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Wildcat Marching Band percussionist McKenna Meskimen performs at the Area competition Saturday in Mesquite. Courtesy/Spencer Emmert
The Sulphur Springs HS Wildcat Band traveled to Mesquite Memorial Stadium Saturday to compete in the UIL Area Marching Contest.
This contest was comprised of all of the best bands in Area C for UIL Music. Bands who received a First Division at their Region Level qualified for advancement to AREA. Our UIL Area consists of Region 4 (our region – stretching from Sulphur Springs to Texarkana); Region 3 (the Mesquite/ Forney area); Region 20 (Dallas and South of Dallas); and Region 21 (Tyler/ Longview Area, down to Lufkin).
These top bands performed for five judges for a chance to advance to the State Marching Contest in San Antonio.
“The judging system has changed a bit this year and added eligible points to the overall production aspects of each group’s show,” Spencer Emmert, Sulphur Springs head director, said. “Going into the contest we were really excited to see how our show ‘Be Our Guest’ would stack up.”
As a result of a random draw, Sulphur Springs was the very first band to perform for the judges. “Going first is always a tough place, mainly because the judges are still working at that point to establish their scale or how they are scoring each group comparatively. We told the kids that they were going to have to have the best show of the year, especially since they were first,” Emmert said.
After preliminary competition had concluded the top seven bands from the contest advanced to Area Finals for another opportunity to perform, and Sulphur Springs advanced to the Finals for the first time in school history!
“This was a goal for our group from day-one and a direct result of the students’ commitment to hard work and to their team,” Emmert said. “We were beyond excited and thrilled to be in the same conversation as some of the best bands in the State of Texas.”
Sulphur Springs Wildcat band was the only band from Region 4 to advance to the Finals. During Finals, two of the music judges change over to judge marching, and both marching judges change to music.
The Wildcat Band’s finals performance was the best of the season.
“The seniors really showed leadership and example for the rest of the band as they prepared to perform at Area Finals for the first time in school history,” Emmert said. “Although the band did not advance to the state contest, this step up in the band competition world has been noticed by so many people and is a testament to what these kids are capable of accomplishing with selfless dedication. We are also so blessed to have a great band staff of educators. Thank you to Ms. Bialecki, Mr. Garza, Mr. Griffin, Mrs. Robinett, Mr. Proctor, and Mr. Dawes for a great season as well!”
Look for the band in their upcoming performances at the opening of “THE WALL THAT HEALS” Thursday, Nov. 4 at 5:30 p.m. at the memorial site and on Nov. 11 at the Veterans’ Day Assembly.
-Submitted by Spencer Emmert