Tiger Marching Band Places Second at Fiesta Bowl Parade

Cuyahoga Falls Tiger Marching Band celebrated the new year with second place at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Parade 2012. 

Based on school size, parade bands were divided into Class A and Class B, with Cuyahoga Falls in Class B. Finishing on the heels of Mahomet Seymour High School in Illinois, Tiger Marching Band earned an overall score of 90.1 of 100—just one point under Illinois. The band was the only from Ohio to participate.

Brandon DuVall, band director, took 124 of the 172 marching band members to Arizona to perform in front of thousands of people. It wasn't his first time there, but it was a first for such high placement among the bands.

"The last time we marched and competed in this parade, 2006, we finished near the bottom of the standings, so to improve from nearly last to second place in the span of five years was great," DuVall said. "Our kids were pumped."

All the bands joined together following the parade at a dinner and dance party, where the results were announced. 

"All the hands went up in big cheers because we had never done that out there," said Band Booster President Michelle Grimes about the moment. "It’s a first for us."

Many kids around her in the roar of excitement had said they couldn't believe they got second and remarked on how awesome it was, she said.

As they boarded the buses after the ceremony, her son, Zach Grimes, had said to her, "Wasnt that really cool, Mom?"

He and others could still be heard talking about the disbelief and excitement of the season's hardwork and award to show for it.

Music performed by the band while marching included the Armed Forces Salute—a representation of the five U.S. Military branches, We're Not Gonna Take It by Twisted Sister, and the school fight song, Tiger Rag.

To prepare for the parade, the band practiced the music indoors, but took practice outdoors for a marching dry run—in the cold Ohio rain and snow. The students marched 2.2 miles around Cuyahoga Falls, Dec. 27 to prep before leaving the next day.

"It was much nicer to march in the 70-degree Arizona weather than the cold frozen weather of Ohio," DuVall said.

Grimes, who has been on five trips with the band, calls it the best trip for the group. She praised them on great behavior and timeliness everywhere the kids went.

Band Director DuVall also speaks well of his band.

"[I'm] proud of the students and happy they represented our school, city, and state with class and dignity that is becoming of a group known as "The Pride of Cuyahoga Falls," he said.

The marching band is on haitus during concert band season until the end of May, when they prepare for the Memorial Day Parade.

"We are slated to have another strong season in 2012, with a very large and eager class of 8th graders anxious to join our Tiger Band family," DuVall said.