The Tiger Marching Band finished their season off with a bang at their final competition on the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana Historic Memorial Field on Oct. 22, placing ninth in the Class 5A division. Students in Marching Band and Color Guard spent the lovely October Saturday competing in the IHSA Marching Band championships against schools across Illinois, and bonding as a group over their successes this season.

Competing at the University of Illinois was a new experience for the Tiger Marching Band; they traveled to Western Illinois University for the end of their 2021 season. “While Western Illinois University was cool, U of I was a completely surreal experience,” said Kristin Morris, high reeds section leader. Morris explained that despite the pressure of competition, “it was super chill. The band is like a big family, so we all had a really fun time.”

Morris also noted how successful this season was compared to last year. This year’s show, titled “O’er the Sky With Blushing Light,” took inspiration from the beauty of the Northern Lights. The Tiger Marching Band, in addition to performing at each home football game, placed third in three out of four competitions during their season. “I am so proud of everyone and all the work we put in,” Morris said. “I can’t wait for another year!”