BROOKINGS – The Bobcat Marching Band made history once again last Saturday, taking the top score in all classes to become the Grand Champion at USD’s Dakota Dome Quad State field marching band competition.

The Bobcats have competed in this event for years, but it’s the first time the band has taken the Grand Champion trophy home. They placed first in open class, category 5, with a score of 92.675 from a panel of national judges. They also received top marks in Best Music, Best Overall Effect, Best Marching and Best Percussion. 

This was their final competition, just one week after a top 10 performance at the Youth in Music event at US BANK Vikings Stadium in Minneapolis. 

“After achieving finalist status at Youth in Music, these kids could have just sat back and relaxed,” Brookings High School Band Director Ron Stary said. “Not this group. They have an excellent work ethic and the pride to stay strong to the very end of a long season. They continued to improve, even adding more details to their production for the final home football game and competition.”

Senior Hunter Winghart says it took many hours of work for the band to get to this level.

“It all started in March with getting the time and ideas flowing, and all summer to learn the music,” Winghart said. “Then all of August to learn how to apply the music to the field, and then during the competition season, we practice every morning bright and early. It takes a lot of time but every single minute is worth it.”

The season was full of peaks and valleys for the band. In July, a longtime band staff member was diagnosed with cancer, and an incoming freshman band member was involved in an accident. 

Rain was also a factor for outdoor practices through September, preventing the band from learning its parade routine. 

“I still am amazed that we achieved second place at the parade in the Sioux Falls Festival of Bands,” Stary said. “It speaks volumes about the trust and work ethic these students have developed over the past few years in the program.”

Stary said all the challenges add to the life lessons students learn in the course of the marching band season.

“All this success after so many challenges would make this season special to any coach or director,” he said. “Back in June, there were those who doubted we could rise to the demands of this ambitious program, and people were concerned that the band had fewer participants. Add to that the transition of replacing an incredibly strong graduating class.

“The student leadership team showed amazing belief in what they were capable of doing. All credit goes to them, and as one of the judges on Saturday told them, ‘All that preparation and training showed up when it counted in October.’”

The band is now preparing for its final Marching Band performance of the year. The public is encouraged to attend its indoor show in Jostad Gym at Brookings High School at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6.