MASON — Despite being a primarily young band this year, the Wahama High School marching band has already been quite successful.

The band recently competed in the James Monroe High School band competition where they walked away with first place in all categories of their class. This year’s band is comprised of 57 members, and Katie Hendricks serves as the field commander.

According to Chip Hendricks, band director, the band is working very hard this year. Band members typically practice three to four days a week after school.

“We are a young band, but we did well for our very first competition. We have had good practices,” Hendricks said.

In addition, Hendricks described the WHS band as being unique from other bands in the state because it is comprised of students grades 7-12.

“This year’s band is a great group of kids. They have worked really well together...Because we march grades 7-12 it makes us practice much more, but the older students mentor the younger ones,” he said.

Hendricks added that the WHS band also is unique because it is one of the few military style marching bands in the state.

This year the band’s main show is entitled “In Defense of Liberty.” Hendricks described the show as being very patriotic with a medley of patriotic songs. He said that the band chose to do the patriotic theme because it is always a crowd pleaser.

“We’ve done (patriotic) shows in the past and have had great response. It’s become a tradition and the crowds enjoy it,” he added.

The band will travel to Spring Valley High School to compete this Saturday, and on Saturday, Sept. 26 the band will host their White Falcon Invitational. According to Hendricks, Point Pleasant, Buffalo, Lincoln County, Wayne and James Monroe high schools will be attending the event. In addition, the Point Pleasant Junior High band will perform an exhibition number at the competition and the WHS band will do an exhibition performance of their show as well.

This will be the second year that WHS has hosted the White Falcon Invitational. According to Hendricks, last year’s inaugural event went very well.

“We’ve talked about doing our own competition for a number of years and finally decided to try it. (The White Falcon Invitational) is a fundraiser and it is a competition for small bands,” he said. “We had a great turnout last year and tried to make sure that the (event) was well run. We would like to invite the public out to support us and the other schools.”

Hendricks added that the event helps pay for various band functions, such as the upcoming spring break trip to Disney World in Florida, which is a joint trip with the WHS choir.

The WHS band also will compete at Huntington High School Oct. 3, Ripley High School Oct. 17 and at the Tri-State Festival, which is slated for Oct. 31 at Marshall University.