Marching band earns D1 in Dubuque contest

Across the Dalzell Stadium, the Cedar Falls Marching Band lowered their instruments. Unbeknownst to them, they had just delivered a performance that would earn them a D1—the highest ranking a marching band can get when playing at the IHSMA Contest. 

From the bright-eyed sophomores to the teary-eyed seniors, the marching band is full of talent. After a successful contest at Dubuque Senior High School, the 2025 marching band season will conclude on Friday, Oct. 24 with senior night, where senior saxophone player and section leader Eleanor (Elle) Smith and sophomore mellophone player Henry Castle will take the field together one last time. For Smith, this is the last time she will play on the Cedar Falls field. For Castle, this season was only the beginning. 

Both players commented on the satisfaction they felt after this season.

“Marching band this year was so fun for me,” Smith said. “It’s a place I really enjoyed being.” Smith said that while being a section leader was a new challenge, she enjoyed the opportunity. 

“I think we created a really good community and formed some good friendships.”

She described contest as stressful but fun and said that when piling onto a bus with her bandmates on the way to Dubuque, 

“There’s a certain energy that you just don’t get anywhere else.” 

While she won’t be continuing to march in college, Smith said that she plans to continue playing the saxophone for the rest of her life and encourages freshmen and anyone still on the fence to. “Join marching band. It’s so fun. It’s so great,” she said. “It’s a place that I enjoyed being.”

Castle agreed that marching band was truly a good experience.

“I did really enjoy marching band season,” he said. “It was definitely fun to learn new things.”

Castle said that while marching band was difficult, it was rewarding.

“In a way, it’s kind of like a sport. It does take effort, and like all things, if you don’t put in the effort you won’t get good results.” He said that the D1 the band earned at Contest was a direct result of the effort put in by the players, and that teamwork is truly what made it happen.

Castle also praised the directors and said that working with them greatly improved his skills.

“It was a little nerve-racking, but it was actually a lot of fun,” he said. “Mr. Engelhardt and Mr. Ramsey do a great job.” After this season, Castle is certain that he will continue to march next year.