The sound of Pleasant Valley had a different tone in this year’s senior marching band performance. Steady rain during the Spartans last regular season home game of the year meant no instruments, no costumes and no senior send-off.
In an effort to shed some light on the storm, the PV band directors hosted a “senior” show during the school day Tuesday and invited family and friends to attend. More than 100 band supporters filled the stands.
Senior Keaton Ayers had mixed opinions on the senior band performance getting moved. “I was sad that I couldn’t perform one last time, but it also gave me the chance to experience a full football game from the stands,” he said. While the band was canceled, the game itself was still played.
The entire senior band performance is produced by the senior’s, including the songs, formations and movements. Band seniors voted to play their favorite songs: “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Thank You for the Memories.” Sadly, the seniors were not able to get the full experience for their last marching band memory.
“What made it fun for seniors was being able to dress up and have fun with the crowd and that just didn’t happen on Tuesday,” said Ayers.
The home game against Iowa City West was supposed to be the last at Spartan Stadium this year, but now Pleasant Valley will host a first round of the football playoff berth. The playoff game was known prior to the canceled show, but anything past the regular season schedule is voluntary for band members.
Senior Jaydon Kachappilly and others feel the playoff game should’ve been an option. “I think most people viewed it as a sort of unfulling replacement, especially with some people confused about why it couldn’t happen during the playoff game. While it was a good effort on the part of the band directors it just wasn’t the same,” he said.
Football players, cheerleaders and the Platinum Dance Team still went ahead with their senior night despite the rain. Band members aren’t the only seniors without a sendoff. They join the short list of Boys Golf, Girls Cross Country and Boys Cross Country who don’t get an opportunity to recognize the graduating class.
