The Wildcat band earned another return to the UIL State Finals for the Texas High School State Marching Band Championships this past Monday, December 14, and finished 9th in the state.
For Kennedale, this is the 8th time in as many tries that the Wildcat Band has competed in the state championships. And, with the #9 finish in the finals, it is the fourth consecutive finish in the top ten. The program continues to grow under Erol Oktay, Director of Bands. This year’s marching band numbered 161.
A Wildcat Band tradition …
At least since 2004, students in the Marching Wildcat Band program have had the chance to experience two different-state performances at the highest level of competition during their four years of high school. Note: statewide competition is held only every other year.
This year the best scores for the Wildcats came in the marching portion. There are two areas that each band is scored – music and marching. For the marching portion, the KHS band received a combined score of 12 which was the sixth-best score in the top 20.
Final finish with scores …
The top ten 2020 finalists were #1 Argyle (8pts), #2 Melissa (14), #3 Burnet (18), #4 North Lamar (22), #5 Canton (22), #6 Wills Point (42), #7 Bridge City (43), #8 Calallen (48), #9 Kennedale (50) and #10 China Springs (53).
Returning from the 2018 4A contest for the top ten were Canton #1, Argyle #2, Paris North Lamar #3, Canyon #4, Kennedale #5, and Melissa #6.
Over the last four contests only four 4A schools have repeated in the top 10 – Argyle, Canton, Paris North Lamar and Kennedale.
History: 4A schools with the # titles, # finals & # state championship appearances …
- Argyle – 7 titles, 10 finals, 10 championship appearances
- Robinson (Waco) – 5 titles, 15 finals (last in 2004), 20 appearances
- Canton – 4 titles,11 finals, 13 appearances
- North Lamar (Paris) – 1 title, 6 finals, 7 appearances
4A Schools with the # Finals (top 10) & # state championship appearances …
- Princeton – 8 finals, 17 championship appearances
- Wills Point – 7 finals, 9 appearances
- Canyon – 4 finals, 9 appearances
- China Springs – 5 finals, 11 appearances
- Kennedale – 4 finals, 8 appearances
- Springtown – 3 finals, 6 appearances
- Melissa – 3 finals, 4 appearances
- Burnet – 3 finals, 9 appearances
Spring contests yet to come …
This doesn’t end the year for Wildcat Band. Coming up is the concert season. Kennedale has established a record of earning superior performance ratings at contests.
Last year’s season ended early because of the COVID-19 outbreak. However, in the Spring of 2019, according to Director Oktay, the KISD hit a milestone when all of the bands from the junior high (2) and the high school (3) scored straight “ones”. In band and choir parlance, a “1” is the highest score that you can make.
Links:
- KHS Wildcat Band Homepage
- 2020 State Marching Band Results
- Kennedale High School Band Facebook Page
- Josie Inman – Bio Assistant Director KHS
- Tyler Broadhurst Bio -Assistant Director KHS
- Joshua Hawks – Bio Head Director Kennedale Junior High
- Gilberto Diaz III – Bio Assistant Director Kennedale Junior High
