By: Riley Holles & Mira Hennon
The lights are back on over Chuck Knox Stadium, and the Quakers are taking the field. After last year’s football season was derailed by COVID-19, the anticipation for the return of football reached a new peak this year. Two of the leading groups in this Friday tradition are the football team and marching band.
Quaker Valley’s football team had an uphill battle this season due to multiple injuries. “We would lose a handful of players every week, and it never helps to have people injured on a small team like ours,” Junior Gavin Eshenbaugh said. One of their biggest accomplishments this year was winning the homecoming game against Hopewell. The Quakers won this highly attended game 30 to 7. “The boys love it when people show up and support them,” Eshenbaugh said. “The fans are also a part of what makes the games so fun.”
Every Friday night, Quaker Valley High School’s marching band, directed by Mr. Cory Neville, performs on the field and in the bleachers for the football games. Drum major Woody Blaine is in charge of conducting the band during performances. In the hours before games and upcoming parades or festivals, the players practice in the band room and on the football field. “I think that the organization is perfect the way it is and everything is run very smoothly”, ninth-grade member Amelia Pribik reflects.
The marching band also includes a team of color guard performers, instructed by Miss Alyssa Krall. The marching band performs mostly songs from the pop and rock genres, such as High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco. Those interested in playing for the marching band can play instruments such as the piccolo, tuba, saxophone and more.
Comments