White Oak High School’s Regiment of Roughnecks received CD fifth in the Class 3A finals in the Texas State Marching Band Contest. Late Saturday night, after White Oak’s final performance at the Alamodome in San Antonio, results were released. The band is the top military-style band in 3A, according to the school district. They performed firstly shortly after 4 p.m. in prelims. Their finals performance began at about 9:30 p.m.

Regiment of Roughnecks practiced one last time late Monday night, trying in insure a placing.

“We made it to the finals,” White Oak ISD Superintendent Mike Gilbert said, “We’re marching again at 9:30 (p.m.).”

Director Jason Steele and his 180-member military band was put up against 19 other bands in the 3a district from all across the state to compete in the ultimate marching contest.

“There are 10 bands that are marching in the finals,” Gilbert said. “And one band will win the state championship, actually for a two-year period.

Monday’s competition was only for 2A and 3A high schools, while 1A and 5A schools competed Tuesday. 4A and 6A schools go to state next year.

White Oak was the only band in Gregg county to make it to state.

“And we’re the only military band there,” White Oak journalism teacher Karen Cook said.

The superintendent said the band looked sharp and precise even in the first round of contest.

“I’ve had several people who watch every contest tell me their performance today was the best they’d ever seen — sound, marching, everything involved,” Gilbert said.

This affects me because I am a member of the band and this continues the legacy they have upheld for so long. One of the other competing bands said that they haven’t been to state for 23 years, therefore it is a privilege to be part of this program.

This affects the world because it is dealing with UIL which is a national thing and state is the highest one can go in marching.

Found originally in Longview News Journal