Published: November 02, 2009 09:59 am      

Goshen group finishes ninth in Class A

Consider Goshen High School Crimson Marching Band members’ performance Saturday as paying their dues.

The band finished ninth place in Class A of the ISSMA State Marching Band finals at Lucas Oil Stadium. For the group’s first time at the state level in Class A, band director Tom Cox couldn’t be prouder of his team’s performance.

“I have absolutely no regrets. We had a great time,” Cox said Saturday. “We made Goshen High School history.”

The show, titled “Constellations,” had a cosmic feel, with band formations including the Big Dipper.

Class A is the highest level of competition and includes the reigning national champion Avon High School, which won first place again Saturday night. Competing against the best of the best allowed for Goshen to take some more creative liberties at the beginning of the season, including using an Electric Wind Instrument to incorporate an intergalactic sound to their performance. But that also meant band members had to be more meticulous in their movements.

“Everything is a lot more detail-oriented at this level,” Cox said.

Playing at cavernous Lucas Oil Stadium also proved to be much different than any outdoor facility the band has performed at this season.

“Listening to each other was more challenging than they are used to it being,” said assistant band director Josh Kaufman.

Even still, Ryan Johnson, a junior member of Goshen’s drumline, was especially proud of the the band’s performance.

“I think our show went great. This is the best our drumline has looked all season,” he said.

Johnson is part of a young band that hopes to chalk Saturday’s performance as a learning experience that can be built on for next season. Cox said that only 19 members out of 155 will be leaving via graduation, leaving a lot to like next season.

“Our footprint has definitely been made on Goshen marching band,” Johnson said.