Marching band placed second overall in the Vista Ridge Marching Festival on Oct. 8 at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex. They competed against 26 other marching bands. 

The band had rehearsals for three weeks over the summer, which lasted 8 to 12 hours per day. They also have training five days during the school week. 

“It’s a lot of hard work,” junior Justin Reece said. “We’ve been preparing for months and we’re only about halfway through the competition season.”

The Vista Ridge Marching Festival took up a full day. 

“Performing takes up a lot of mental and physical energy,” Reece said. “It’s really draining, but  getting to spend the whole day with my friends is really fun and makes lifelong memories.”

Senior Drum Major Victoria Corral was proud of the band for a great performance.

“This past competition was really fun,” Corral said. “There was a lot of pressure going into the competition because we knew we had a job to do. Although it was disappointing that we missed finals by 0.2 points, the energy in the past rehearsals has been great and everyone is working really hard to improve.”

Despite the results, the band continues to rehearse and persist. 

“I have learned so much being in band,” Corral said. “This year especially has taught me to push through and persevere especially when it feels hard. By remembering the goals our band has and having a strong community, it makes the hard days easier.”