Photo by Chris Maher The Youngsville at TOB Atlantic Coast Championship.

It’s been quite a year for the Youngsville High School marching band after last year’s COVID-19 cancellation of band shows.

“We had to keep moving forward, no matter what,” said Cindy Scheid, Youngsville Marching Band director.

They band of 25 did exactly that not only increasing their score every competition, but also battling a few issues with COVID-19, quarantines, and having 11 new members.

The Eagles first competition was set to take place on Sept. 18, but with 17 of its members quarantined they had to pull out of the show.

The next competition was held at Fort Leboeuf and the Eagles scored an 81.25. A performance in Tyrone followed where the Eagles faced a first, marching on grass for the first time, while also finding out the day before the competition that four members were quarantined, including the soloist.

Despite the challenges ahead the marching band scored an 83.10 in Tyrone, which band members were happy with, but they continued to try to improve their score by adding a black flyover that was made of more than 50 yards of fabric. They tried their performance with the new visual piece for the first time in Homer Center and improved their last score by 3.85 to receive an 86.95. Next up was a cold night in McKeesport where the Eagles scored an 88.85.

In the Region 8 Championship, the Eagles scored a 90.90 earning themselves Group 1 Champions. Along with being named champions, they were also given awards for Outstanding Music, Outstanding Visual, Outstanding Auxiliary (Color Guard), and Outstanding Percussion. Finally, in the Atlantic Coast Championship, the Eagles placed 3rdoverall receiving gold with their impressive score of 92.65.

Despite some COVID-19 challenges, the band was able to compete in person this season.

“It’s what performing is all about. Having a live audience is so much more exciting then recording a video,” Schneid said.

This year the band will graduate seven seniors, five of whom have been with the band since they started middle school. Scheid, who is assisted by Mrs. Ashley McKuhn, states, “There is always a void when seniors graduate, but they have done a great job of training the next generation … It’s a tradition that we hold dear.”

With another successful season for the Eagles, Scheid attributes the success to the students work saying, “Our success was due to the willingness of our students to work hard and overcome all of the trials that this year threw at them.”