Marching Knights end a fun season

November 12, 2009  
Filed under Entertainment

By Sarah Jacques and Shannon Buckley
Round Table editor and reporter

After a rewarding year of much improvement, the season for the Middletown Marching Knights ends on Nov. 15.

Throughout the season, the Knights improved their competition score from 65.45 to 83.25. Many of the Marching Knights, as well as band director Matt Shearer, enjoyed band this year.

“Despite the disgusting weather, the season was successful. Though it took awhile to get the show together, the marching band did it. It was a successful season, and I’m very proud of the students,” Shearer said.

The Marching Knights will miss their senior marchers next year but are excited to welcome the upcoming freshmen into the band.  This year, the marching band played  in the Middletown Heritage Day Parade and the Middletown Halloween Parade, competed in numerous competitions, and played for the Wolfsville, Myersville, and Middletown elementary schools. 

The elementary school kids loved hearing the Marching Knights play their competition show, “The Fight Song,” and some stand jams, as well as seeing various instruments.  Shearer talked to the children about joining the marching band when they enter high school.

The seniors this year planned a cake-off at Middletown Park on Nov. 7. 

The Marching Knights were split up into two teams; the freshman and sophomore classes versus the junior and senior classes. It was a time for the marching band members to get together one last time this year as a whole.

“The cake-off was so much fun. It was something the seniors thought would be a good way to end the season and say goodbye,” said MHS senior Leah Cockerham, drum major of the marching band. “We really wanted to start new traditions just so other people would get to have an amazing marching band experience just like we did.”

The students enjoyed the year and had many good times in band this season. “Marching band is really the only thing worth signing up for,” said MHS sophomore Josh Kepler, a pit percussionist in the band.

Though the practices were hard work,and competitions filled up the band members’ weekends, the marchers had a successful and fun season.

“I can’t wait for next season,” Kepler said.