The Marion Patriot Pride Marching Band swept every award category they entered en route to a second straight Grand Championship Saturday at the Mid-South Marching Classic, held at Jonesboro High School.
Marion defeated 18 bands on their way to the championship. In addition to being named Grand Champion, the band earned the following awards:
- 1st Division Band
- 1st Place Color Guard in Class 5A
- 1st Place Percussion in Class 5A
- 1st Place Drum Majors in Class 5A (Noah Sheals, Kaelynn Wright, Kaitlynn Wright)
- Outstanding Soloists in class 5A (Miller Owen and Damien Nicks)
- Best Visual, GE, and Music in Division
- Most Entertaining Band
"It was a great night for our band, and I am incredibly proud of our kids,” said Marion Director of Bands Monty Hill. “Our students have been working hard for months in preparation for the competitive season. We have high expectations for everything they will accomplish in the weeks ahead.”
The top 8 bands at Saturday’s competition were as follows:
- Marion
- Searcy
- Rivercrest
- Hope
- Pocahontas
- Valley View
- Vilonia
- Westside
Up next for the Patriot Pride Marching Band is the Gibson County Marching Invitational this Saturday in Dyer, Tenn. At least 16 bands from four states are expected for the competition. Performance time for Marion is 3:30 p.m.
The Marion School District is an innovative and growing district committed to helping every student find their unique path to success in school and in life. With more than 150 years of experience serving families in Crittenden County, the district offers a high school, a junior high, a seventh grade school, and three award-winning magnet schools. For enrollment information, including information on school choice, visit https://www.msd3.org/ or call 870-739-5100.