The Lehman High School Lobo Marching Band heads for their late Saturday afternoon warm-up at the UIL Area D Marching Band Contest. Director Joey Lucita’s contingent turned in their own memorable performance at the highly competitive meet, but fell just short of the next step. The Lobos compete this Friday in San Antonio at the Bands of America Super Regional Contest. (Photo by Jim Cullen)
by JIM CULLEN
The every-other-year quest for a trip to the State Marching Band Contest came to a close Saturday for both the Hays High School and Lehman High School bands. Leander ISD’s John Gupton Stadium was the site of the University Interscholastic League Area D Marching Band Contest, the competition both the Rebs and Lobos had qualified for with performances at the Region 18 contest in Austin days earlier.
“Heady” is what the HCISD faithful have learned is the stratosphere of Texas Area D’s cast of stand-out bands. This competitive area is led by the defending state champion Dripping Springs High School marching band which once again shined brightly Saturday, earning a return trip to the Alamodome state finals along with Lake Travis, Cedar Park and Vandegrift high schools.
Still, as Saturday’s competition came to a close on a crisp, crescent-moonlit night, the Rebel band had made the finals. Their joyous roar of excitement was quickly hushed as Hays Director Tony Gibbs pulled his joyous contingent out of the stands to be ready to march within an hour.
With the announcement of the finalists, the road to state had come to its end for the Lehman band. Comments from the judges delivered to Director Joey Lucita were, nevertheless, glowing, attesting to the level of excellence represented at the UIL’s Area D. “What an awesome show; I enjoyed it greatly!” one judge told the Lobos, as another noted, “…obvious many fine students and great teachers involved with this band!”
The Rebel band, though, still had a shot at a repeat of their 2009 trip to the 4A State Contest, and the Rebel Band Booster Club was on hand to cheer them on. It wasn’t to be, but the Hays band turning in one final memorable performance. “Mature and well-balanced sound,” Judge Rob Toups said of the show, with his counterparts, Keith Bearden and Richard Herrera terming it, “Good!” and “Great!”
Director Tony Gibbs said he was “honored and thrilled to be included in the finals,” adding that he believed the performance was “by far the best of the year.” Gibbs termed the day’s experience “tremendously,” with noted pride in the Rebels, concluding, “They did a fantastic job!”
Lehman Director Joey Lucita, who takes his Lobos to the Bands of America Super Regional Contest this Friday, said he is ”simply excited to be a part of the lives and the music the students make daily.” He cites his great fortune in being surrounded by “an incredible staff and some of the best students in the world.” Lucita credits his students with setting and sometimes recalibrating new goals, but always “working toward their achievement and enjoying the journey along the way.” The Lobo Band marches at 3:45 p.m. Friday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
