Three local bands competed last weekend at the Oklahoma Bandmaster’s Association 1A-3A State Championship, with Chandler High School ranking 7th overall in the finals.
Chandler, Stroud High School and North Rock Creek High School competed, with Chandler and Stroud in 2A and North Rock Creek in 3A. In the prelims, Chandler placed third in 2A and eighth overall, while Stroud placed eighth in 3A and 25th overall. North Rock Creek placed 7th in 3A and 15th overall, barely missing the top 12 that went through to the finals.
Chandler also placed second in 2A during the finals.
“The kids had two really good runs. It was a very, obviously a very difficult field with 32 bands,” said Chandler Director Zach Fisher.
He added that there were a lot of really good schools at the competition this year, and his goal for the band was just to make the top 12 and compete in finals. The band exceeded his expectations.
“Seventh is exactly what we finished last year, but I felt like the field this year was actually a lot more difficult than it was last year, top to bottom. So I was very pleased with how we finished,” he said.
Fisher added that there were a lot of really good bands that missed out on finals.
Up next for all marching bands in the area is OSSAA Regionals. Rather than competing for first or second place, Regionals gives all bands a score of one through four, with one being Superior and four being Fair. Bands who receive all ones at Regionals in the fall and Districts and State in the spring will receive a sweepstakes award for the year.
Chandler is expected to compete in McAlester on Oct. 14, along with Prague High School and McLoud High School. However, delays are expected with inclement weather in the forecast.
Fisher said last year, he chose the late week for Regionals, giving the band Fall Break off, which was a choice he was not going to make again this year.
“We completely just lost our edge and took the foot off the gas and had a really bad run last year and got a two,” he said. “You got to stay focused, and you got to stay locked in. You have to keep rehearsing really well and keep rehearsing strong so that we can go Wednesday and earn the rating that you deserve because that’s the way they’ve been performing and the way they’ve been rehearsing.”
Stroud High School and Meeker High School competed at OSSAARegionals on Oct. 13 in Oologah. North Rock Creek will compete on Oct. 21 at Enid.