LCHS Marching Band Breaks 25 Year Streak!

In its final two contests for the season the LCHS Marching Band finished strong with a return to state finals after twenty-five years. On October 26, the week before the state championship, the band competed in the Pulaski Classic Marching Competition. Results from that contest of the nine bands in Class A/AA competition include 3rd place Colorguard, 2nd place Visual, 2nd place Music, and 2nd place Band.

This past Saturday, November 2, the band achieved state finalist ranking in the Tennessee State Division I Marching Band Championship, hosted by Independence High School in Thompson's Station. After the first round of preliminary performances the LCHS marching band progressed to finals competition for the first time since 1999 with the top ten highest scoring bands. Following the "Pass and Review" parade of state finalists the Spirit of the High Forest Marching Band was ranked 8th place in the state for Division I schools.

With cheers and support from family and friends in the stands, the band earned Excellent level ratings in all captions for Band, Percussion, Colorguard, and Drum Major. In prelims LCHS ranked 9th Colorguard, 9th Visual, 8th Drum Major, 5th Percussion, and 5th in Music Performance. Following the announcement of the top ten state finalists, the band prepared for one last performance of their 2024 show "Dreams and Nightmares."

Taking the field in finals competition for the first time in 25 years, the band performed under the lights for an even larger crowd. Band boosters in the audience provided a live feed on social media for the benefit of family friends unable to attend. After the top ten performances the state finalists paraded into the stadium for the awards ceremony. In finals competition caption awards the band placed 5th in percussion, 5th in visual ensemble, 7th in music, 8th in colorguard, and 10th in drum major.

Band Director Ed Medford would like to thank the band's support team including the parents, family members, and friends that have helped with band equipment for performances, worked in the concessions stands, and helped feed the band on performance days; the bus drivers Daryl Mercer and Greg Garcia for driving to games and contests; the LCHS administration, faculty, and staff who have shown their support throughout the season; and the band staff members including Saul Calderon-Zavala, Kelly Medford, Theresa Gibson, Shelly Youngstead, and Joe Ahne.

Gold Sponsors for the band include Got Wood Farms and Oliver Technologies. Silver Sponsors are Citizens Bank of Lewis County, Hohenwald Tire Center, Jones Hometown Pharmacy, and State Senator Dr. Joey Hensley. Bronze Sponsors are Always and Forever Grooming, Bowen Home Center, Inc., CB & S Bank, the City of Hohenwald, Greenview Veterinary Hospital, John's Tire, Kim's Tax Service, Ooh La La New Orleans-Style Shaved Ice, Staffmark, and TLC Hair Salon. Additional sponsors for the band include Parlor on Park, Rock House Coffee Company & Event Center, and Shoe Sensation.