On September 27, 2025, the Wahawk Marching Band took the field at the Linn-Mar stadium for their first competition of the season.
Throughout the years, the Linn-Mar Marching Band Festival has made a name for itself as the heart of competition. Students always look forward to not only attending, but also to performing. Drum Major and Junior Jaxon Thoms says, “I looked forward to Linn-Mar because this would be the first chance to compete with our show. I was extremely excited and ready for our hard work to be put in front of judges. I have been the most excited about coming to this competition than any other. I love performing and getting to perform my solo, and conducting the band was different from any experience before.”
However, 2025 has brought a big change. With the 30th anniversary of the Linn-Mar Marching Band Festival, organizers honored a dedicated volunteer with a name change.
Shirley Moran, the lead parent volunteer, has been volunteering with the Linn-Mar Marching Band since 1990. She has designed two sets of uniforms for the band, including the ones they currently wear. The festival is now titled the Shirley Moran Marching Band Festival at Linn-Mar High School. While the festival has brought plenty of change, change is in the air for the Wahawk Marching Band, too.
As a 4A band, the Wahawk Marching Band competed against six other schools. In the end, they came in sixth place out of seven bands. However, their scores tell the story of their success.
Overall, the top six scoring bands in Class 4A were all within 5.1 points of each other, and the Wahawk Marching Band was only .8 of a point behind fifth place.
With only 3.6 points setting them behind the second place band, all schools were cutting it close with their scores. “When I heard how close the scores were, I was shocked. We went against some of the bands that consistently get high ratings, like Prairie. It shows that everyone in the band has put in the time and effort both musically, and for the show in order for us to be able to fight for top spots and be known as one of the better bands. Even though we did not get top three or even top five, I am still extremely proud of how our score ended up,” says Drum Major and senior Dean Hempel.
Among the seven 4A bands and 19 bands from all other classes, West scored the highest score in Marching Execution, which is scored based on what a judge sees while watching a band’s marching and choreography technique on the field.
Along with the top score for marching execution, the band had the fourth-best marching general effect score, which means that the judges enjoyed their show and the overall effect it had on the audience. Out of the 4A bands, West had the fifth-highest Music Execution and Percussion scores.
With the success of their first competition, the Wahawk Marching Band has had plenty of celebration. Band Director Jason Dobbs says, “I was very proud of our perfect Linn-Mar [score], especially with the Band’s marching. We had several wonderful music and guard moments as well.”
Moving forward, the Band plans to improve their performance quality. Dobbs says, “I’ve been very pleased with the Band’s progress and look for even more successes to come! The goal is always to be the best that we can be in terms of ourselves. Whatever competitive success comes as a result of that is extra.”
Following the Marching Band’s Performance at Linn-Marr, they performed at Bands Across the Prairie and Five Seasons Marching Invitational on October 4. At Bands Across the Prairie, they placed fourth and won an award for the Best Drum Majors. At the Five Seasons Marching Invitational, they placed second.
