By Caden Eskelsen

The Mount Vernon Marching Band competed at the Bands Across the Prairie Marching Invitational on Saturday in Cedar Rapids. The Marching Mustangs came through with a third place finish overall behind Marion and Independence. They also grabbed a second place finish for their guard and the best drum majors award.

“Prairie was our best performance so far this season,” said senior Erin Fencl. “Our guard and soloists were on time, and our forms were on point.”

The show is titled “Thunderstruck” with a precipitation theme. The band plays songs such as “Singing in the Rain”, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC.

“That was the best performance of the season, we caught some bands that got us in past competitions and got where we wanted to be,” said Scott Weber, Mount Vernon band director.

The color guard missed first place by less than a point to Independence. “Independence follows us to all our competitions, they are are first in the state and some tough competition,” said Weber.

Weber was happy overall with the performance and the finish. He knows that there are only so many things they can change before the next competition. “With state around the corner all we can focus on is individual improvements, feet, body, and controlled turns.”

The Marching Mustangs’ next competition is state marching band on Saturday, Oct. 6 at Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Gallery • 12 Photos

Drum majors prepare for the beginning of the Sept. 28 show. Slideshow photos by Maddie Naeve.