The 2022 Eagles wrapped up their marching season last Thursday with the annual Halftime Review and Awards Concert at the school.

It’s one last show for the dedicated fans to enjoy and the time when the band members receive awards for their work through the season.

The band leaders – the Six: Madison Carnahan, Michael Carnahan, Tydus Chase, Mason Henry, Careena Monza, and Dominic Sproveri – talked about each of the events they attended this season.

The band earned success early in the season with a first-place finish in Division 1-Open at East Allegheny and a second at Preston.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry During the band’s 2022 Halftime Review and Awards Concert on Thursday, Youngsville High School Marching Eagles leaders – the Six – (from left) Michael Carnahan, Tydus Chase, Dominic Sproveri, Mason Henry, Careena Monza, and Madison Carnahan talk about their third-place finish in the nine-state Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championships.

In October, the Eagles were undefeated.

At McKeesport, they earned an 88.5 — the highest score across all divisions — on their way to winning the division.

The Eagles scored a 90.7 at the Tournament of Bands Region Championship — again first in Division 1-Open and best score across all divisions.

They earned the Region 8 championship, with a score of 90.7 — the second highest score over all divisions.

They were the Pennsylvania state champion in the division with a score of 94.6 — tied for second highest of all of the competitors.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Youngsville High School Marching Eagles (from left) Mason Henry, Madison Carnahan, and Dominic Sproveri perform Thursday night during the band’s 2022 Halftime Review and Awards Concert.

In their final competition of the year, on Sunday, Nov. 6, the Eagles scored a 92.3 at the nine-state Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championships, finishing in third place.

On Thursday, the performance was all about recognition — giving the students a final send-off and the dedicated fans one final show at home. “This is a great way to end the season,” Director Cindy Scheid said. “It’s a chance to be recognized.”

It’s a challenging show after a season of learning to perform over a much larger space. “It’s always hard to get ready to perform in the gym,” she said.

There were many smiles and a good number of tears.

After presenting awards to outstanding members of the band, Scheid got her band ready for one more show.

“Are you ready?”

“YES!”

“Are you really ready?”

“YES!”

“I can tell,” she said. “I’m sad.”

She called out to senior Careena Monza… “Is your band ready to perform… for the last time… In the Moonlight?”

Following the encore performance, the audience of some 200 dedicated fans sent the band off to a standing ovation.

Monza was only one graduating senior in the 2022 band.

“It’s bittersweet,” the five-year member said. “I’ll miss everyone and I’ll miss the show.”

“It’s given me a whole new meaning, a whole new group of friends, a whole new way to live,” Monza said of her years of hard work with the band. “But, I’m excited to be done.”

Like every band, this year’s group put in a lot of hard work, she said.

The 2022 band was different.

“We had a lot of new kids,” Monza said.

But, they were willing to put in the work. “They amaze me every day,” she said.

“This was a great year,” Scheid said. “We had a lot of super-young kids. Getting them to this level was a lot of work. Each outing was a huge learning moment.”

“These kids know my expectations and they’re willing to work,” she said.

Monza knows those expectations well and she encourages people will support the band.

“If they get a chance to get out and see the marching band… see their performance… do it,” Monza said. “They’re amazing.”