On Saturday Sept. 14, the EHS Marching Tigers won two “First of Class” awards at the “Metro East Marching Invitational” and later Best of Show “Grand Champions” at the “Metro East Marching Classic.” This was the first time the band won first place overall in over two decades. It became a very emotional moment for the members and directors.

“It was very gratifying,” Band Director Mr. Marvin Battle said. “The hard practices, the sunburns…it was all worth it.”

Mr. Battle and assistant band director Mr. Lawrence Rogers have a two-week summer band camp annually to prepare students for the marching season. This includes color guard and drum line practices.

Each year the two begin teaching the new show to the students, and this year the show is “Twisted Metal.” The title is coined by a Sony video game series first released in 1995. According to Mr. Battle, the concept twists Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” and Ozzie Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” with the two classical selections of “Lux Aurumque” and “Asphalt Cocktail.”

Arranging all of the music, the color guard dances and the costumes “is almost a yearlong process,” Mr. Battle said.

This process has resulted into what many students and Edwardsville community members look forward to. Year after year people are astounded by what the Marching Tigers perform.

“Our band is really good,” senior Datyana Ware said. “They [catch] my attention.”

Ware and her posse attend football games regularly. During halftime, they are always sure to watch the band perform. “I love the band. [They] remind me of ‘Drumline,’” sophomore Azanay Bausily said.

Raving reviews from people around town is not enough to win however. Neither is winning first place.

“I’ve gone to competitions where bands won every contest, but they didn’t win [overall],” Mr. Rogers said.

Although support from the community does not guarantee a win, the support is a great motivator. Mr. Battle is incredibly thankful for all the people of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon.

“It was such a communitive effort—the staff, the students and the parents who support,” Mr. Battle said.

Schools around the area now have their eye out for the Tigers. Mr. Battle and Mr. Rogers do not believe that they have an advantage. They have to step up.

Mr. Battle said, “Now, we start over.”