The band returns to the state marching contest for the first time since 2014 after a fourth-place finish at area.
By Greg Jaklewicz
MIDLAND - Wylie High School’s Pure Gold marching band’s season will not just include the final two football games.
The band on Saturday took fourth place at the Area A marching contest at Astound Stadium, earning a November trip to San Antonio to march in the Alamodome.
This will be Wylie’s first state contest at the Class 5A level and first since 2014, when the band went as a 4A school under Mike Lunney. WHS finished 18th among 22 bands 12 years ago.
“We are so excited for these students. They have worked extremely hard the last 15 weeks and their dedication and perseverance has paid off,” said Kyle McDonald, director of bands at WHS since 2022.
Class 5A bands this year compete Nov. 2, the first UIL classification on the field.
Thus, it’s a quick turnaround for Pure Gold.
“Pretty awesome,” Superintendent Joey Light said Sunday. “This has been a long work in progress. Mr. McDonald has put a great staff in place. They have continued to improve in all phases of the band immensely.
“We have a strong and solid band program.”
Wylie was seventh at this contest in 2025.
The Wylie ISD in a week has scored two state qualifiers. Previously, the tennis team won the Region I title and then took second place at the state tournament, also in San Antonio.
“That’s pretty impressive,” Light said.
El Paso schools dominate the finals
El Paso Hanks, judged fourth in the prelims, took first place with 1s across the board in the finals, with two other El Paso schools, El Dorado and Horizon, finishing second and third in judging.
Wylie was one point from third and two points from second.
There were five judges - three for music and two for visual presentation.
Wylie scored 3, 6, and 7 for music among the 10 finalists, and a 3 and 4 for visuals.
Right behind Wylie in fifth and just missing a state berth was Lubbock-Cooper, which performed its show minus props (due to wind) at Friday’s game at Sandifer Stadium.
Wylie fans might have been pulling for Lubbock-Cooper to show well in Midland. The Pirate Pride Band opened its spaghetti western-themed show with “O Sole Mio.” The song from 1898 is the musical basis for the Wylie school song.
Area A finals results
The order of finish in the finals Saturday evening was:
Hanks (5 total rating points)
El Dorado (21)
Horizon (22)
Wylie (23)
Lubbock-Cooper
Amarillo
Frenship
Del Valle
Lubbock
Frenship Memorial
Again, it was Hanks that made the biggest move, jumping from fourth to first.
Preliminary round results
The order of finish for prelims held Saturday morning and afternoon was:
El Dorado
Horizon
Wylie
Hanks
Lubbock-Cooper
Frenship
Amarillo
Lubbock High
Del Valle
Frenship Memorial
El Dorado got two top ratings for music and Lubbock-Cooper the other in the prelims.
Visual presentation judges split, with Horizon and Frenship earning the top score.
Wylie received ratings of 2, 4, and 6 for music and 6 and 9 for visuals.
The two Abilene ISD bands, which performed Monday night at Shotwell Stadium after Wylie, did not make the finals. AHS was 13th and Cooper 15th.
A tradition of excellence
Wylie’s superior rating in the regional round was the 40th in a row.
The Class 5A state contest has been dominated by Leander Cedar Park, which has won every contest year since moving up to 5A.
Overall, Cedar Park has won nine championships since 2001, including seven straight.
Cedar Park, however, has moved up to 6A and there will be a new champion this year.
State marching band contests now are held every year. Previously, schools competed every other year based on classification. The UIL made its change in 2023.
The road to San Antonio
Pure Gold is scheduled to perform Nov. 6 at Sandifer, when the Bulldogs play Abilene Cooper. McDonald said the band will travel Friday to Wichita Falls for the Legacy football game before leaving the next Sunday for San Antonio.
As for the expense of busing around 200 people south for the state contest, Light said that won't be an issue.
"We'll find the money," he said.
