From left are Devin Van Lue, Jossie Coy and Ally Eppert with the gold rating award.

By Tim Ashley
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — For the first time in school history, the Wawasee Marching Warrior Pride qualified for a state competition. During the Indiana State School Music Association Scholastic Class Prelims held Saturday, Oct. 9, at Plymouth High School the band earned a gold rating which automatically qualifies them to move on to the Scholastic Class State Finals Oct. 23 at Franklin Central High School in Indianapolis.

“Previously Wawasee competed in ISSMA Open Class competition which separates bands based purely on school size,” said Tony Pawlicki, band director. “This year, they are competing in Scholastic Class B which separates bands based upon school size and band size.”

The band has been performing the show titled “Remix” this year with songs such as “We Found Love,” “Americano,” “Where Have You Been,” and “On the Floor.”

There are 37 total students in the band with 21 winds, eight percussion, seven color guard and one drum major, Devin Van Lue. Kris Stump is the associate director, Sara Pickler is the color guard director and assistant directors include Kassy Klinefelter and Chris Dykhuisen.

Music staff are Dave Blackwell and Dan Moreno and music arrangers are Tom Wallace, Tony McCutchen and Pawlicki. Chelley Thelen, Pickler and Holly Summerhill make up the visual design staff.

Prior to the Oct. 9 competition, Wawasee had competed in the Goshen Invitational (Sept. 11), Concord Invitational (Sept. 18), Penn Invitational (Sept. 25) and the Plymouth Contest (Oct. 2).