Playing Xs and Os plus #s and bs
Friday night as the marching bands prepared to play their half-time shows at the Meeker-Chandler game, five players veered away from the rest of the football teams.
Rather than heading into the locker rooms for the mid-game pep talk and a bit of a breather, they picked up instruments and got into formation, cleats, pads and all.
“Keeps your cardio up for sure,” said Meeker junior Corbin Maggard, who plays baritone in the band and slot receiver and linebacker. “Whenever the clock gets down to zero and it’s time for half-time, we have to run to wherever the band is, grab our instruments, and line up for pre-show.”
While it could be strange for some to see football players also marching in the band, it’s not so uncommon at rural schools around the state.
Three high schools in Lincoln County - Chandler, Meeker and Prague have a total of six students who play football and are in the marching band.
But what is it really like juggling two very demanding activities that are typically at odds with one another?
“It’s very stressful sometimes,” said Chandler junior Jack Weger, who plays sousaphone (or tuba). He said that it’s two different groups of people. “Band kids are more fun. Football boys are serious and just wild.”
At the same time, it’s these connections that he finds the most rewarding.
Weger said it’s tiring to go straight into formation for the halftime show instead of heading into the locker room with the rest of the team. Summer practice is hectic as well - especially during two-a-days.
For Maggard and freshmen Toby Hayes (saxophone) and Brady Wahpepah (trumpet) at Meeker High School, it’s a struggle rushing from one practice to the other. On Tuesdays, they get sometimes less than 30 minutes between football and band.
Wahpepah said he started football when he was little and didn’t even think about the conflict until he made the varsity team his freshman year.
“I can’t say I wouldn’t recommend this,” he said. Maggard added that he also wouldn’t exactly recommend it either.
For Prague freshman Tucker Holsapple, who plays baritone, it’s difficult to make everything. He often rushes straight from football practice to band without having time to eat or shower.
“I can’t get a complete practice from either,” Holsapple said. However, he said competing in both activities - and doing well - is very rewarding.
It helps that band director Cari Moll and head football coach Rafe Watkins work together to make it possible.
“We’re lucky that our coach is willing to work with us and let him march,” Moll said. “I love having kids that do both. I think it helps the culture in the school.’” Coach Watkins said they want their kids to be involved in as many activities as they possibly can and still be able to excel in the classroom.
Rachel Karger, the band director at Chandler High School, said that at a small school, you have to share kids. And it’s not just band and football, but also academic clubs and other sports. However, even though they are doing more, students are still expected to do their best.
“You still have the same standards as everybody else. You’re certainly not going to get special treatment or be expected to do less just because you’re doing more than one thing,” she said. Karger added that she thinks Chandler does a good job of not monopolizing kids or demanding they choose one over the other.
Tony Thoma, band director at Meeker High School, said he talks with football coach Maverick Lang a lot to make sure he minimizes the overlap as much as possible. This isn’t only limited to rehearsals but also scheduling contests. Either way, he recognizes the commitment Maggard, Hayes, Wahpepah and senior Jaxon Dubler have made.
“I definitely think it takes a special dedication,” Thoma said.