The SMHS band is excited to kick off the 23-24 season. The band is once again led by Mrs. Bridgette Bowen-Casto. She says she is always excited for marching season. She loves to see her kids grow from beginning to end. Mrs. Casto first was intrigued by music when her dad would take her to football games when she was a little girl. She told us she would get there just in time to hear the band play. She has marched in high school and college for ten years. She tells us she likes general music and choir, but she loves marching band.

The band has added an auxiliary colorguard for the first time in more than a decade and a half.

The senior band members for this season are Maddie Sherrod, Virginia Haddox, Derek Allen, Emma Broce, Chrissy McCoy, Mia Schofield and Delaney Ummensetter. The juniors include Sarah Stull, Linsie Asher, Autumn Harper, Emma Kirby and Emma Weikart. The sophomores include Brittany Biles, McKenna Broce, Gracie Butler, Courtney Campbell, Madeline Steele, Kia Taylor, Alexandra Wilson and Miles Pierce. The Freshman includes Noah Casto, Bella Eckert, Olivia Holmes, Sam Lauderman, Raleigh Richardson, Emma Wince and David Yoho.  

The SMHS marching band will be participating in five competitions. They start their competitions Sept. 16, with the Oil and Gas Festival. Then they will compete against Parkersburg and Parkersburg South Sept. 30. Oct. 7, they will attend the Viking Fest in Ripley. Oct. 21, they will compete in the Governor’s Cup Finals. Their last competition will be October 28th, at the Marshall Tri-County Invitational.  

The band team practices Monday on the football field, and Tuesday and Thursday they practice in front of the basketball school. The theme of this year’s band show is “Jackson 5.” They are playing songs from the group Jackson 5. The songs they are learning are “I’ll be There,” “ABC” and “Never Can Say Goodbye.” The SMHS marching band can’t wait for the upcoming season!