The Big Spring High School Band competes in the University Interscholastic League Regional Marching Contest Saturday in Odessa. The Steer Band received all top marks from the judges and advances to Saturday’s Area Marching Contest at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa. (Courtesy photo/Tony Claxton)
With those top ratings, BSHS and Forsan advance to next weekend’s Area Contest. The top qualifiers in that meet will earn a trip to Austin for the state UIL marching contest later this year.
The BSHS Steer Band, which hasn’t qualified for the state contest since 2001, was the highest-ranked Class 4A squad at Saturday’s meet. The band earned earned Division I ratings — the highest possible — from all three judges.
Director Rocky Harris was pleased with the lofty rankings, but realizes the band still has work to do.
“We got a lot of compliments, but there’s still some things we need to work on as we advance to Area,” Harris said. “But it went very, very well. The kids were prepared and focused and they did their best performance to date, and the judges were very impressed and complimentary.”
Big Spring received comments such as “great fundamentals,” “very tasty show” and “outstanding drill” from the judges, Harris said.
At the area contest, the Steer Band will be the last Class 4A band to compete in the preliminary round. The top 10 bands from prelims compete in an additional round, with the top four bands earning a trip to the state contest.
Harris said his charges will be at their best if they hope to punch a ticket to Austin.
“What they can expect (at the area contest) will be some very fine schools from the Dallas-Fort Worth area coming out and doing their best,” Harris said. “We will have to fewer mistakes in our drills and play very, very well ... Our goal is to at least make the top 10 and advance to the finals.”
Forsan High School, under the direction of Jim Rhodes, is looking to defend its Class 1A state title the band won in 2007. The FHS band has advanced to the state contest the past three times it was eligible.
Like Big Spring, Forsan also earned all Division I ratings from the judges at Saturday’s regional contest.
No other area bands qualified for area competition. Coahoma earned an overall Division II rating from the judges in Class 2A competition, as did Stanton in Class 1A.
Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331, ext. 234, or by e-mail at
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