March 28, 2024

Newton Cardinal Regiment receives Division I rating at state competition

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Newton Senior High School Cardinal Regiment received a Division I rating at the State Marching Band Competition in Waukee on Oct. 19. Newton placed fifth in Class 4A out of 12 bands that competed.

The Cardinal Regiment kicked off the 2013-2014 school year by participating in several marching band competitions throughout Central Iowa.

The first marching band competition of the season was the Fourth Annual Marching Dutch Invitational on Sept. 28 in Pella. The regiment placed second in Class 4A. Eighteen of the area’s best high school marching bands competed for top honors in four classes. The Cardinal Regiment Drum Line received the caption award for Best Drum Line at the Dutch invitational.

The band then traveled to the Urbandale Marching Invitational on Oct. 5 at the Urbandale High School stadium. The Cardinal Regiment competed in Class 4A along with Indianola, Waukee, Southeast Polk and Johnston. The marching band finished fifth in their class and Newton senior band member Megan Sorenson, daughter of Matt and Carol Sorenson, was named the Newton band’s Outstanding Marcher.

On Oct. 12, the band traveled to Valley Stadium to compete in the 34th Annual ValleyFest and Showdown in West Des Moines. Twenty-three of the Midwest’s finest high school marching bands perform at this “invitation only” competition.

Newton competed in Class 4A along with other bands from Central Iowa and finished fourth. The highlight of ValleyFest came during the awards presentation following the conclusion of the day show. Receiving a caption award for the Class 4A Outstanding Drum Majors for the second year in a row were Newton drum majors Sydney Bergman, daughter of Jim and Shannon Bergman; Monica Mulcahey, daughter of Kathy Mulcahey; and McKenna Heisdorffer, daughter of Rex and Michele Heisdorffer. They missed being named Outstanding Drum Majors overall for the second year in a row by one point. Cydney Hillyard, daughter of Don and Suzanne Hillyard, was named the band’s Outstanding Marcher at ValleyFest. The regiment placed 11th in its division at showdown that evening.

The concert bands are busy preparing for the Winter Concert and the first jazz band competitions. The Winter Concert will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9, in the Center for Performance Arts at NHS.