with Madison Scouts for the last five years, Bluecoats for the last two years, and Bucs for the last four years.
mikayla close
movement technician & choreographer
Mikayla Close is a graduate of Elizabethtown College with a master's degree in Occupational Therapy and works for Penn State Health. She started her color guard career with the West Shore School District Color Guard from 2013 to 2019.
Mikayla’s drum corps career began with the Cadets2 in 2018 and continued with the Carolina Crown color guard from 2019 to 2022. Mikayla continued her winter guard career after high school, marching with AMP Winter Guard from 2020 to 2026.
She is the Assistant Color Guard Director at Hempfield High School and has been with them since 2020, and this will be her fifth season with the RBCG!
Frankie Ashton
rifle technician & choreographer
Frankie Ashton is excited to return to the Buccaneers color guard staff for the 2027 season!
Frankie began his marching arts career in 2014 at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School (2014-2018). He then expanded his skills over 6 summers with the Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps (2017-2022). Post-high school, he has marched with Fusion World for 8 seasons (2019-2026), serving as captain for three of those seasons (2024-2026).
Frankie has taught multiple programs in the Southern PA and Central New Jersey area, including Plymouth Whitemarsh High School (2018-2021), Upper Darby High School (2018-present), Hatboro Horsham High School/Hatters Independent (2022-2025), the Bushwackers (2023), Somerville High School (2024-present), Field of View Winter Guard (2027), and the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps (2025-present).
Outside of marching and teaching, Frankie spends his days working for G2 Performance developing costumes, flags, and more for programs across the country. Frankie is thrilled to start his fourth season with the Buccaneers!
lexi mullen
sabre technician
Lexi Mullen’s career started in 2011 with Gateway Regional High School Winter Guard (2011–2018). Alongside their marching band program (2012–2017), throughout high school, she joined the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps (2015–2019).
After high school, she performed with Surge Independent in 2019. In 2026, Lexi joined the staff for Field of View. Lexi is excited to return this summer to the Buccaneers for her fourth season!
Hailey Hodges
flag technician
My name is Hailey Hodges, and I am from Dallas, TX! I began my color guard career in middle school and continued in my high school program until I graduated in 2019. My independent winter guard marching experience includes Origins World 2020-2023 and Fusion 2025-2026. I also marched several DCI groups, including Troopers 2017, Academy 2018, and Bluecoats in 2019, 2020 (RIP), and 2023.
I have taught at several high school programs around Texas ranging from Novice to Scholastic Open, as well as working with Origins A for their inaugural season in 2024. I have been a proud career flag for the entirety of my independent career, and I love to encourage others to do the same! Flag is an underappreciated piece of equipment, and it is my sole mission to change that in this activity.
In my "non-color guard" life, I live with my partner, Colleen, and our kitties, snakes, isopods, and (many) plants. I have a degree in biology and currently work at an environmental consulting firm in South Philly. I also love hiking, painting, knitting, crocheting, and sewing. I am so excited for this opportunity and cannot wait to get started!
Bryce miller-dickson
flag technician
Bryce Miller-Dickson is thrilled to return to the RBCG staff this season! His color guard journey began back in 2012 at Old Mill High School, and it’s been an exciting ride ever since. Bryce has performed with several world-class organizations, including Cadets2 (2018), The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps (2019), AMP Winter Guard (2019, 2025), and the Reading Buccaneers (2024-2025).
Currently, Bryce serves as the Color Guard Director at Old Mill High School and the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the Central Anne Arundel County Indoor Color Guard, where he continues to share his passion for performance and education.
Off the field, Bryce holds a bachelor’s degree in health care management from Towson University and works as the Regulatory Compliance Coordinator at the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center. He’s excited to bring his energy, creativity, and love for the activity to the RBCG family this year.
Jacob allison
color guard technician
My name is Jacob Allison, and I live in Philly! I began my color guard career in high school in Severna Park, MD.
My independent winter guard marching experience includes Towson University Winter Guard 2016-2018 and AMP World 2019-2025. I also marched DCI with The Cadets in 2018 and 2019. I marched several all-age corps, including Cadets2 in 2017, the Caballeros in 2021 and 2022, and the Buccaneers in 2025.
I have taught at multiple high school programs, including Arundel High School, Camp Hill High School, and briefly worked with other programs as well. I have taught at several independent groups, including the Buccaneers 2023, 2024, and 2026; the Madison Scouts 2023, 2024, and 2026; and AMP Open 2026.
My primary piece of equipment is rifle, but I have also done sabre for multiple seasons in my career. During the week, I am an elementary instrumental music teacher in Wilmington, DE.