Springs Valley Grand at Floyd Central and in Louisville
By: Jermaine Williams
info@blackhawkbrigade.com
SV Brigade Media Relations
LOUISVILLE – Back in national competition, the Springs Valley Blackhawk Brigade found themselves just outside of the Regional Finals cut, then were named grand champion at Floyd Central.
Performing for the first time at Papa John’s Stadium on the campus of the University of Louisville, the Brigade performed at the Bands of America Regional prelims. Their show was good enough to place them third in their class and eleventh overall. They were four-tenths a point away from making finals.
“Performing in the Papa John’s Stadium was super cool,” said junior color guard member Ali Dillman. “I love performing in new places.” Sophomore trumpeteer Chris Garrison added that, “It was different performing there but, I had a great time performing.”
Following their time in Louisville, they headed to the Highlander Invitational where they won Class D competition as well as Grand Champion. They also won awards for best drum major, percussion, and overall music.
"We had an exceptional performance weekend,” said Director of Bands Luke Aylsworth. “I was very excited to see the students were not intimidated by the large venue or the high caliber bands. They just did their job and performed very well."
The grand champion award the Brigade won was the second such award won this year. “Winning Grand Champion at Floyd Central is a great achievement,” added Aylsworth. “I think this may be the first time in our history that we have been awarded the title of Grand Champion twice in one season.”
This weekend begins state competition. The Brigade’s first trek back to Lucas Oil begins at Alumni Stadium in Jasper at the ISSMA District Competition. They will take the field 1:36pm in Class D. On Sunday, the Brigade will march in the annual Great Pumpkin Parade, the final event of the Pumpkin Festival.
In the weekly Indiana Marching.com Class D Writers Poll, the Brigade is again ranked third. Top-ranked Lewis Cass has been atop the poll for four consecutive weeks. Forest Park is second. County bands Paoli and Orleans remain fifth and eighth respectively.
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