The Mount Pleasant High School Panther Marching Band joined 20 other bands from across Iowa Saturday at the Linn-Mar Marching Band Festival in Marion. Going up against 11 other bands in Class 3A, Mount Pleasant placed fifth in a very strong field. The judges determined that the Mount Pleasant Color Guard was tops in 3A and the guard’s score was second best among all class sizes.
Independence took first place in 3A followed by Xavier, Clear Creek-Amana, Marion, Mount Pleasant, Mount Vernon, Benton Community, Vinton-Shellsburg, West Delaware, Crestwood and Solon. The large school 4A division was won by Ankeny.
The Mount Pleasant band is directed by Brad Cook and assisted by Laura Westfall. The color guard instructor is Whitney Rogers. The band is also assisted by Adam Creager and Aaron Williamson. Drum majors are Jolynn Keomanivong and Natalie McCormick.
Next weekend the Panther Marching Band travels again to the Cedar Rapids area for two competitions, Bands Across the Prairie and the Five Seasons Invitational.