FORT MITCHELL, Ky. -- “We are… BEECHWOOD!”
This chant could be heard Sunday afternoon as parents, friends and members of the Fort Mitchell community lined the street.
With balloons and red “Go Tigers” posters in hand, they welcomed home the Beechwood High School Marching Band after they won their sixth KMEA state championship title this weekend.
Congrats again Marching Tigers on Taking State!!! There will have a celebration today at school between 3:30 & 4:30..details will follow! pic.twitter.com/577g5QRysd
— BeechwoodTigers (@beechwood_tiger) October 30, 2016
The 80 young musicians waved from the cars as the paraded down down the street, a shining silver trophy sticking out of a sunroof.
Joe Craig, director of the Beechwood High School Marching Band, said planning for a state championship takes a lot of time.
“It takes planning at the beginning of the season to come up with a show that we think has the ability to win or compete for a championship,” Craig said.
Perhaps no one was as excited as senior Natalie Sweasy.
The french horn player was a featured soloist in the performance, and she is no stranger to state titles. This weekend’s win is her fifth.
"(I’m) over the moon, ecstatic, so happy the hard work paid off," Sweasy said.
Junior bassoonist Tanner Stacy agrees it’s a lot to take in.
“It's one thing to win a big state championship, but to come home to see this is a whole different thing,” Stacy said.
The Beechwood High School Marching Band has won six state championships in the last seven years and has won eight state championships total.
