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Marching all the way to state

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They marched and they strutted. They moved and inspired. In all, the marching bands from the Leander ISD were just plain fabulous at the University Interscholastic League Area D Marching Band Contest last Saturday at the Round Rock ISD Stadium.

Cedar Park High School won first place overall and Vista Ridge won sixth. Both bands will advance to the UIL State Marching Band Contest on Nov. 4 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Leander High School also qualified for the Saturday night finals and finished 10th out of the the 32 bands from Central Texas that participated.

For Cedar Park, the staff and band members set their expectations so high that they figured to be in the top echelon of Area D.

“Actually, when they called our name, our kids didn't realize they were first place,” said Jeremy Spicer, the program coordinator and associate band director for Cedar Park. “But our kids were ecstatic.”

The place standings were announced in order from first to 10th - unbeknownst to the band members of Cedar Park. So when Cedar Park kids heard their name first, they didn't realize they were first until Spicer let them know. Vista Ridge on the other hand, held their breath before sixth place was called out because only the top six advanced to state.

“Honestly, I didn't think it would happen,” said Vista Ridge band director Bryan Christian.

Vista Ridge is not only in its first year of being a Class 5A school, it has decreased in numbers since Rouse High School opened this year. When the Rangers advanced to state last year, they had 170 members. This year they have 145.

“It's difficult to compete with the volume,” Christian said. “But we had to be clean and do what we do best.”

As for Cedar Park, the Timberwolf Marching Band is no stranger to success. They have won first place in three of their four competitions this year and finished second in the other. They won the Class 4A state title in 2001 and earned a silver medal in Class 5A in 2004.

Ths is the time the Cedar Park kids have worked for all year.

“You can't control what the judges are thinking in that box, but you can control how hard you work,” Spicer said.

The drum majors at Cedar Park create an action plan every week. Last week it was to “surpass what's expected.” It's part of their Move and Inspire campaign in 2008.

“Our kids have bought into our program from the beginning and they work hard,” Spicer said. “Now we just have to put on the best performance possible.”

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