Marching Mustangs Win the State Finals!
By: Mahalia Battle
11/13/23
Edgewood High School's show called “On Your Spot” won the ISSMA Marching Band State Finals, leaving with 1st place in Class C at the Indiana State School Music Association on Saturday, October 28th. The show took place at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. There were a total of 40 schools across all classes and 10 including Edgewood High School in Class C.
The marching band celebrating winning state competition form 2022
The ISSMA Marching Band State finals were to gather some of the best high school marching bands in Indiana. It has been described as a way to show the school´s dedication and hard work towards their performances as well as to bring schools together to show what they have trained for. Alana Armstrong, a 6th grader who was at the performance, talked about her excitement when they announced they won. “It was such a pleasant experience,” she says. “I was so shocked when I figured out we had won. Go Edgewood!” Other members of the marching band also expressed their happiness about winning for the second year in a row.
The victory was also widely celebrated around Ellettsville with people putting up billboards, signs, celebrating on sidewalks by streets, and some stores even changing the screens outside to congratulate the school. Even before that, people were gathering around banks and stores with signs wishing the marching band good luck, and showing pride for their school. There were even people painting and drawing on their vehicles to congratulate and cheer for the school. Charlotte Lucas, another 6th grader and a member of the prop team, says, “I cried three times because it was my brother's last season and I was so happy that he won.”
The Marching band worked really hard to accomplish their goal and get into the state finals and they practiced almost everyday except Wednesday. They even practiced some days after school hours, and they trained hard to succeed in the finals. Many people were very proud and glad that our school won and thought that what they did was a great performance. The director of the show, Aaron Wells, constructed the show and Curt Koehler, our school's band director/teacher, helped with it as well along with some 8th graders who were able to join the marching band too. Overall, the show was a success and went well.
A group photo of after they won the competition
After they announced the awards and who got which place, the high school won a trophy and to celebrate they had police siren sounds. Everybody did great and in the end, we went out in first place. Overall it was a great performance, and everyone who performed did amazing.
Contributor bio:
Mahalia is an 11-year-old 6th grader who likes to hang out and mess around with her friends