HHS color guard takes first in competition in Idaho

Havre High Schools' marching band and color guard team competed in the Mountain West Marching Band Festival in Pocatello, Idaho, this past weekend, going up against teams from Idaho, Utah and Montana, with the color guard taking first in their division.

Color Guard Team Director Serena Dawson said this is her first year leading the team, but she thinks they did very will this weekend and during their fall season as a whole.

"I was very happy with our team," Dawson said. "From the beginning of the season until now. I am very proud of them."

She said some of the team members have never done a competition like this before and it was a great learning experience.

"The kids grew as team and as individuals," he said.

The marching band placed in about the middle of the pack.

Marching band director Cullen Hinkle said he still felt it was a great learning experience and it was nice to see what all these other bands were working on.

"The kids had a good run," Hinkle said.

He said playing in a dome arena like the one in Pocatello was a challenging first experience for the band, especially at first, but he feels there was growth from the band members, which is what's really important.

He said his goal this past year has been growth and improvement for the band members as individuals and as a team, and he feels they have done that this year regardless of how this last competition, their last of the year, went.

"That was my main goal, which was accomplished," he said.

Hinkle said the band listened to the feedback from the judge this weekend and they plan to use that advice as they go forward into the next year.