Tiger band brings home seven trophies

Pride of the Carson Valley, Douglas High School band and guard, took home seven trophies from the Extravaganza field competition at McQueen High School on Oct. 6.

Competing in the AAA division, Douglas beat Carson, Reed and Galena high schools and several out-of-state schools to take home the grand sweepstakes award, the top trophy of the competition for overall best performance. Douglas also won the music sweepstakes and general effects sweepstakes trophies and first place trophies for band, pageantry, woodwinds and brass.

"It's amazing. To pull it off was a miracle," said senior Kristin Cobb, who plays piccolo with the woodwinds.

Junior Jon Gilkerson who plays trumpet was also enthusiastic about winning first place in the brass division.

"We deserve it. We have so many new kids, and they've been working really hard," said Gilkerson.

Douglas music director Bill Zabelsky said 26 of his 74 students are from the Valley's middle schools and 35 were marching in their first competition.

"This is the first time we've won the sweepstakes at a field competition," said Zabelsky.

He said unlike parade competitions, field performances are often won by larger bands from larger schools capable of generating more sound.

"I have to thank Dave Robertson of Pau-Wa-Lu and Travis Walls of Carson Valley Middle School for all their help in practice," said Zabelsky. "I also want to thank the pageantry advisor Amy Jackson. She's done wonders with the flag team."

Douglas senior and flag captain Sam Trumpower whose division also took first place said she is very proud of the band and flag team's success.

"This is my fourth year in band, and we've never done this good," said Trumpower. "I'm proud of the whole band, and I love them."

Douglas senior and percussion leader Sam Flakus said the grueling practices have been worth it.

"This is proof that people do want to be here and want to succeed and win," said Flakus.

Although percussion took second place behind Reed High School, Flakus said they still did awesome.

"We'll get them in the upcoming competition," said Flakus.

The band and flag team competing Saturday in the Performance of Champions at Galena High School in Reno. For more information, visit www.douglasmusic.net.