Mineola’s Sound of the Swarm brought home its sixth state championship Nov. 4, once again taking first place in the UIL Class 3A State Marching Contest at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

It was the band’s third consecutive state title, following wins in 2024 and 2025. Mineola also won championships in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

The band placed first in both the preliminary and final rounds with its show, “What Lies Beneath.”

Two other Wood County bands also competed at state. Quitman’s Proud Blue Band made its first appearance since 1985, while Winnsboro’s Red Raider Band also advanced to San Antonio.

Mineola claims another championship

This year’s championship was a little different for Mineola Band Director Donald Myers. After serving as percussion director for over two years, Myers took over this fall as head director.

Myers said this year’s show was more difficult than in previous years.

“We asked a lot of our students this season. Along with a show that was more demanding musically and visually than anything we’ve done before, they had changes in their schedules, leadership, and day-to-day procedures. That’s a lot to take on, and it wasn’t always easy,” Myers said.

“But they kept showing up, kept working, and kept finding ways to make it better, every time,” Myers said.

Mineola won the Area C competition Oct. 24 in Whitehouse, earning its trip back to state. Myers said he was especially pleased with how the students handled the changes and criticism that came throughout the season.

“Above everything else, I’m proud of how they carried themselves. Their response to adversity like change and criticism says a lot about their character,” Myers said.

Several Mineola students talked about their experiences at state, including the nervous moments waiting for the final results.

Senior percussion leader Layne McLemore said the experience was bittersweet. “I have been doing this for 5 years, switching schools and instruments. It was very bittersweet and to know all my hard work came to this moment. I was both happy and sad…I had a lot of feelings,” McLemore said.

Senior drum major Jarezi Delgadillo was making her fourth trip to the Alamodome, having participated in color guard, played flute and served as drum major during her years with the band.

Delgadillo said the band felt good about its performance but still had doubts as the final results were announced. When Mineola was announced champions Delgadillo said she was “very, very happy.”

Junior drum major Adalyn Hodson described the moment the results were announced as a mixture of excitement and relief. “I could really feel the excitement and adrenaline, but there is this feeling of relief that sweeps through you… I just take a deep breath knowing it was all worth it then I wait until they call us to break ranks,” Hodson said.

Junior Knox Pappas-McKinnley said it was difficult to remain still while waiting for the announcement.

“It’s very challenging. It takes a lot of willpower, and I’m not going to lie, I did wiggle around a little and looked around,” Pappas-McKinnley said.

When the final results were announced in San Antonio, Assistant Band Director Isabella Myers said she was thinking more about the students’ performance than where they would finish.

“All we ask of the kids is that they leave it all on the field, and make it better every time. The results are just a cherry on top,” Myers said.

Assistant Band Director Zach Paul said he makes a point of watching the students as the results are announced.

“The moment belongs to the students, and the other band directors and I will cherish it,” Paul said.

The Mineola color guard also had some rebuilding to do this year. Director Carrie Gonzalez said the group lost several experienced members.

Two became drum majors, two moved, one graduated early and four seniors graduated from the program. That left a relatively young group to learn a show that was no easier than those performed by previous guards.

“They could have asked me to change their choreography to make it easier but they never did. They just decided they would work until they got it right,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said the students held each other accountable and continued working until they were satisfied with their performance. Gonzalez said one thing she noticed at state was how calm the students seemed compared with previous years.

“I think they felt very prepared and they were very consistent which is something we’ve been striving for all season,” Gonzalez said. One of her favorite parts of the trip was seeing the reaction of students entering the Alamodome for the first time.

“Being in the dome is hard to put into words, so after talking about it for the last few weeks and then watching them experience it for themselves is really cool,” Gonzalez said.

For eighth grader Blake Fisher, who helped move equipment as a roadie, the trip offered a look at what he hopes to experience as a high school band member next year.

Fisher said that he liked pushing the panels but he also liked “...just sitting there and listening to the band play knowing that next year I’ll get to be out there performing.”

Mineola Middle School Band Director Dago Gonzalez said the students have continued to raise expectations for themselves each year.

“Our motto is ‘Make It Better.’ Every year our students take the challenge of making their best, even better,” Dago Gonzalez said.

He credited Donald Myers and the other directors for continuing to push the program forward. Donald Myers also thanked the parents, volunteers, administration and school board for their support.

He said volunteers spent many hours working on props, sewing and helping with other needs.

“There’s so much work that happens before anyone ever sees the show on the field, and I hope those families know how much we appreciate them. This season belongs to them, too,” Myers said.

The students also recognized the support they received from home. Hodson said she appreciated the community members who traveled to competitions and helped make the band’s success possible.

“I am super grateful for them coming and supporting us and giving us the means that we need to be able to go to competition,” she said. For eighth-grade percussionist Elijah Kratzmeyer, the championship was about more than bringing home another trophy.

“It’s not about just winning the gold. It’s about remembering the people that you were with on the way there,” Kratzmeyer said.

The band will now move into concert season and winter guard. Myers said the directors have already begun discussing next year’s marching show, although they aren’t ready to reveal any details.

QUITMAN MAKES LONG-AWAITED RETURN

Quitman’s Proud Blue Band finished 15th at state, ending a 40-year absence from the competition.

“It was surreal standing in the tunnel knowing that the kiddos were to play for the State Marching Championships,” Barron said.

The trip was especially important for the band’s upperclassmen. Quitman had missed qualifying for state by just one spot in each of the previous three years.

“It was a huge relief to our whole band program,” Barron said. Quitman’s show, “Forbidden Love,” placed third at Whitesboro, second at Mineola and Lone Oak and sixth at Winnsboro during the regular contest season.

The band finished fifth at the Area C competition, securing its place at state. Barron said hiring a program coordinator helped bring the show’s music and visual elements together.

He said the students enjoyed performing it. The community also turned out to support the band as it left for San Antonio.

“The send-off we had driving out of town was so heartwarming, knowing that we were supported by the community,” Barron said.

The band will hold its Christmas concert Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.

WINNSBORO COMPETES AT STATE

Winnsboro’s Red Raider Band also earned a trip to the Alamodome after finishing third at the Area C competition Oct. 24 in Whitehouse. Winnsboro joined Mineola and Quitman among the 25 Class 3A bands competing for the state championship, finishing 12th in the preliminaries.

More to come on Winnsboro’s state run next week.