Titan Band Places Fourth In 2A
Ben Sears
Contributing Writer
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Well that’s all folks! It’s a wrap, the Marching Titans’ season is done. They pulled off the finale to an incredible season.
The Mercer Band advanced from fifth place in regionals to compete in the KMEA Class-2A Semi-Finals at the Christian Academy of Louisville this past Saturday, Oct. 26. The competition comprised 2A bands from the West and East Regions to form the top 12. The wind was wicked, the sun was out, and even though it was chilly, the band kids found a drive within them to compete.
The band took the field at CAL Stadium and played their most phenomenal show. The band parents jumped up and down on the sidelines and screamed in excitement. We were all overjoyed and filled with incredible excitement because we all watched our kids play and march their hearts out and produce a sound and visual that was better than anything we had seen in years.
When it was time for awards, the announcer named the 12th through 7th place recipients. This is where we have found ourselves in the past two seasons. We were 11th in 2023 and 8th in 2022. They named 12th place, 11th place, and so on. When they announced 7th place and they didn’t call our names in any of those placings. The lump in my throat hit and I looked at my fellow media member, Mike, and I could mutter out a squeak of the words, “They made it.”
The announcer named the top six bands in no particular order to advance to the KMEA State Finals: “…and with a distinguished rating,” the announcer said, “Mercer County!”
Drum Major Reagan Sims (Center) along with Addison Woodward (Left) and Alexis Clark (Right) Pose with the new State Finals Plaque after winning 4th in 2A Finals Competition.
I am not going to lie, I have been humbly writing these articles to support and lift our band kids to the community for two years now. I am a big guy. I have a humble heart. When they announced those kids were going to the top six at L&N Credit Union Cardinal Stadium to perform at the state finals. I cried like a baby. I couldn’t contain those crocodile tears any longer. My heart swelled with such immense pride and excitement. I have watched these kids fight for years to get there. The last time they were in the Finals was 2021.
“This is it folks,” said Band Director Erica Ashford. “This is what you have worked for. This is what the countless hours of practice have led to. This is where you have fun. Get out there and have the time of your life. You have earned it and I am very proud of all of you.”
So there we were Cardinal Stadium. There were six bands in each class, ranging From 1A to 5A. Mercer performed in 2A. When those kids walked through that tunnel and onto the turf at Cardinal Stadium, their eyes lit up as if they were seeing Disney World. You could not have wiped the grins off of their faces. It was the same for all of us adults, too. I have done band media for eight years and have been on that field with other bands. Let me tell you…you have yet to learn how big that stadium is and the thrill you get walking out there. This time was different. I had a kid in that band. My son played percussion and drum set in the front ensemble. I am proud of him, but he is one cog in the wheel of all the band kids I have grown to love over the seasons who helped get that show over the finish line.
The sound of that show inside that massive stadium was, well, music to my ears. They outperformed themselves in every way and laid it all on the field. The flags were spot on, the horns were perfect, the percussion was rocking, and the drum major was swelling with pride. As they finished the show and walked off the field and back through the tunnel, they did so knowing their hard work had paid off and they laid it all out on the field.
The parade of bands filled the arena during the award ceremony, and they lined up on the field in what is called “retrient” later that night. The placings were all named, starting with 1A bands and going up to 5A bands. When they got to 2A bands, we watched as they called 6th place- Christian Academy of Louisville. Fifth Place- Loyd Memorial. Fourth Place- Mercer County. The Titans earned a top four place in Class-2A in the KMEA State Finals and were ecstatic.
The town came out hugely last Thursday night to support the band in their community performance and sent them off with love and well wishes. The community has helped us raise these kids. Our kids. The kids! The Band Kids! Say it out loud one more time! The band kids got 4th place in the finals!
Each band member was awarded medals for being state finalists, and they have a huge plaque to hang in the band room. This is their championship trophy, they earned it.
“These are all my kids,” said Ashford. “They all started with me, I helped teach them, but they all worked to get here.” Don’t be fooled. The staff got choked up too. It was a day. If the words I put here didn’t paint the picture, I only pray someday, those of you who never felt that can join us as we try again next year to make the 2025 finals.
Director Erica Ashford leads the Mercer Band with assistance from Alex Smith, Jeremy Ellis, Emily Curtsinger and former Assistant Director Adam McRay. The field commander was Reagan Sims, and the assistants were Josephine Doan and Matthew Clark. Visit us on Facebook at Mercer County Band and Instagram @mercercoband.
The show My Hollow Heart, was inspired and developed by Adam McRay, Erica Ashford and Alex Smith.
