Dawson-Bryant is first runner-up

South Point High School was named the grand champion in Saturday’s Buckeye Classic competition.

“This was our 31st contest,” Jeff Sanders, band director for Ironton High School, who hosted the event, said. “It was also our biggest ever, with 16 band performances, some 1,000 performers and about 2,500 spectators.”

First runner-up was Dawson-Bryant, followed by Ross High School.

South Point also won in the Overall Best Music and Overall Best Marching categories.
Dawson-Bryant won for Overall Best General Effect, while Point Pleasant High School won for Best Percussion and Best Auxiliary.

In the Class AA completion, South Point won first for band and percussion and came in second for auxiliary.

Chesapeake came in first for auxiliary and second for band and percussion.

In the Class A competition, Dawson-Bryant took the top spot for band, second for percussion and third for auxiliary.

Ross won second for band, third for percussion and second for auxiliary, while Point Pleasant won first for percussion and auxiliary and third for band.

In Class B, Portsmouth West took the top spot in all categories, while Gallia Academy won second for band, fourth for percussion and third for auxiliary; Northwest won third in band, second in percussion and second in auxiliary; and Minford was third in percussion, fourth in band and fourth in auxiliary.

In Class C, Green High School won first for band and percussion and was tied for third for auxiliary. Southern won for auxiliary, took second in band and was third in percussion. Valley was second in percussion and third in band, while Symmes Valley was second in auxiliary, fourth in band and tied for fourth in percussion. River Valley High tied for third in auxiliary and fourth for percussion.

Schools earning a superior rating are eligible to participate in state marching band finals. Schools who achieved this were South Point, Dawson-Bryant, Chesapeake, Gallia Academy, Portsmouth West, Minford, Northwest, Point Pleasant and Ross.