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By Luke Geraghty

It has been a sweltering hot summer all over the Hoosier state, but that has not stopped the FC marching band from practicing their routines in preparation for the 2011 season.

“It has been long and really hot, but it is worth it in the end,” said senior Zachary Wright.

The practices during Band Camp have been Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m from July 25 to August 5.  FC has also had mini camps every Tuesday since June 7.

Sophomore Emma Howie talked about how the summer training has been going for both the band and herself.

“We have been making a lot of improvements,” Howie said. ” I have struggled marching backwards, but I have good upper body strength for the turns.”

With all of the long practices the band has gone through, the band said it has brought them all even closer.

“We are like a big family and we are working together to get better,” Howie said. “Other bands are just out there to compete, but we try to do our best and have fun.”

Sophomore Alex Queen talked about what makes the FC marching band so special.

“We have a lot of people who are talented musicians,” Queen said. “When you get them all together on the field it makes for a really good show.”

Last year, FC finished sixth overall in the state finals in Class B. The five schools that beat them out were Greenwood, Goshen, Concord, Jasper, and Northview. The sixth place tied the school record for the best finish in a state final and it was FC’s ninth top ten finish ever.

In order to get back to state, FC will first have to get past the district, the regionals, and then semi-state. After tasting a top ten finish for the last two years, the band members are looking for another trip to the state finals.

“Last year we were at our peak,” said senior Shelby Stephens. “Our goals are to improve from last year and to get back to state.”

In order to get back to state, FC will have to get past many competitions. Queen talked about the competition that he was looking forward to the most.

“I’m looking forward to Paoli,” Queen said. “It’s usually the most intense because it’s right before district and regionals.”

Most of the members agreed that Paoli was the competition they were most excited for, but junior Brian Young was looking forward to a different competition.

“I am looking forward to Evansville because you get to meet a lot of different people,” Young said.

Most of  FC’s biggest competitions take place in the month of October. The District contest will be in Jasper on Oct. 1, regionals will take place on Oct. 15, semi-state is Oct. 22, and the state finals will be on Oct. 29 in which FC will be eyeing a third straight top ten finish.