The LCM Band members had huge shoes to fill this marching season after advancing to State last year, but after months of hard work and sweat, it all paid off last Saturday when they competed at the Region contest at PNG and received straight ones for their performance of “The Emerald Era.”

The band worked hard for several months to prepare for Region, spending up to three and a half hours on the parking lot to perfect their show and get the results they wanted.

In order to fully prepare for the competition, the band held two-hour rehearsals every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. They also had an hour-long rehearsal on Wednesdays, but even with all of those hours of practice, the band students would call sectionals, where the section leader spends another hour or so with his or her section to work on more specific things with the members one on one.

“On Thursday, we had a full band sectional filled with intensity and productivity that allowed us to fix things before our last competition,” junior drum major Valen Elliott said.

After their performance on Saturday, most of the band members were confident in how they played and marched and were satisfied with how much they had improved.

“It was a very touching moment in my life, to know I left it all on the field,” junior saxophonist Kolby Perkins said.

After waiting for over an hour in anticipation for the results, the band members learned of their perfect scores and the bleachers in the stadium shook because of the immense celebration.

“I was so proud of my band family, because all the hard work had finally paid off,” senior band captain Sydney Pierce said.

The excitement of marching season doesn’t just end at Region, though. This Friday, the band officers will travel to all of the LCMCISD schools as part of the traveling pep rally and will show the younger generations of Bears what it’s like to be in band.

“I think it’s going to be fun to do something that I remember seeing in elementary,” Junior Bailey Noah said of participating in the pep rally.

Those who are interested in seeing the Battlin’ Bear Band’s award-winning performance may do so tomorrow night during halftime of the varsity football game against Jasper.