It was a crisp October evening in Colorado Springs, and Creek’s marching band had just performed their best ever.

It’s not unusual for the marching band to perform in the state finals at the Air Force Academy, or even for them to become semi-finalists. But this year was different. For one, it had been more than three years since the last time Creek, or any Colorado band, had performed at the state level – 2020’s state final was canceled due to COVID, and 2019’s due to weather. And two, they placed the highest they ever had, with an all-time high score of 83.3 out of 100.

“This is the best product we’ve put on the field,” band director Tim Libby said. “It’s definitely one of the best products we put on the field since I’ve been here. And the students really did do a really good job…it was just a thrill.”

In a video of the band’s final performance, Libby can be seen jumping up and down in the stands at the end.

“It was pure joy and excitement, and pride,” Libby said. “And I was so proud of them. I was just really enjoying their performance. I just got really excited. So I had a multitude of feelings in that moment, but most of it was joy.”

Creek has never scored this high in a state competition, at least since 1991, and has not placed this high for about as long either. For the drum majors, who conduct the band and serve as their leaders, winning in such a tumultuous year had all the more meaning.

“Getting third place at state is such an honor,” junior drum major Josh Weiner said. “We have never gotten such a high placement or that high of a score, so getting to break those Creek records makes me so proud.”

Last year’s band didn’t have any competitions due to COVID, meaning that both the freshmen and sophomores of this year’s band were new to competing. Even most of the upperclassmen had not competed, because 2019’s state competition was canceled due to bad weather.

“Performing this year was different than all other years, due to COVID and the fact that we hadn’t been able to perform in over a year, so I think everyone was a lot more nervous,” junior flute section leader Giselle Marians said. “As section leader, it was my part of my job to help everyone else feel more ready, since over half the band hadn’t experienced a competition yet. And I was more nervous, too, since we had to teach two years of people how to do everything and start from scratch.”

For section leaders, melding the community together is one of the most important things about their jobs, and many said this year’s band community was one of the best ever.

“I think the community in marching band definitely has its own unique flair, but it’s a very down to earth, hard-working, supportive group,” senior trombone section leader Elizabeth Williams said. “I am of course biased, but my section is my favorite group of people in the band. I had the privilege of being section leader this year, which is likely a near equivalent to being a team captain for a sport, so I really got to know everyone in my section because I was checking in with and teaching all of them.”

Creek’s historic performance at state came just a couple weeks after they won their regional state qualifiers. For Creek, this meant a quick turnaround and getting right back to work, despite high spirits after the win – but they pulled it off anyway.
“Preparing for state after regionals was tricky, because the band was in such high spirits but we weren’t done yet!” senior drum major Kayli Kilzer said over text. “We knew we had to continue to work very hard and put a lot of effort in our show, and it paid off in the end!”