Imagine you are standing in the middle of the football field in Lucas Oil Stadium. Your eyes are closed and your fingers are crossed as you listen to the results. “And your Class D State Champions are…” Shaking with anticipation and nerves as you wait for the announcer to finish, “The Lewis Cass Marching Kings!” You are flooded with emotions of joy, pride, and accomplishment, that all of your hard work has finally paid off!
The Lewis Cass Marching Kings have made it to state and won once again! The Marching Kings have been to state now 43 consecutive times and have been state champions eleven times in 1988, 1995, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2017, 2019, 2021, and most recently, 2024. They placed first in their first competition, the Northwestern Invitational. Then, the Kings went on to the Noblesville Black and Gold Invitational and won first place. Next, they continued to the ISSMA Scholastic Prelims/Open Class Invitational and got gold. After that, they moved on to Lafayette Jefferson High School for ISSMA Regionals – Class D & B where they won gold and advanced to the next competition. Next, they performed in the regional prelims at Lucas Oil Stadium, followed by semi-state at Franklin Community High School where they advanced to the State Finals.
Head Director, Hinshaw reflects on their immensely successful season, “The Marching band had a great season this year. We had a lot of seniors and a lot of new students. It was great for the new marchers to learn from the large senior class. The band never seemed phased or anxious about scores or placements through the season, and just focused on being better each weekend. You could tell during State Finals week that they were prepared and ready to go. Being named State champions is a tremendous honor.”
This year’s theme was “The Giving Tree,” based on the popular children’s book by Shel Silverstein. It was a fan favorite of many including director, Alan Hinshaw and senior trumpet player Cassidy Roller. Mr. Hinshaw says this was his favorite theme because “it was easy to understand and bring to life.” Cassidy has been a member of the Lewis Cass Marching Kings since 2020 when she was in eighth grade. Other senior marching band members share some of their favorite themes. Seniors Aiden Elliot and Logan Hook’s favorite theme was When Kings Go Off To War in 2021. Alan Healton enjoyed the A Young Person’s Guide to a Farmer’s Life performance in 2022. No matter what your favorite theme was, The Giving Tree takes the prize for favorite theme this year.
When asked who the Marching Kings’ biggest competition was, Mr. Hinshaw said “Just like athletics, teams/bands ebb and flow in terms of talent and performance level. There are a few programs in our class that have strong marching legacies and are usually in the conversation as some of the best bands in class D; Paoli, Forest Park, Springs Valley from the south. Jimtown and Knox from the north have moved down to our class and were tough competition this year.”
Senior, Aiden Elliott says “Being in Lucas Oil Stadium and hearing them call Lewis Cass Marching Kings, just gives you goosebumps every single time you hear it.” We are so proud of our Marching Kings, march on!
