Wheeling Wildcat Marching Band Triumphs at Marengo Settlers Day Festival; Finishes Competition Season with Seven 1st Place Awards

     The Wheeling "Wildcat" Marching Band completed its Competition Marching Band season on Oct. 7 at the Marengo Settlers Days Festival.  The Wheeling "Wildcat" Marching Band captured 1st Place in Parade, 1st Place in Field Show, Best Guard, Best Percussion, Best Music, and GRAND CHAMPIONS of the Festival, in a field of 19 other bands.  

     Over the past five weekends, Wheeling competed in two parade competitions and five field show competitions, earning 1st place in all seven events.  The "Wildcat" band competed against over 60 bands throughout the season, which included some of the finest bands from Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

      The band has a history of playing "Jazzy" Shows and this year was no exception.  The Show, "Big City Jazz" included music from City of Angels and Royal Crown Revue.  Songs performed were "Prologue" and "Main Theme," "Zip Gun Bop," "With Every Breath I Take," and "Hey Pachuco!"  

     Student leaders were the following: Drum Majors--seniors Chelsie Coren and Kylie Gember.

Guard Captains--seniors Rachel Cacchione and Kaitlyn Nielsen. Drum Captain--senior Nicholas Westin, soloist, senior Omar Joya (sax), senior David Robertson (trumpet), senior Kaitlyn Nielsen (dance), junior Ronny Roth (trumpet), junior Cesar Mendoza (trombone), and junior Dani Anderson (drums).

      Staff members include Director of Bands Brian Logan, Andy Sturgeon (Marching Assistant), Stephanie Melinyshn (Color Guard and Assistant Band Director), Brian Spicer and Jena Spaulding (Percussion), Pete Weber (Visual Design), Wayne Markworth and Erick Eckstrom (Arrangers).

     The Wheeling "Wildcat" Marching Band has a very active Parent Support Group led by Wheeling Instrumental League President Beth Anne Ausnehmer, Marching Band Pit Crew Chief Leonard Nielsen, Marching Band Meals--Maureen Kerrigan, Maria Villalobos, and Carol Buresh, and Uniforms--Nancy Sliwicki. 

     The following are 2012 Awards and Placements won by the Wheeling Wildcat Marching Band: 

BG Days Parade--Sept. 2 (1st Place Marching Band); Lake Park Lancer Joust—Sept. 8 (1st Place in Class 2A Field) (Best Music, Visual, and General Effect); Wheaton North High School Festival—Sept. 15 (1st Place in Class 2A Field) (Best Music, Visual, General Effect, and Drum Majors); Chicagoland Marching Band Festival--Sept. 22 (hosted by Wheeling High School) (Highest Scores in Class 2A Field)  (Best Music, Visual, and General Effect); Prospect Knight of Champions Festival—Sept. 29 (1st Place in Class 2A Field) (Best Music, Visual, and General Effect); Marengo Settlers Days Festival—Oct. 7 (1st Place Parade and Field Show in Class 3A and GRAND CHAMPIONS) (Best Music, General Effect, Percussion, and Guard).