The Colleton County High School Band of Blue hosted the 44th Annual Walterboro Band Classic this past Saturday, October 2nd at Cougar Stadium.
More than 2,200 fans and parents attended the event that featured 10 visiting bands. The band classic is hosted each year by Colleton County High School’s Band of Blue, which also participates in the competition.
During the event, the Band of Blue Booster club sold concessions and souvenirs, which is one of the largest fundraisers that the booster club has for the local band.
Adjudicating this year’s contest was Larry Wells from Rock Hill, SC, Phil McIntyre from Duncan, SC, Clayton Parker from Columbia SC, Nick Tirpak from Cullowhee, NC, former Band of Blue Director Bill Young from Walterboro, SC, and Megan New-ton from Cullowhee, NC.
Winning the overall “True Blue” William T. Young Championship Award was North Augusta High School with a score of 89.838.
Other results and placements were as follows
Division 4
First Place went to North Augusta, with a score of 89.838.
Second Place went to Effingham County, with a score of 88.475 (Horn Line, Color Guard, Percussion and Drum Major).
Division 3
First Place: Dreher, with a score of 86.025 (Color Guard, Drum Major and Percus-sion).
Second Place: Cane Bay, with a score of 82.213 (Horn Line)
Division 2
First Place: Berkeley High School, with a score of 82.338 (Horn Line, Percussion, Dru Major and Guard)
Second Place: Bluffton, with a score of 78.138.
Division 1
First Place: Bamberg, with a score of 73.330 (Color Guard, Horn Line and Percus-sion).
Second Place: Williston Elko, with a score of 70.525.
Third Place: Beaufort High School, with a 67.650 score. (Drum Major)
Presenting trophies were Colleton County School District Superintendent Dr. Vallerie Cave, Colleton County High School Principal Maurice Cannon and Walterboro Mayor Bill Young. The 2021 Band of Blue performed in exhibition their new 2021-2022 show called “Sun, Moon and Stars.”
The Band of Blue is under the direction of Tom Finigan. The Associate Band Direc-tor is Nick Infinger and our Assistant Directors are Cathy Meshach and Clay Black-wood. Color guard instructor is Jason Johnson with assistance from Hannah Haley and Dyneira Brown. Band staff is Cody Dalton, Maria Manaeva, Megan Newton, Nick Tirpak, Will Finigan, Chandler Ballew, Jacob Havers, Rhaynie Bongiorno, Tyquan Ferguson and George Ritchie.
The 2021 Band of Blue is led by Drum Majors Sierra Smart and Peyton Grant.
The 2022 Band of Blue seniors are: Stephanie Arnold; Amaya Dunigan; Anya Elliott; Sean Fanchette; Sammy Ferguson; Dooley Hiott; Fantasia Hodges; Kashawn Lam-bright; Jamiah Lawton; Jemetrice Lewis; Kelly Leyva; Raquel Morales; Krysta Padgett; Iyonna Smalls; Sierra Smart; and Peyton Taylor.
Band Captains are Amaya Dunigan and Dooley Hiott and this year’s Assistant Captains are Iyonna Smalls and Peyton Taylor.
The band’s Guard Captain is Krysta Padgett.
Percussion Captains this year are Stephanie Arnold and Kashawn Lambright and the WW Lieutenants are Anya Eliott and Jamiah Lawton.
Leading the Brass are Lieutenants Raquel Morales and Fantasia Hodges and Percussion Lieutenants are Sammy Ferguson and Sean Fanchette.
Quarter Masters are Kevin White, Eddie Jacques, Trequan Stokes and Dooley Hiott. Band Sergeants are Zoe Buckner; Harly Vargas; Kamron Longfellow; Jemetrice Lewis; Dayzanae Neals and Eric Campbell.
What’s Next
The Band of Blue is now planning to travel to North Augusta High School for the Bands Across the Savannah on Saturday, October 9th. The Band of Blue will com-pete in class 4A at 8:15pm. Then, the Band of Blue travels to Effingham County, Georgia on Oct 16th and then to White Knoll High School on October 23rd for the SCBDA Lower State Championships. The Band of Blue will finally perform at Spring Valley high School on October 30th for the 2021 SCBDA 4A State Marching Championships.
The Band of Blue will kick off their Annual Fruit Sale next week. See any Band member or Booster Club member to order your fresh citrus.
