Brazil — It was late on a Halloween Saturday afternoon, but class was in at Northview High School.
“This will be a year that none of us forget, and we’ll all be the better for it,” Northview band director Bob Medworth told a standing-room-only audience of fans and family inside the school’s auditorium at 4:30 p.m.
Earlier that morning the Marching Knights strode through record books with their third back-to-back state championship, one of eight for the school — nine including Brazil High School’s 1981 win also under Medworth — and the 25th time they have gone to the state finals.
Principal Tim Rayle was driving back from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis after noon as he noted the “outstanding job by our band kids and our directors.”
Rayle said he marvels at the group’s dedication. “And the whole Northview family is very proud of them.”
Rusty Bottomley, assistant band director, told the packed assembly that the winning tradition is rooted in a community distinguished in its dedication.
“We don’t just show up on Saturday and make that happen,” Bottomley said, noting the parents, band boosters, truck drivers, crews and local business sponsors who contribute. “Thanks to all the people in the community.”
The 2009 show was themed “Versus,” based on music from “Night On Bald Mountain” by Modest Mussorgsky, as the color guard split into red and yellow teams and the show revolved around the competition. The four-part show lasted seven-and-a-half minutes.
“This is a pretty unique place,” Bottomley, in his fourth year at Northview, said of the school administration’s support for the program. “People don’t always get to experience this.”
The 2009 victory marks the eighth since 1984, the same year Northview High School was formed. It’s also the 25th time they have competed for the state title. The Marching Knights won back-to-back championships in 1993 and 1994, 1998 and 1999, and now 2008 and 2009.
This year’s win held special meaning for some, as 15-year-old guard member Halie Hite died in an automobile accident earlier in October. The band competed in the Cavalcade of Champions at Center Grove later that week in her memory.
Medworth spoke to the audience about class, what it meant, and how they demonstrated it.
Bottomley drew applause as he led the audience in cheering directors Bob and Ruth Ann Medworth. “They’ve been doing this for a long time, and man, are they good at it.”
Medworth told band members he was prepared for the impending Halloween ruckus all knew would be launched upon his house later that evening, and he told them in advance that toilet papering his house was all right, but paintball guns were forbidden.
“You’re going to lose anyway,” he said to laughter.
Macy Mayle, a junior member of guard, said she felt Saturday’s show was their best of the year. “It was just an amazing feeling,” she said, noting she’d been a member of now two state championship shows. “Hope for a third,” she said. “But two will do.”
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
STATE CHAMPS: Northview wins Class B title at ISSMA Marching Band State Finals
Knights go back-to-back for third time
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies
Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.
-
Giant welcome home for Steve
Terre Haute was suddenly home to thousands of cheering New York Giants fans Friday as residents welcomed Super Bowl champion Steve Weatherford back home for a parade.
-
‘One for Terre Haute,’ Steve tells crowd at North
“This one was for Terre Haute,” native son Steve Weatherford proclaimed Friday as he shared his Super Bowl victory with the community that helped send him on the path to a world championship.
-
Hometown support vital to success, Weatherford says
Steve Weatherford said Friday he wouldn’t be celebrating a Giants’ Super Bowl victory if not for the support he’s received from his hometown, his parents and mentors in his life.
-
Craning for a rare glimpse
A visitor from the Far East has naturalists flying to Linton, hoping some good comes from one bird’s bad directions.
-
Vigo’s primary election filings complete
The slate is set for the May 8 primary election, with the race for three at-large seats on the Vigo County Council drawing the largest pool of candidates at the county level.
-
Documentary on electric vehicles plays Sunday at Rose
The rising popularity of electric vehicles and their impact on the world eco-system is the focus of a documentary, “Revenge of the Electric Car,” being presented at 3 p.m. Sunday in Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Hatfield Hall Theater.
-
Man gets 10-year sentence in battery case
A West Terre Haute man received a 10-year prison sentence Friday after pleading guilty to aggravated battery for beating a friend caught in bed with the man’s wife.
-
Asian hooded crane lands in Greene County wildlife area
Bird watchers are flocking to a southwestern Indiana wildlife area to try to catch a glimpse of a crane usually spotted only in Asia.
-
Slow drips: It’s maple syrup season in Indiana
More seasonal, colder temperatures will hit the Wabash Valley this weekend, which is ideal weather for maple syrup production, said Keith Ruble, superintendent of the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department.
However, Ruble voices concern that this year’s maple syrup season may be short.
-
Downtown restaurant celebrates expansion
The streets of Terre Haute were chilly Thursday night, but for the glow of hot pasta inside Louise’s Pizzeria and Cafe.
-
Contract signed for new Y
Papers are signed and the ink is in place for a new YMCA to operate in Terre Haute.
-
City to impose $30 release fee on towed vehicles
The Terre Haute City Council voted without opposition Thursday to impose a new $30 release fee on vehicles towed and impounded by the police as part of a criminal investigation.
-
Valley educators cautious on Indiana’s ‘No Child’ waiver
Indiana is one of 10 states to receive a waiver from federal No Child Left Behind requirements.
-
Driver dies after Illinois school bus crash
“Brace yourself. Brace yourself,” Fay Pickering shouted to her students just before the school bus she was driving crossed U.S. 40 and landed in a ditch Thursday morning.
-
Trial date set for former WTH police chief
A July 23 trial date has been set for a former police chief of West Terre Haute accused of theft.
-
Motorcycle gang member pleads guilty in federal court
A member of an Indianapolis motorcycle gang who delivered methamphetamine to a Terre Haute dealer has pleaded guilty to drug charges in federal court.
-
July trial date set for mother charged with child neglect
A July 30 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute mother charged with neglecting and battering her toddler.
-
Business hosting SPPRAK fundraiser
Java Haute is hosting the latest fundraiser sponsored by SPPRAK — Special People Performing Random Acts of Kindness.
-
Valley high school cooking competition under way today
Clabber Girl Corp. and Gordon Food Services will host the fourth-annual High School Chef Competition, beginning today through Saturday, and again Feb. 18, in the Culinary Classroom at Clabber Girl.
- UPDATE: Marshall, Ill., school bus driver involved in accident dies; cause appears to be cardiac-related
-
Terre Haute road name game
What used to be called U.S. 40 from the Wabash River west through West Terre Haute to Interstate 70 needs to be renamed and, probably, get new street addresses, a Vigo County planner recommends.
-
MARK BENNETT: William Henry Harrison taught us how to campaign
William Henry Harrison is running for president, again.
It seems impossible, because today would be his 239th birthday, and America has never elected a deceased person to the Oval Office. -
Air National Guard cuts won’t hit 181st Intelligence Wing
The Air National Guard is taking the lion’s share of planned cuts announced last week by the U.S. Air Force. But no cuts are currently expected at Terre Haute’s 181st Intelligence Wing. In fact, the nation’s evolving defense strategy may spell growth at the local base.
-
Friends group takes over Ernie Pyle home in Dana
The western Indiana home in which renowned Hoosier journalist Ernie Pyle was born and an adjacent museum dedicated to preserving his legacy as a World War II correspondent have a new owner.
-
ISU rec center pool out of service while being repaired
Indiana State University is spending about $10,000 to repair a swimming pool at the Student Recreation Center, which opened in 2009.
-
Clinton man throws away, then recovers, $50,000 ticket
A Vermillion County man found himself in a scenario that strikes fear in the heart of Lottery players everywhere. He threw away a $50,000 winning ticket.
-
Show to feature talents of artists with disabilities
Artists whose disabilities have overshadowed their work get a chance to shine in the light of a prodigy this coming month.
-
Fort Wayne forester tells of damage
The emerald ash borer likely will cause as much as $8 million in damage to Fort Wayne’s ash trees by 2015, the city’s manager of forestry operations told a Terre Haute audience Tuesday.
-
Unclaimed assets now part of Goodwill auction site
Many of Indiana’s unclaimed assets are now on Goodwill’s online auction site, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced Tuesday.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Video of M.I.A's Obscene Halftime Gesture
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Raw Video: Rough Seas Stop Oil Removal
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Woman Pleads Guilty in 1987 Newborn Kidnap Case
Test on Comforter in Powell Unit Shows Blood
The Pits: Israelis Spit Olives for Glory
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
Skaters Still Hold Hope for Dutch Marathon
Snow Strands Italian Towns
Androgynous Model Walks Runway As Man and Woman
Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48
Fans 'Speechless' Over Houston's Death
Romney Tops Santorum in CPAC Straw Poll
First glimpse of Blue Ivy Carter
Absolute Lin-sanity
Hate to be Rude: Bubba Watson
Peek inside Barbie's closet
Angry Dad Shoots Teens Laptop
Hero Driver Saves Kids From Burning Bus
Funeral to be held for Powell boys
Sandusky on having to stay inside and people turning on him
Woolly Mammoth Caught on Camera?
Did JLo 'Assault' Marc Anthony on Camera?
Christie Brinkley's Runway Slip
Toddler forced to run half-naked in snow
Halle Wants to Leave the Country
Northern Lights shine above earth
Plane makes perfect belly landing
