Panther Marching Band takes fourth at state

Panther Marching Band takes fourth at state

October 25, 2001

By Jim Thomas
Journal Sports Editor

The Montezuma-Cortez High School Marching Band captured fourth place in the field-show competition last weekend at the Colorado Bandmasters State Championship at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver.

"The crowd was great. It (the new field) is a great facility to hold a marching-band competition," Ritthaler added.

The Panthers came into the finals as the fourth seed after competing in the semifinals. MCHS finished in that same position after completing its field-show performance.

MCHS band director Rodney Ritthaler thought the band peaked just right.

"Finals definitely was our best show," he said. "With every performance, we just got better and better. Within the season, there wasn’t a performance that we did worse than the previous one. On his score sheet, one of the judges actually had us in second for ensemble. The color guard placed second on the score sheet. To finish among the top six, that is really an accomplishment and the kids’ dedication paid off."

Last year, the marching band took second place at state.

MCHS was the last band (by draw) to play at finals. MCHS performed two Stephen Mellilo pieces, "American Knights," and "Godspeed."

The drill was written by Jack Chambers of Boulder. The guard routine was written by Jim Demas of Albuquerque. Mike Sherpa of Loveland and Ritthaler wrote the pit percussion for the show.

Under a new scoring structure, the Panthers finished as the fifth-highest scoring team from regionals (at Delta on Oct. 11) from all the bands appearing at four other regionals across the state.

The Panthers won that competition for the 21st year in a row. As a result, they received an automatic bye into the semifinals without having to compete in quarterfinals.

Ritthaler thought the band played well during the semifinals, under bright sun but cool temperatures earlier in the day. They finished in fourth (top six bands advanced to finals).

"We were third from the end to play out of 12 bands in the semifinals. I don’t think the kids were nervous by having to wait to play," he noted.

Ritthaler is aided by assistant Erick Ashton. Maggie Tevault, who was the MCHS cheerleader sponsor a year ago, is the guard coach.

This year the band is 82-members strong with 11 flag guards, three drum majors, nine percussion, seven pit percussion, seven flutes, nine clarinets, 11 alto sax, four tenor sax, seven trumpets, four melophones, seven baritones, and three Souza tubas.

Although the marching season technically is over, the band will compete at the Northern Arizona University Marching Band Festival in Flagstaff this Saturday.

"I hope it is not anticlimactic for the kids. Yes, the band season is over. But we still want to do a good job at this show. I know I’m looking forward to it and I hope they are, too," Ritthaler commented.