Weather Fails to Dampen Enthusiasm at Bluffton's "On the Banks of the Wabash"

Norwell’s “Ripple Effect” turned into something of a wave Saturday evening as they scooped the Class C awards at Bluffton’s 33rd annual “On The Banks of the Wabash” marching band competition. (Pictured above with the trophies are Emily Easley, Kelsey Ahrens and Kaylee Stauffer). 

 

The Marching Knights picked up all three caption awards - General Effect, Best Music and Best Visual - on their way to top place in their division, outpointing Concordia, Heritage, Bishop Dwenger, Garrett, New Haven and Wayne. 

 

In all, 20 bands contested four classes, with Bluffton’s “Bengal Brigade” performing an exhibition of their season’s competition routine just prior to the final  awards. 

 

Indeed, in all four classes, the class winner also swept the caption awards. Woodlan dominated Class D, while Dekalb (Class B) and Homestead (Class A) ensured shut-outs in their respective divisions also.  

 

Homestead was named  2010 Grand Champion, scoring the most points across all four classes.  

 

The weather was less than ideal, with bleak skies and damp air throughout the afternoon. By 9 p.m., with Class B still in progress, and Class A yet to come, a mist began to compete for possession of Fred Park Field field, and by the end of competition, it was only possible to hear the fans on the far side.    

 

At the end of the competition, Bluffton’s Bengal Brigade performed an exhibition of the “Quest” routine they will take to competitions this season.  

 

Bluffton-Harrison Schools Superintendant Wayne Barker presented the awards in all four classes, assisted by Bluffton drum majors Shelby Sark and Katie Thompson.  

 

Full results from “On The Banks of the Wabash” are as follows:

Class A: 

1st — Homestead.

2nd — Carroll.

3rd — Northrop.

4th — Snider.

5th — Huntington North. 

Visual — Homestead.

Music — Homestead. 

General Effect — Homestead.

Class B: 

1st — DeKalb.

2nd — East Noble.

3rd — Columbia City.

Visual — Dekalb.

Music — Dekalb.

General Effect — Dekalb.

 

Class C: 

1st — Norwell.

2nd — Concordia.

3rd — Heritage.

4th — Bishop Dwenger.

5th – Garrett.

6th – New Haven.

7th – Wayne.

Visual —Norwell.

Music — Norwell.

General Effect — Norwell.

Class D: 

1st — Woodlan.

2nd — Eastern

3rd – Adams Central.

4th — Eastside.

5th – Hicksville

Visual — Woodlan.

Music — Woodlan.

General Effect — Woodlan.

Photos and video from the event will be posted here over the next few days.