Countdown to State

It's almost here. The moment that the band has been working towards all year. It's time to head to Tampa/St. Pete and defend the title of 5A Florida State Champions. Choctaw has won the title 3 times in the last 4 years - in 2006 Seminole beat us by 6 tenths of a point :-(

All the kids are really excited. Christian already has all the important things packed. For him, the important things include $20 worth of junk food from the Dollar Store and DVDs to watch on the bus. Adam and I will have to make sure that he actually remembers toothpaste, clean underwear, clothes in general :-)

They always stop on the way down and practice. It's usually at a college or high school. This year they will be stopping in Tallahassee to practice on the FSU practice field. That should be really neat considering FSU has the largest college marching band in the world.

Posing for their yearbook photo.

Retreat at last year's State Championship. All of the Finalist Bands (25 total) get to be present on the field for the Awards Ceremony. Choctaw is the last band on the right.

If you haven't seen the video from last year, here is a link. It's way choppy and jerky because we were walking while filming. But, it's still really neat. At Retreat, bands are dismissed by class (smallest 1A to biggest 5A) and then by place (5th to 1st). So, we were the last off of the field. The kids waited until everyone was off (to be good sports) and then started huddling, hoisting the Drum Major and singing "We Are the Champions"

So, anyway wish 'em luck!!! They report to the school and start making their way at 4:45 AM tomorrow.