Lakers Marching Band Shines at West Bloomfield Invitational

Sixteen high school marching bands from around the state descended upon Saturday to compete in the West Bloomfield Invitational, described by administration as "one of the things which really brings together the community."

"For us to host this invitational, show off the school, and most importantly to show off the band, is a great experience for the community," Superintendent JoAnn Andrees said on Saturday. "I don’t have administrators and I don’t have staff working — this is all volunteer parents.

"It’s so organized and so tightly run that’s very impressive."

The Lakers marching band received a score for its 15-minute set in the invitational, which is an official Michigan Competing Band Association event, but did not qualify to receive an award, as is custom for the host team.

Regardless, band director Jeremy Figlewicz said afterward that the band did well defending its home turf, and that success from the event would be a good springboard into the next two weeks of competition.

"It’s always exciting to come to this show particularly because it isn’t any show, it’s our show, and the kids did really well," Figlewicz said. "No other fields in the state have a 'WB' and a big anchor on them, so we need to protect our shield."

Figlewicz said he hoped the momentum from the performance would carry over into successful performances in the Lakeland High School Invitational next Saturday and at the MCBA state championships Nov. 5.

"We definitely feel like that’s the case," Figlewicz said. "We feel like the kids are continuing to step up and that they’re beginning to appreciate the show and give their best, and that’s all we ask."

Lakeland cleaned up in the Flight 1 portion of the competition (flights differentiated by enrollment at the school) with a score of 82.63, almost seven points more than second-place Livonia Franklin. Lakeland won caption awards for Best Music, Best Marching, and Best General Effect. L'Anse Cruse North rounded out the top three from Flight 1.

West Bloomfield competed in Flight 1, but the score from its set was not available.

Woodhaven High School squeaked out a win in Flight 2 with a score of 76.76, including a caption award for Best General Effect. Farmington Harrison took second place with a score of 74.84 and caption awards in Best Music and Best Marching, while archrival Farmington finished third with 73.64.

St. Clair Shores Lakeview and Highland Milford rounded out the top five from Flight 2 with scores of 68.37 and 60.29, respectively.

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