HCHS Marching Band Wins at 2022 KMEA Championship Competition

Hancock County High School Marching Band competed on Saturday morning, October 29 at the Semi-Finals at Bryant Station High School in Lexington.  The band won Second Place which gave them the opportunity to move on to the State Championship Competition that same evening at Eastern Kentucky University. They competed Saturday evening and won Second Place in State, as well as First Place in music.

The band left for their Saturday competitions on the Hornet Band Bus Friday afternoon, October 28 and were sent-off with a lot of support from the community. “It was really cool,” Band Director Zachary Buskill said. “The fire department and sheriff’s cars were there. They escorted us out. A lot of people were in downtown Hawesville. They were lined-up along Main Street, holding signs they made for us and cheering for us. I think the kids really enjoyed it.”

The students have been practicing and competing for many weeks leading up to these final competitions. Buskill commented on their performance the morning at Semi-Finals and their final performance competing at the Championships: “They had a good performance at Semi-Finals and placed Second there too. They got First Place in Music that evening at the Championships, as well as winning Second Place. The staff and I definitely thought it was their best performance of the year overall. It’s always good to end on your best run.”

Zachary’s parents, Jamie & Ann Buskill, always come and cook for them at their competitions and prepared a special meal after the Championships. The students and staff enjoyed the celebratory meal they’d been hoping for – a delicious steak dinner. “It was really good. That’s always something to look forward to,” Buskill said.

“We had a lot of parents there,” he added. “The parents and families did so well all year in supporting us. They were always at the competitions and were cheering us on. They did a great job being present at the performances and the kids really noticed that too. They gave them a lot of energy and excitement from the crowd.”

Even with their full weekend, the HCHS Marching Band and staff made it out to perform at South Hancock Elementary and at North Hancock Elementary as a special treat on Monday, October 31. Not only that, but they also did their entire performance on the football field at HCMS/HCHS campus for all students and staff there during school last Thursday, October 27. Buskill said the weather was good and that it went really well. That was their last performance for a crowd before competing that weekend.

“The kids did a really good job representing their county and their school,” Buskill said. “Anytime you take a group of kids on the road and stay overnight, it can be a distraction but they handled it really well.

Emily Rohrer (Color Guard Instructor), Logan Barrow (HCMS Band Director) and I were really proud of them. They did a great job this year.”
They stayed overnight in Richmond both Friday night and Saturday night at the Hampton Inn, right by Eastern Kentucky University and returned home on Sunday, October 30.

By Jennifer Wimmer