Clayton color guard member to perform at All-American Bowl

Jones was among 125 students nationwide selected to perform during halftime of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 7 in San Antonio, Texas.

"I was just like so happy. I almost started crying," Jones said of finding out she made the team. 

Although she has excelled at color guard, it wasn't always in her plans. 

"When I was coming into high school, I wanted to be a cheerleader, but I couldn't do a back-handspring," Jones said. 

Her band director, John Pearson, credited Jones' hard work for helping her achieve the honor. 

"It's rare that you find kids that are willing to commit to the amount of work it takes to get to the level she had to be to be eligible for this," Pearson said. 

Jones will fly to San Antonio and have a week to practice with the other students before taking the field. She said it isn't the halftime show that makes her nervous. 

"I am nervous about the trip like flying by myself," she said. "I've never really flown."