October 3, 2022
By: Bill Conger
The DeKalb County High School Fighting Tiger Band is heading to the state championship. D.C.H.S. Band is one of 25 top bands across Tennessee selected to perform at the 41st Annual Tennessee Division II State Marching Band Championship. The event will be November 5 at Stewarts Creek High School.
“First, it is an honor to be invited,” Band Director Don Whitt said. “Only 25 bands in the entire state of Tennessee are selected. This is huge for us. What it means to me before we win any awards or anything, we are one of the best 25 bands in the state. This to me, is an honor and makes me very humbled. Secondly, I feel as I am following in the footsteps of my best friend Tracy Luna, who had taken them to the State Championship in the past. One of my mentors was really noticing the way we played and marched during band camp in July, and said, “I think you may have an opportunity to play at the state championship this season” and encouraged me to get there.”
The band brought home an arm full of awards from Trousdale County on September 24. After competing in the Yellow Jacket Invitational the band was second in its class while the percussion and color guard placed first. Drum major Serenity Burgess placed second. The guard also scored number one overall.
“The color guard did a fantastic job at the competition,” Color Guard Coach Shannon Johns said. “They have put in extra time on the field and a few of them even helped write equipment work for the show. I am super proud of their performance and how well they represented DeKalb County!”
“I think we are building momentum for a wonderful year,” Whitt said. “I’m so very proud of these young students. They are learning what it takes to be successful, which is hard work and dedication. I’m very thankful for Erica Birmingham, Shannon Johns, Emily Wallace, Destiny Battaglia and the overwhelming support of the band boosters, administration, faculty, and bus drivers which makes this a successful band program.”
“Overall, the band did well. We are one band; one sound and we strive to work together as a team. Overall, the judges said it was an exciting show. One judge commented,” There is nothing boring about it.” The one focus that they said to have in every group is keeping that excitement and energy alive throughout the entire show. Which is about 7 minutes. The main thing we must do now is clean up the music and marching techniques. Everyone that saw us last year has come up to me at football games, at competitions and even Wal-Mart has told me this is a different and better-looking band than last year. I’m very happy about that. We must continue with that momentum.”
The annual Yellow Jacket Invitation Tournament also honored D.C.H.S. late band director Tracy Luna by retitling the soloist award in his memory.