Marion earns Bronze Medal at State Marching Band Contest

Patriot Pride Band earns best finish in school history

By ANDY WELD

MSD Communications

The Marion Patriot Pride Marching Band wrapped up its 2024 marching season in style Wednesday, earning the Bronze Medal at the

6A State Marching Contest, held at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

The third-place finish was the highest in school history. Marion recorded a score of 90.6, earning a First Division Superior Rating for the second consecutive year. The band finished just behind perennial band powerhouses Lake Hamilton and Van Buren.

“This was the best and most emotional performance of the year for our students,” said Marion Director of Bands Monty Hill. “Seeing the Marion band place so high at state with other elite programs in the state of Arkansas is very special for our students.”

The Top Ten order of finish is class 6A, and their scores, is as follows:

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■ Lake Hamilton – 94.25

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■ Van Buren – 92.5

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■ Marion – 90.6

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■ Siloam Springs – 89.3

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■ Greenwood – 87

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■ Benton – 86

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■ Mountain Home – 83.4

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■ Sylvan Hills – 79.5

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■ El Dorado – 77.4

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■ West Memphis – 76.8 Wednesday’s contest marks the end of a historically successful marching season for Marion. Over the course of the past several weeks, the band has defeated 96 bands from six different states, competing in marching band contests across the region. The band has logged nearly 2,500 miles on the road over the past six weeks.

The season’s achievements include the following:

■ ■ Grand Champions at Mid-South Classic (Jonesboro)

■ ■ Grand Champions at US Bands Ark-La-Miss Regional (Monroe, La.)

■ ■ Second place at Eastern Shore Classic (Daphne, Ala.)

■ ■ Straight Superior Ratings at ASBOA Regional Assessment (Paragould)

■ ■ Fourth Place at Paragould McDonald’s Invitational (Paragould)

■ ■ Second place at US Bands Southeastern Championship (Huntsville, Ala.)

■ ■ Third place (Bronze Medal) at 6A State Marching Band Contest (Little Rock) This season also marked the largest band in school history, with 160 members in the competition band and

180 student musicians taking the field for halftime performances on Friday nights. The theme for this year’s competition show was “Riveting.” The show paid homage to “Rosie the Riveter” and all of the women who supplied America’s war effort during World War II.

The Marion Patriot Pride Marching Band put a cap on its 2024 competition season with a 3rd-place finish in the Arkansas 6A State Marching Compeition.

Photo courtesy of MSD