Valleyfest XXXIII

The Eddyville Blakesburg Fremont Marching Band had a very exciting day Saturday as the band placed 1st in the Valleyfest and Showdown Competitions in West Des Moines, outscoring all of the other 2A bands including North Polk. E/B won the Valleyfest 2A competition with a score of 67.2, 13 points ahead of the nearest competitor. Eddyville / Blakesburg also won the Outstanding Marching and Maneuvering, Hornline, Drumline, Color Guard, and Soloist of the Day Awards. Jessica Jones was chosen as the Outstanding Soloist in class 2A. EBF outscored 16 bands at the Valleyfest contest including Tri Center, North Polk, Norris, Nebraska, Carlisle, Atlantic, Adel Desoto, Knoxville, Bondurant Farrar, Dallas Center-Grimes, Clarke, Creston, Oskaloosa, Des Moines Lincoln, Des Moines East, Des Moines Roosevelt, and Newton. The judges selected Riley Arnold as the best marcher in the band.

In the evening contest, the “Showdown” of bands, the E.B.F.H.S. Marching Band placed 1st in class C with a score of 60.7. This is the 18th consecutive year that the band has placed 1st at the “Showdown” Contest. The band also won the Outstanding Color Guard, Drumline, Marching, Hornline, and Soloist trophies. The judges once again selected Jessica Jones as the Outstanding Soloist in class C for her amazing performance.

The E.B.F.H.S. Band has 70 members this year. The band is directed by Joe Overton, Dezirae Russell, color guard instructor Paige Langstraat, and drumline Instructor Paige Francis. The field commanders are Samantha Claypool and Emma Haselhuhn. Drumline Section leader is Emma Tanner. The soloists for this year’s show are Andrea Long, Anna Haselhuhn, Jessica Jones, Heath Rice, and Paige Reck.

This Saturday, the E.B.F.H.S. Marching Band will compete at the State Marching Band Contest in Pella and then travel to Ankeny that evening to defend their title at the Mid-Iowa Band Championships. The band performs at 10:05 in State competition where they have earned a Division I rating for the last 26 years in a row. In the evening Mid-Iowa Band Championships competition, the band performs at 6:05 where they have placed 1st 15 times in the last 17 years.

As always, friends and supporters of the band are encouraged to attend and lend your vocal support.

Outstanding Marcher: Riley Arnold!! Outstanding Color Guard!!