Marching Dodgers Prove 'Fierce Competitors'

Madison High School's marching band excelled this season in its more competitive tournament class.

The Madison Marching Dodgers competed in the Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championships on Sunday, Nov. 4, in Hershey, Pa.

The band previously took second place at the tournament when it was in the 2-A Class. After making the leap to Open Class, competing with much more established bands, Madison again had the honor of competing in the Atlantic Coast Championships, and placed 11th out of 30 bands, according to a band news release.

This is the Marching Dodgers' fourth year in competition under the leadership of Director of Bands Russell Batsch. Previously, Madison High School had not had a marching band since 1995.

The band boasts 51 instrumentalists, 11 color guard members, and a pit crew of parents. They competed almost every weekend, and performed their show at half-time during varsity football home games.

Under the leadership of drum majors Jay Oh and Abbi Raymaker, the Marching Dodger’s exciting 2013 show, “What Dreams May Come,” included an opening and closing with the band  in crazy “sleep” poses, two fantastic saxophone solos and a surprise electric guitar solo.

At championships, the band performed its best show of the season, scoring a 90.65.

"We have been an open band for one-and-a-half seasons," Batsch said. "In that time we went from really being considered an outsider to outperforming groups with twice our budget, four times our history and a proven track record."

Batsch listed the band's accomplishments and awards since it began competing in 2010: 13 first-place, eight second-place, three third-place finishes, two chapter championships, seven best music, nine best visual, two best drum major, one best pit crew and one best fans awards, one student who participated in the all-star band, and two Tournament of Bands scholarship winners.

"Countless members from other bands have complimented our kids, and we have carved a reputation for being respectful, classy and fierce competitors," Batsch said.

Batsch thanked the families and support groups who support the band, and noted recruitment for next season starts in January.

A fundraiser for the band is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Chipotle, 6 Main Street, Madison. For every customer who says, "I'm with the band," Chipotle will give a percentage of the money from the purchase to the marching band, the news release said.